I got to thinking about the Red Barn a few weeks ago and came across your site. Man, did it bring back some fond memories. When I was a kid, my family would go to the Red Barn every Sunday after church for coffee. My brother and I would each get an order of fries and a Coke. I remember when they put the salad bar in. One of the biggest treats of my childhood was when my Dad would take us to the Red Barn and we would take the food outside and eat it sitting on the tail gate of the family stationwagon.
I gotta say I love your website. My childhood Red Barn was the one in Columbia
Heights, MN.
The Hungries song on your site - is that from the "Magic Record"? I had that 45
as a kid, and must say the song sounds familiar. Any chance that you've got
mp3s of the songs on the magic record? Thought it was worth asking :).
Use to visit the Red Barn in East Aurora, N.Y.(now the is a Burger King there) where the home of Fisher Price is and the one in Hamburg,N.Y.( hair salon) I use to visit them with my mother. They had the best fish sandwiches. I was just telling my kids I am going to see if anyone the computer knows where there is one open.
Boy do I ever miss them! When are we all going to get together and re open them? I dont goto BK or Mcdees much, would I ever goto The Red Barn! Make it the new improved and health with the one stuff to! $$$$
What a blast from the past. I live in Silver Lake Village, OH, and there was a Red Barn just up the road in Stow. It still stands, but is now painted blue and has been converted into a heating and cooling business. Lots of happy memories sitting in that building.
.Greetings!
What a great web site you have dedicated to the Red Barn. My sisters and I used to beg our parents to take us there when we were kids. We loved it.
Love the "When The Hungries Hit" jingle you have on the website. I was wondering if you have it on a WAV file you might be able to e-mail me? I'd love to use it as a trivia question on my show some afternoon.
Thanks for your time.
Rev. Steve Hammond "The Gatekeeper"
Afternoon Drive Host - 97.5 WONE Canton, OH
I have been a big fan of the red barn hamburger chain-----was really saden when they closed now years ago. I live in the michigan area and ate at the red barn resturants almost every day from work we would go to red barn to get a big barney or barn buster or the chicken--all the food was great. been searching the internet for a long time with no luck until I found your site. I hope you can help me? I have been searching for anyone that would have the orinigal recipe for the sauce that they used on the big barney dont remember if they had a sauce for the barn buster ? the big barney in mich had a white sort of tartar sauce that was just great. would truly appreciate anyone with information on the big barney sauce.
Hello, we used to have a Red barn here in London ON. I can remember going to it as a kid in the late 70's early 80's until it was closed down. Interestingly enough, the restaurant is still here. It has been converted into a dine out restaurant. It specializes in ready made foods. They repainted it, but other then that it is exactly the same. I wouldn't be surprised if its one of the last standing Red barns.
I was goofing off at work and for some reason thought I’d “google” The Red Barn. The Red Barn was the first fast food restaurant in Lebanon, PA. When it first opened they had a couple of tables and also these little school desk-type tables that only one person could sit at. There was a little well in the desk where you would put your drink. From time to time I will drive through dilapidated towns in the North East and see a former Red Barn store. Invariable it’s a hair salon or something like that.
What a hoot seeing those red, white and blue glasses. At one time we had about 20 in our house.
Thanks for the diversion.
I worked at the Red Barn in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada from '69 until
'72 or so. I can't tell you how tickled I was to see your web site. I
loved hearing the "hungries" jingle again. I've bookmarked your site for
future reference.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Good on ya'
I have been trying to locate the original recipe that was used by the Red Barn Restaurants for their fried chicken seasoning. A friend of mine who used to work at one of the local Red Barn Restaurants would bring bags of the seasoning mix home and make her own fried chicken. There is no doubt about it Red Barn had the best fried chicken. I would love to have the original fried chicken seasoning recipe. Do you know where I can get it?
Thanks so much for posting the Red Barn photos from Sharon, PA.
