Toddle House
Encyclopedia
Toddle House was a national restaurant chain in the United States
specializing in breakfast and open 24/7
. Each outlet was built to the same plan, and contained no tables, but merely a short counter with a row of ten stools. Payment was on the honor system: customers deposited their checks with the correct amount in a box by the door on the way out. Much of their business was take out
.
The business, based in Memphis, Tennessee
, was founded in 1932 by James Frederick Smith—who (before age 20) had dropped his first name, expressing a strong preference to be known as Fred or Frederick—and who was the father of Frederick Wallace Smith
, the founder of Federal Express (FedEx). The chain's distinctive logo, consisting of "toddling" characters, was designed by Memphis, TN commercial artist, James A. Anderson, Sr., who also designed the iconic "Great Sign" for the Holiday Inn motel chain, also based in Memphis, TN. Anderson later became known for his oil paintings of Mexico and the American southwest.
[Fred Smith the father had previously (in 1925) founded the Smith Motor Coach Company, in which in 1931 The Greyhound Corporation bought a controlling interest, and which Greyhound renamed as the Dixie Greyhound Lines
.]
Joe Rogers, Sr.
, a regional manager of the Toddle House chain, left Toddle House to found the similar Waffle House
.
During the segregation
era, the company also operated a parallel chain of similar restaurants for African-Americans called "Harlem House". In 1962, Toddle House was purchased by Dobbs Houses, a competitor which owned Steak 'n Egg Kitchen, and the franchise was allowed to decline. In 1980, Carson Pirie Scott
borrowed $108 million to buy Dobbs Houses. In January 1988, Carson Pirie Scott sold Steak 'n Egg Kitchen and Toddle House to Diversified Hospitality Group of Milford, Connecticut
. The chain has since been liquidated.
Bob Greene
wrote about eating chocolate pie with his friends at an Ohio Toddle House in his book And You Know You Should Be Glad: A True Story of Lifelong Friendship (William Morrow, 2006).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
specializing in breakfast and open 24/7
24/7
24/7 is an abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", usually referring to a business or service available at all times without interruption...
. Each outlet was built to the same plan, and contained no tables, but merely a short counter with a row of ten stools. Payment was on the honor system: customers deposited their checks with the correct amount in a box by the door on the way out. Much of their business was take out
Take Out
Take Out is a 2007 short film written by Screenwriter and Producer Bill Hall, with Jonathan Budine as the Director, Producer and Editor. The short introduces Mary Ann Emerson, appearing in her first lead role, and includes veteran New York City actor Alexis Suarez. Scream Queen Debbie Rochon...
.
The business, based in Memphis, Tennessee
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....
, was founded in 1932 by James Frederick Smith—who (before age 20) had dropped his first name, expressing a strong preference to be known as Fred or Frederick—and who was the father of Frederick Wallace Smith
Frederick W. Smith
Fred Sidney Smith III , or Fred Smith, is the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx, originally known as Federal Express, the first overnight express delivery company in the world, and the largest in the United States...
, the founder of Federal Express (FedEx). The chain's distinctive logo, consisting of "toddling" characters, was designed by Memphis, TN commercial artist, James A. Anderson, Sr., who also designed the iconic "Great Sign" for the Holiday Inn motel chain, also based in Memphis, TN. Anderson later became known for his oil paintings of Mexico and the American southwest.
[Fred Smith the father had previously (in 1925) founded the Smith Motor Coach Company, in which in 1931 The Greyhound Corporation bought a controlling interest, and which Greyhound renamed as the Dixie Greyhound Lines
Dixie Greyhound Lines
The Dixie Greyhound Lines , a highway-coach carrier, was a Greyhound regional operating company, based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, from 1930 until 1954, when it became merged into the Southeastern Greyhound Lines, a neighboring operating company.- Origin :The Dixie Greyhound Lines began in 1925...
.]
Joe Rogers, Sr.
Joe Rogers, Sr.
Joe Rogers, Sr. is an American businessman, one of the two founders of Waffle House, the other being Tom Forkner.A native of Tennessee, Rogers had already been a diner chain regional manager for Toddle House in Memphis when he bought a house from Forkner in Avondale Estates, Georgia, in 1949...
, a regional manager of the Toddle House chain, left Toddle House to found the similar Waffle House
Waffle House
Waffle House is a restaurant chain with over 1600 locations found in 25 states in the United States. Most of the locations are in the Southern United States, where the chain remains a regional cultural icon...
.
During the segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
era, the company also operated a parallel chain of similar restaurants for African-Americans called "Harlem House". In 1962, Toddle House was purchased by Dobbs Houses, a competitor which owned Steak 'n Egg Kitchen, and the franchise was allowed to decline. In 1980, Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott & Co., known informally as Carson's, is an upscale chain of department stores that have been in business for over 150 years. Their product price points are targeted to the moderate-to-upscale shopper...
borrowed $108 million to buy Dobbs Houses. In January 1988, Carson Pirie Scott sold Steak 'n Egg Kitchen and Toddle House to Diversified Hospitality Group of Milford, Connecticut
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
. The chain has since been liquidated.
Bob Greene
Bob Greene
Robert Bernard Greene, Jr. is an American journalist. He worked for 24 years for the Chicago Tribune newspaper, where he was an award-winning columnist. Greene has written books on subjects varying from Michael Jordan, to small towns, to U.S. presidents. His Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael...
wrote about eating chocolate pie with his friends at an Ohio Toddle House in his book And You Know You Should Be Glad: A True Story of Lifelong Friendship (William Morrow, 2006).
External links
- Fred Smith Burial Site