The Valley Bell and Blossom Dairy Luncheonettes

The 1930s and 40s were the heydays for the Art Deco Luncheonettes, and Charleston had 2 of the most beautiful in the state, if not the Nation.  They were made mostly for the breakfast and lunch crowd, but also served full dinners.  As the old saying goes... you don't know what you've got until you lost it couldn't be more true in this case. And while the Blossom tried to go-on long after the dairy left the business, it seem to fail each time someone tried. No matter how beautiful the restaurant, the food has to be good, and for whatever reason, whether it was the food, the prices, or the location, or even the downturn in population, the beautiful Blossom on Quarrier Street just couldn't survive.  It sits there today, just as it did in the 40s, and that's a shame.

 The Quarrier Street Blossom.

The Lee Street Blossom in 1939

 The Lee St. Blossom was just to the left of the old Virginian Theater. This is the only known photo of that location.

1940

1947

1939

 *** AND NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE VALLEY BELL STORES  ***

Another beautiful  Luncheonette, this one on the corner of Washington Street W. and Bigley Ave. opened in 1935.  This building started life as a bank and ended as the Fountain Hobby Shop.

1935




Nov. 1, 1935






Most of the above were walk-in stores, and not restaurants.

It's such a shame that these wonderful restaurants no longer exist, and have been replaced by plastic fast food restaurants that offer none of the glamor.

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