I lived there my first 20 years and have fond memories of the
Red Barn (great burgers and ice cream!). Right across from
Salvoldi's Italian restaurant :> I'm in Florida now, so it was a
real treat to see the photo from 1976! I still long for my long
lost 1972 Chicken Hungry ring... Did it close because of no
business or was it a corporate thing?
When I do go back home, I drive past the ol' Barn (now a Chinese
restaurant or something) and sigh...
Thanks for bringing back great memories!
I found your site, I could not believe it. I worked at the Akron Red Barn. Met my first wife there.
What memories.
I live in Macon, GA now and no one believed me when I told them of the place.
Thanks, it is a great site, brought a lot of good memories back.
Isn't the Internet great! I was just talking with my husband about the Red Barn restaurant. I grew up in Colorado and it was my favorite restaurant as a kid. We only went out to eat once in awhile because back then it was a luxury not a necessity to eat out. I loved it when my mom took us here. Thanks for restoring the old memories.
Wow this site is great! I remember the red barn as a customer not a employee. But about 5 years ago I searched the web and some other publications for Red Barn Info and came up blank. At the time I was looking to open a small Chicken place and remembered Red Barn Chicken was tons better than KFC. and wanted to track down the recipe. I had no luck. Now I find this site.
I was fortunate enough to have frequented the Red Barn in Kansas City during the 60's and early 70's. My folks would often take us their for a bucket of chicken.
I have bragged about that chicken for years, and at 43 have seen the good old foods go out. I have looked for anything that had to do with the Red Barn and had a few contacts with folks who remember it.
I enjoy cooking and creating so often do fried chicken and have missed that Red Barn flavor all these years. Is a recipe or anything available that would help me create that flavor or that chicken coating. Is it a special spice? I tasted a hint of the Red Barn in Popeye's Chicken, of course, there's is so spicy you can't taste the chicken. Since tasting that Popeye's I figured it was a spice.
.I never thought I'd ever find a page on the good old Red Barn
restaurants!!! I had an aunt who worked at the one in Salem, Ohio in the
1970s, and I do have a video capture of it when we drove past to go to a
family reunion last year. It's a dry cleaners now. I know of a few in
Akron, OH as well, and at least 2 in Canton, OH. The 2 in Canton: one on
Tuscawaras is now an Appliance repair shop, the one on Route 62 east
towards Alliance, OH is a used car dealership - and it still has the
sunburst thingy and the readerboard. ^_^ One in Akron, OH is a used
clothing store, which is near where one of my friends live. I remember
seeing another near one of the malls that was, I think, a plumbing
supply store. And a 3rd I saw a few weeks ago seemed to have suffered a
bad fate, since it looked like it was an auto repair shop, but suffered
a fire. Some of the exterior walls were gone.
Hi Rich!
I signed your guest book yesterday, but I wanted to send you a note about
today's "Barns Gone By" update. The "Little Panda" in the old Red Barn was
the Barn that I used to eat at with my family! Joe Schechtel (who took the
photo) is a good friend of mine and we are spreading the word about your
terrific website.
The photos are really fantastic and some of the posts by former grillmen are
genuinely touching. I miss the Red Barn, but thanks to you, its legend will
live on!
I worked at a Red Barn from 1969 until about 1974. Lots of fond memories, I have to tell you. Your site is quite a blast from the past. Thanks!
Hello. My name is Jim. My wife and I used to love the Red Barn. We grew up
in the SanFransisco Bay Area. The red barn was located in SanLeandro Ca.
Also had one in Castro Valley Ca.. The reason I am emailing you is this. I
am a ham radio operator. I was just talking to a fellow ham on my radio when
fast food came up in our conversation. We both agreed that the Red Barn was
a great restaurant and we haven't seen one around for at least 20 plus
years. According to your web site. They no longer exist. This is very sad to
me and will be to my wife as well when I tell her about this web site. We
kinda thought that maybe there was still Red Barns elsewhere other than here
in Ca. I would greatly appreciate it if you could explain to me why Motel 6
didn't see fit to keep the chain going.
