Britling Cafeterias
Encyclopedia
Britling Cafeterias was a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants, originating in Memphis, Tennessee
. During the late 1920s, Britling opened three cafeterias in downtown Birmingham, Alabama
.
Little information about the beginnings of the company is publicly available, except that it was owned by John H. Holcomb of Birmingham together with a partner in Memphis. Originally the Birmingham and Memphis cafeterias were one company, but in about 1930 the partners split, with Mr. Holcomb buying out the Birmingham operation. They agreed that the Britling name be continued in both locations.
In their heyday, the Britling cafeterias were local institutions in Birmingham and Memphis, particularly the earlier downtown locations. The Highland Avenue location in Birmingham was a popular gathering spot in the late 1940s and 1950s, even featuring live music and seating in a balcony
overlooking the main floor; the two downtown Memphis cafeterias were similar. Sunday afternoon lunch at Britling's was a tradition in both cities.
One of the downtown Memphis locations is noteworthy not only as a local landmark of its era, but for one of its former employees: Gladys Presley, mother of rock and roll
legend Elvis Presley
. A display at Graceland
memorializes the Britling Cafeteria and her work there.
Both chains fell into decline in the 1970s, as fast food
restaurants became increasingly popular and widespread. In both cities, the Britling management tried to counter this trend by expanding into suburban locations, a move that was successful for a time. In Birmingham, the chain opened locations on Highland Avenue, in Mountain Brook, and in popular shopping centers such as Eastwood Mall (two locations, one at each end of the mall), Western Hills Mall
, a small shopping center in Hoover
, Vestavia Hills and Five Points West Shopping City. These eventually became the only locations, as the three original downtown restaurants were closed by the end of the 1960s. The Memphis management tried the same diversification, with several locations in suburban shopping centers eventually replacing the downtown restaurants. As the two companies struggled against the competition, the remaining cafeterias were converted into all-you-can-eat buffet
s; this was done with at least three Memphis locations and the one remaining Birmingham-area store in Hoover in the 1980s. The measure was only successful in the short term, and two Britlings finally closed or sold off their Birmingham and Huntsville locations. The Hoover location was sold and became Battle Buffet, which itself closed in the early 1990s. There was also a Britling Cafeteria located at 221 W. 1st street (Park Ave.) Oklahoma City, Ok. which also utilized the multi level balcony seating format. This location, opening in December 1932, operated through the late 1940s to the early 1950s although the exact dates are unknown. The building that housed the Britling was demolished as a result of Oklahoma City's failed urban renewal program in the early 1960s.
The Britling chain in Memphis, along with B&W Cafeterias in Nashville, Tennessee
and Blue Boar Cafeterias
in Louisville, Kentucky
, were under common ownership in their latter years. All have now closed.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. During the late 1920s, Britling opened three cafeterias in downtown Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.
Little information about the beginnings of the company is publicly available, except that it was owned by John H. Holcomb of Birmingham together with a partner in Memphis. Originally the Birmingham and Memphis cafeterias were one company, but in about 1930 the partners split, with Mr. Holcomb buying out the Birmingham operation. They agreed that the Britling name be continued in both locations.
In their heyday, the Britling cafeterias were local institutions in Birmingham and Memphis, particularly the earlier downtown locations. The Highland Avenue location in Birmingham was a popular gathering spot in the late 1940s and 1950s, even featuring live music and seating in a balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
overlooking the main floor; the two downtown Memphis cafeterias were similar. Sunday afternoon lunch at Britling's was a tradition in both cities.
One of the downtown Memphis locations is noteworthy not only as a local landmark of its era, but for one of its former employees: Gladys Presley, mother of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
legend Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. A display at Graceland
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as...
memorializes the Britling Cafeteria and her work there.
Both chains fell into decline in the 1970s, as fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurants became increasingly popular and widespread. In both cities, the Britling management tried to counter this trend by expanding into suburban locations, a move that was successful for a time. In Birmingham, the chain opened locations on Highland Avenue, in Mountain Brook, and in popular shopping centers such as Eastwood Mall (two locations, one at each end of the mall), Western Hills Mall
Western Hills Mall
Western Hills Mall is a shopping mall in metro Birmingham, Alabama.The mall opened in 1969 as the second in Birmingham, under the development of Aronov Realty. Loveman's of Alabama, which became Pizitz in 1980, was one of its original anchor stores. J.C. Penney was the other major store.In 2006,...
, a small shopping center in Hoover
Hoover, Alabama
Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the...
, Vestavia Hills and Five Points West Shopping City. These eventually became the only locations, as the three original downtown restaurants were closed by the end of the 1960s. The Memphis management tried the same diversification, with several locations in suburban shopping centers eventually replacing the downtown restaurants. As the two companies struggled against the competition, the remaining cafeterias were converted into all-you-can-eat buffet
Buffet
A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves. Buffets are offered at various places including hotels and many social events...
s; this was done with at least three Memphis locations and the one remaining Birmingham-area store in Hoover in the 1980s. The measure was only successful in the short term, and two Britlings finally closed or sold off their Birmingham and Huntsville locations. The Hoover location was sold and became Battle Buffet, which itself closed in the early 1990s. There was also a Britling Cafeteria located at 221 W. 1st street (Park Ave.) Oklahoma City, Ok. which also utilized the multi level balcony seating format. This location, opening in December 1932, operated through the late 1940s to the early 1950s although the exact dates are unknown. The building that housed the Britling was demolished as a result of Oklahoma City's failed urban renewal program in the early 1960s.
The Britling chain in Memphis, along with B&W Cafeterias in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and Blue Boar Cafeterias
Blue Boar Cafeterias
Blue Boar Cafeterias was a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky. The first Blue Boar was opened in 1931. Once a major presence in metro Louisville and still remembered for its old downtown location on Fourth Avenue near Broadway. During the 1930s, Guion Clement Earle ...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, were under common ownership in their latter years. All have now closed.