Doumar's Cones and BBQ
Encyclopedia
Doumar's Cones and BBQ is a restaurant
located at 1919 Monticello Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia
. Originally an ice cream business at the Ocean View Amusement Park
, the creator, Abe Doumar, is regarded as having created the world's first ice cream cone
.
around 1895. He had three brothers: Charlie, George and John. He brought them to the States with his mother and father. Abe died in 1947.
George Doumar, born in 1892, worked at the restaurant until he died in 1974. George Doumar's son, Albert Doumar, born in 1922 in Norfolk, still makes ice cream cones daily at the restaurant, as of September 2008, on a cone making machine that dates from 1905. Another son of George Doumar, Robert G. Doumar
, is a federal judge.
In May 1999, the restaurant was awarded a James Beard Foundation Award
in the "America's Classics" category which honors legendary family-owned restaurants around the country.
In August 2008, the restaurant was featured on Food Network
's hit series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri
.
In 2011, director Spike Lee
used Doumar's for a series of promos for the Ed Schultz
show as part of MSNBC
's "Lean Forward" campaign. In one, Schultz is seen sitting at Doumar's lunch counter when he delivers the line "I need two shows."
robes. One night, he bought a waffle
from another vender and proceeded to roll it up and place a scoop of ice cream
on top. He then began selling the cones at the St. Louis Exposition
. His cones were such a success that he designed a four-iron baking machine and had a foundry
make it for him. At the Jamestown Exposition
in 1907, he and his brothers sold nearly twenty-three thousand cones. After that, Abe bought a semiautomatic 36-iron machine, which produced 20 cones per minute.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
located at 1919 Monticello Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Originally an ice cream business at the Ocean View Amusement Park
Ocean View Amusement Park
Ocean View Amusement Park was located at the end of Granby Street at Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia. The amusement park was featured in the 1977 movie Rollercoaster. The wooden coaster depicted in the movie was called "The Rocket". The last day the park was open to the public was during...
, the creator, Abe Doumar, is regarded as having created the world's first ice cream cone
Ice cream cone
An ice cream cone, poke or cornet is a dry, cone-shaped pastry, usually made of a wafer similar in texture to a waffle, allowing ice cream to be eaten without a bowl or spoon...
.
The Restaurant
The first Doumar's at Ocean View and other Doumar's stands at nearby beach resorts were destroyed by a hurricane in 1933. In 1934, one of Abe's brothers, George, opened the present establishment in downtown Norfolk. The Doumar family constructed a new building at the same location in 1949. That building has been remodeled periodically since then. Doumar's is known for its barbecue, ice cream, and curb service, with waitresses that take orders at your car.The Doumar Family
Abe Doumar was born a Lebanese man in 1881 and arrived in the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
around 1895. He had three brothers: Charlie, George and John. He brought them to the States with his mother and father. Abe died in 1947.
George Doumar, born in 1892, worked at the restaurant until he died in 1974. George Doumar's son, Albert Doumar, born in 1922 in Norfolk, still makes ice cream cones daily at the restaurant, as of September 2008, on a cone making machine that dates from 1905. Another son of George Doumar, Robert G. Doumar
Robert G. Doumar
-Early life, education, and career:Doumar's father, George Doumar, was from Syria and immigrated to America in 1901. His mother came from Lebanon later in an arranged marriage. Both were Arabic-speaking Christians and both became U.S. citizens. The family-owned eatery, Doumar's, in Norfolk,...
, is a federal judge.
In May 1999, the restaurant was awarded a James Beard Foundation Award
James Beard Foundation Award
The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and are often called "The Oscars of Food." Held on the first weekend in May, the Awards honor the finest chefs, restaurants, wine professionals, journalists, cookbook authors, restaurant designers, and other food professionals in the...
in the "America's Classics" category which honors legendary family-owned restaurants around the country.
In August 2008, the restaurant was featured on Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
's hit series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri is an American restaurateur, author, television personality, and game show host. He co-owns five restaurants in California and is widely known for his television series on the Food Network....
.
In 2011, director Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
used Doumar's for a series of promos for the Ed Schultz
Ed Schultz
Edward Andrew "Ed" Schultz Is an American television and radio host and a liberal political commentator . He is the host of The Ed Show, a daily news talk program on MSNBC, and The Ed Schultz Show, a talk radio show, nationally syndicated by Dial Global, promising "straight talk."-Early...
show as part of MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's "Lean Forward" campaign. In one, Schultz is seen sitting at Doumar's lunch counter when he delivers the line "I need two shows."
Ice Cream Cone Invention
The story goes that when Abe was 16, he began to sell paperweights and other items while dressed in ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
robes. One night, he bought a waffle
Waffle
A waffle is a batter- or dough-based cake cooked in a waffle iron patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape. There are many variations based on the type and shape of the iron and the recipe used....
from another vender and proceeded to roll it up and place a scoop of ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
on top. He then began selling the cones at the St. Louis Exposition
St. Louis Exposition
St. Louis Exposition can refer to either:*Saint Louis Exposition *Louisiana Purchase Exposition...
. His cones were such a success that he designed a four-iron baking machine and had a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
make it for him. At the Jamestown Exposition
Jamestown Exposition
The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States in the early part of the 20th century...
in 1907, he and his brothers sold nearly twenty-three thousand cones. After that, Abe bought a semiautomatic 36-iron machine, which produced 20 cones per minute.