I worked at the Red Barn located on Broadview Road in Cleveland, Ohio in the 70's - I loved it! Of course, I was a teenager working part-time, but it was fun! I was wondering what kind of Fish did they use?? I know the Onion Rings were made by Big Gus.
You seem to have the most info on Red Barn restaurants!
I remember a commercial on TV that my dad and I used to try and mimic. It had each of the Hungries introducing themselves. I remember almost none of the words…just that each one of them sang in turn and it ended with the classic “when the hungries hit, when the hungries hit, hit the Red Barn.”
For years dad and I would amuse ourselves by trying to remember as much of this silly commercial and make each other laugh by singing it, but over the years we forgot more and more.
Any ideas how I could dig up the script to the commercial or a recording?
It brings back many happy memories of eating some of the best chicken in the world at the old Red Barn on W. State St. in Olean, NY! Thank you!
E-mail sent to barnbuster.net
Love the site!
There's an old Red Barn still standing just down the street (Yorkville, NY). It's been converted to an ... get this ... Adult Book/Video store. That's right, the same place I used to go as a child for great burgers is now a porn haven. I guess times have changed.
The things you find on the web... I'm curious and type "Red Barn
Restaurants" into yahoo, up pops your site.
I grew up in Bloomington, and Red Barn (90th and Penn Ave S.) was THE place
to eat as kids, teenagers and adults (at least for fast food). I attended
(barely )Bloomington Lincoln SHS in the late 70's, 1/2 a block away (also
long since closed). We cut class all the time to hang out at the Barn...
later my younger brother stated working there and ended up as assistant
mgr., quitting only a short time before it closed. I think it was some other
independent restaurant for a very short time, then the building was raised
and the little strip mall it was next to was extended and the Red Barn area
became a parking lot (kind of a sad end). I was a cool building, there was
storage and prep areas up stairs, accessible via stairs in the back
I must commend you on your Red Barn memorabilia collection. It's quite impressive. I'm glad someone put up a web-site to keep up the fast food restaurant's memories. I worked at the Barn during '75 to '77 in Toronto, Canada. I have a late '70's patch plus this ordering slip. Maybe you can add it to your site.
Hello, my name is Gary and was a Red Barn Manager from 1974-1977. As a matter of fact my uncle (Roger) was regional director for Ohio , Pa. Ny. We had approximently 18 family members involved either as supervisors, managers, employees.
We were jokingly known as the Lebanese Mofia!! It was a great time, alot of good friends and great food. Also have a few items: Red Barn Clock, Big Fish Hungry & Chicken Hungry glasses, 3 service pins, and 2 neck ties but not the cloth type these are Red rope w /brass tips and a round brass slide up clip with a blue center an outlined Red Barn and the words Excellence at the top and below Service-Quality-Cleanliness, pretty neat. If you like I could e-mail a picture of any of these that you might not have for your site.
Thanks for having this site it sure brings back alot of good memories. By the way I found out about this site from my cousin who happened to be a Red Barn Manager.
Man, that's gotta be one of the ugliest websites I've seen in quite some time.
The Greasy Hamburger...
There has been a lot in the news of late regarding the positive and negative effects of fast food. It seems like McDonalds has come under the most scrutiny, but other fast food chains have not gone unnoticed, and as a result there is now healthier fast food available as an option. Well, ok, in this age of teens who are becoming not just overweight, but in some cases dangerously obese, I suppose it's a good thing, a heathier step in the right direction, but I have to say, there are times when I miss the good, old fashioned days of the greasy, drippy, artery- hardening, yummy, hamburger that makes me ask..."where's my bib?"
When I was a child and near teen growing up here in northern California in the late 1960's and early to mid 1970s, it was a treat to go down to our local Red Barn for a Barnbuster. Those burgers were a 20 napkin experience, of a quarter pound of formed beefy goodness, and the trip out to the restaurant was a treat. The burger tasted different from what could be made at home because there was apparently a science to it. Each hamburger palace had it's own system. Red Barn for example prepared it's burgers this way...1 quarter pound hamburger patty, two thinly sliced tomatoes, 2 equally thin sliced onions a slice of processed American cheese, if requested, two fingers of shredded lettuce 2 squirts of Red Barn sauce (Kraft tarter sauce) and two grilled buns. Hmmmm.
