The era ends!

A dear friend of mine, whom I’ve known for ages, was in town for a funeral. While she was here, we had a chance to catch up and reminisce. We decided to grab a bite at the Frisch’s restaurant in Forestville, Ohio. She’s moved away from the area for a while now, so she was curious if the fish sandwiches were still as good as she remembered.  Unlike many memories we embellish in our minds over time, the sandwich  was just as delicious as she remembered! It’s funny how fate brought us to that location.  Read more to find out why?…

If you grew up in the Mt. Washington or Forestville area (the eastern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio) during the late 50s and 60s, you probably went to Frisch’s after a Friday night football or basketball game at McNicholas or Anderson High Schools. Back then, the restaurant was built close to the road and had a big parking area behind it. In the middle of the parking area, there was a large space where you could pull in, get out of the weather, and order your meal through a mounted squawk box. The food would be delivered by a restaurant employee who would bring a tray to affix to the side of your car. After you ate, you were supposed to leave your parking space so others could use it. But things didn’t always go as planned.

The parking spots were super coveted. Once you got one, you didn’t want to give it up. People would get out of their cars, wander around the parking lot, and socialize with others until it got too late, or they wanted to go somewhere else for a little romance before curfew. While they were socializing, others would circle the U-shaped parking area, going around and around until a spot opened. This cycle would keep going all night until it got late, and people started heading home. That’s how I remember the place, and I was either a parking spot holder or a parking spot hunter, but not often one of the lucky few who got to go somewhere else for a little romance.

Let’s go back to the beginning of this article. I’m so glad we chose to eat there because it just got announced that the restaurant is closing forever! If we hadn’t visited when we did, the memory of that amazing fish sandwich might have just been a dream. The Frisch’s restaurant is legendary and will be remembered fondly by many, but I’m especially lucky to have had the chance to enjoy it again with my dear friend, Laurie. It’s one of those memories I’ll cherish forever.

Well, that’s all I have to say about that. Over the years, we’ve lost some of our favorite spots, like the 60 Second Shop, Hamburger Heaven, Harold’s Grill, and the Golden Point. I’ll always remember something special about each one, but I think I’ll miss the ritual of circling around Frisch’s the most.

Thanks so much for sharing this memory with me. It means a lot to me. If you haven’t already, please consider sharing this with others and subscribing to the TowneHouse Voice. I would love to have you as a regular reader. Until next time, take care and stay happy!