I have to admit it, I found it kind of annoying when the "health brigade" demanded healthier burgers and fries from fast food establishments, I mean I didn't eat there for my health, I ate there for taste and convenience. As a child it had been a treat, but there exists now, a dynamic, that didn't when I was a child or even as a young adult.As a child, burgers from McDonalds or Red Barn were the occassional treat...not a meal replacement. Somewhere at some point what was once a novelty became an entire American lifestyle choice.
Health food advocates have a very good point, consuming large amounts of sugar, Trans fatty acids, which are also found in many pre-packaged prepared foods, are bad for you. It does all kinds of bad to a person, everything from causing morbid obesity, to the onset of type 2 diabetes...not good. I had a friend who found out some years ago she was boarderline diabetic, she was lucky, she could control it with diet...instead, she went on a personal quest to eat what she wanted when she wanted it in large quantities, and small quantites and then couldn't understand when she nearly died a couple years ago because after all "she was a good person." Another friend had a three year old son who could eat 2 Burger King fish sandwiches and a large Diet Coke in one sitting. Now before you jump on the last one, his mother had a lot of problems and some extreme situations working against her, I can't go into her story but it is demonstrative of life in America...convenience rules.
So, like with every other good thing or good idea that allows itself to be abused, it is inevitable that change must occur to get things back on track, before long the novelty is gone and is replaced with the, "I know what's best for you brigade of reform." I don't see it going back to the "good old days," but come on...tell the truth...wasn't the greasy burger of days of old pretty good? Didn't the fries taste kinda yummy with a ton of salt and that nice fatty oil? The American hamburger isn't extinct, there are still some restaurants where you can get one prepared the way we they did when we were kids, and most of the time when I do go to the golden arches for lunch I order the California Cobb salad or a Garden salad, because I am a salad fiend. I even make my own salad dressing to pour over the vegetables Alan and I grow in our garden, but boy...I just miss the Americana that is or was the truly greasy burger that, sadly, will someday soon be the forgotten, "Greasy Burger."
Enjoy your site, not quite sure how I found it. There was a Red Barn in Raleigh NC at 2426 Wake Forest Rd. The signature barn style building is still intact and now a Biscuitville restaurant. I remember eating there in the late 1960s but I think it was closed by the mid 1970s. In an area dominated by Hardees, I still remember enjoying the Red Barn.
This is really a great web page.
My name is Lyndon Lee and I grew up in Melbourne ,Australia in the 60 , 70 time frame. I remember we had one Red Barn open in Melbourne. I remember the hamburgers at that time since the Australians at that time only had fish and chips, pizza etc and did not make any type of hamburgers. The facility was only around a few years and changed company owner ship a couple of times and finally closed. My family returned back to San Francisco in 1975 and I was happy to find a Red barn operating in Walnut Creek California. I remember it was only opened a year or so before it closed. I moved to Houston in the 80s and I can still find a number of the Red Barn building as I travel thru the Houston and surrounding areas.
Rich
Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed you web site, I worked at 5 different units in the Denver area, I was a swing manager at #105 on east colfax It is now a starbucks now thats a scary thought. Nobody talks about what a hassle it was to make the coleslaw or when you forgot to keep the water tray full in the chicken holding cabinet.
Rich:
Thanks for the update, LOVE the pics of the old Austintown restaurant. It's right around the corner from my childhood home, we used to eat there all the time -- Mom was CRAZY about the chicken!
A little background on it's current use, as a 'Jay's Famous Hot Dogs' shop. Jay's is a local Youngstown chain that's been around since the 30's -- it's a Youngstown institution, when people return here they'll always go looking to get a Jay's dog. So at least the building is carrying on a kind of tradition.
Interestingly, all the local Jay's shops are in vintage fast food facilities. The one on Ytown's west side is in an old Burger Chef, and the Boardman location is in an old 'Der Wienerschnitzel.' Remember those?
Rich,
I love your Website. I was born in 1965. During the late 60's my family lived in Chamblee, Georgia. We had a Red Barn there. My parents tell me my first words were Red Barn Burger. I loved the place. Do you have any photos of that store?
Did you notice the old red Barn building in the movie "About Schmidt"? I jumped in my chair in the theater when he goes inside that Dairy Queen. People in the theatre thought I was nuts.
Any idea what the spices where in the hamburger meat that made it so good?
How do we restart the chain?
Just a SMALL sample of what I get everyday, please make sure they keep coming!
I gotta say I love your website. My childhood Red Barn was the one in Columbia
Heights, MN.
The Hungries song on your site - is that from the "Magic Record"? I had that 45
as a kid, and must say the song sounds familiar. Any chance that you've got
mp3s of the songs on the magic record? Thought it was worth asking :).
when you get a moment, feel free to check out my website - it's a tribute to
Apache Plaza shopping center (not far from the Heights Red Barn, actually):
Thanks for a fond memory! Back in the 1960s I used to frequent a Red Barn
Restaurant on Snow Road in parma, OH. It became a highschool hangout for a
lot of kids in my school. Great burgers and fries. We preferred Red Barn
over all the other fast food chains.
A funny story related to the name... I'm an only child and my parents always
made a bid deal out of my birthday. For my 16th birthday we made plans to go
to a very elegant downtown eaterie called The Red Coach Grille. Neither my
parents nor I had been there before. My mom was telling a friend about the
birthday dinner plans and what a great place it was supposed to be. When
asked which restaurant we had chosen, in a total lapse of memory, she blurted
out "The Red Barn". Her friend looked puzzled and finally asked what was so
special about The Red Barn. It dawned on Mom that she had mixed up the
names. They both had a good laugh.
Wayne
Greetings from Michigan...
Love your site....My dad use to take us to the Barn all the time.....
great memories from your site....thanks.....
I have a question for you....the drawing of the red barn you have on the main page..(that flips with the Barnbuster Button)
is there any way to get a jpg...or print.. of that night drawing...it;s great
I'd love to give one to my dad....
thanks so much...and agin...great site
Wow! Just wanted to thank you for your website! Talk about jogging the old
memory bank?!
This has been a great trip down memory lane for me and my friends and family!
Thanx So much for making and keeping this site!!!
Truly a labor of love. Came across your site and found it very interesting. Red Barn captured the hearts of customers and holds a special place in the memory of many.
Dick C.
COO Red Barn Restaurants
Rochester NY
1985-1986
Hi Rich!
My wife and I both had our first jobs at the Red Barn....in fact so did my older brother and my best friend. That was in Welland Ontario a long time ago. My wife and I were talking about the stuffed Fish Hungry she had (HER best friend, who ALSO worked there, had the coveted Hamburger Hungry...STILL has it in fact). We decided to see if there was anything on the web and....voila!!!!...your site!
We really enjoyed it!! Thanks a for bringing back a lot of great memories for a lot more people than you may realize. Keep up the good work!
Dave
former Red Barn employee
Hi, Rich.
I love your site. My family used to go to Red Barns in the Detroit area
when I was a kid.
Do you have any Red Barn TV commercials? Didn't they feature Jim Henson's
Muppets as the Hungries? I'd love to see those again.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Rob
Thank you for such a great website. I have fonde
memries of the Red Barn Restaurant in Mountain View,
CA!
thanks,
Matt
I used to frequent the Bloomington Red Barn during school (shame). It is not there anymore and hasn’t been for quite a lot of years. I was there between 76 and 78.
Thanks for the memories!
Susan
Rich, First off let me say how much i enjoyed your site, I grew up near the red barn in Chicago heights illinois and have fond memories of it, i was wondering if you have a copy of the menu, that you could e mail me, i work for a company that does restaurant concepts and i am trying to find out all i can about the concept and who owns the rights to the names and such.
Thanks,
Victor
Hi Rich,
I was just going over your site, and I have to tell you that my Dad was the "mascot" for the Red Barn Restaurants here in Canada. He was called Red Barney, I am now 38 years old, but I sure do remember the food at the restaurant and all the promotional items as well. Thank you for posting this site, if you have heard about my Dad "Red Barney" please let me know. I am sure that he only did the Canadian franchises and maybe some in Michigan.
Thanks,
Warren
Hi there,
I grew up about a block away from the Red Barn in Cortland, NY (I posted a short blurb about it on Roadfood that you may have seen). I found your site a while back while researching my favorite childhood restaurant and I think the site is just fantastic. My mother still lives in the house I grew up in, so on a recent visit I photographed the old Red Barn bulding. It was most recently a Jreck Subs. It is now vacant, although the Jreck signs are still there. There are rumors it may be taken over and/or demolished by the gas station next door, so I wanted to photograph it just in case! I'll let you know if anything else develops. Photos are attached. Hope you can use them!
Kelly
Rich,
The commercials from 1977 were shot at the Walnut Creek, Ca. store.
We shut down the store for 3 days for the shoot. The ad agency was Wells Rich Green at that time.
Some more trivia on that shoot: Lonnie Anderson appeared as talent in one of the vignettes. She had not, at that time, gotten any big parts but was a pretty big talent for a little outfit like ours. Lonnie was on site less than an hour and had 3 "takes". the first take was the keeper and the other takes were only for insurance. Her line was "This is a real garden of eatin". (How do you forget Lonnie Anderson)
Most of the film crew had worked on Streets of San Francisco at onetime or another.
One of the generator trucks had Catch 22 in it's credits.
The commercials were shot in 35mm using Panaflex cameras which was state of the art at that time.
The "sign", ( a standard 250 sq ft street sign) in the opening was temporarily installed on the back lot only for that shot. After the shot the sign was put back on the truck and delivered to a new store for installation. We just borrowed it.
As with most productions of that sort there was a caterer but most of the crew and talent preferred the Barnbusters fries and Chicken that we prepared for our crew.
We prepared most of the food shown with the exception of one or two "Hero" Barnbusters that were prepared by the food stylist.
Jacob S. (Pete) Painter
Western Regional Director ( at that time)
Hi Rich,
I stumbled across your Red Barn site; it was great to take a stroll down memory lane. Red Barn was always one of my favorite restaurants. To this day I can remember the flavor of the burgers ... very good indeed. I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, and used to frequent the Red Barn on Northfield Rd. in Northfield, OH.
I'd love to replicate the Big Barney and was wondering if you would have a few suggestions for the best burger patties to use.
Thanks in advance for your assistance, and thanks for the Red Barn site. It's really cool.
Best,
Ed P.
hi,i am from england but in 1972 my dad got a job working in australia and my mother and brother and me lived there for 12 months.my dad use to take us out at night to the red barn in melbourne,at this time in the uk we had nothing at all like this,to this day i always remember my fast food outing.i also remember that you could sit on seats that the arm seat pulled down with a hole in the arm was for your drink and was wide enough for your postion to eat from,happy memories. i am no 46yrs of age and still remember my time at the red barn. shaun testa burnley england
Thanks for the great site, brought back many memories. I patronized the RedBarn in West Allis Wi. during my high school years & after (late 60s-early 70s). Never went to McDonalds as long as the Barn was around! Loved the big fish sandwiches, can't recall what they were called. Was it the Whaler or was that Burger King?
Theres an Oscar's custard stand on the site now, I'll try to get a picture. Not sure if the building was razed or not. Also there was a Country Grill in Racine. Is that now gone? They had really good chcken dinners! Last ate there maybe 7 years ago.
I recall really loving the food at Red Barn & forgot about the place till someone mentioned it on an XMFAN.com message thread.
I'll post your addy there.
Why does good stuff like the Red Barn fail as a business? Nice to know some of the details of their demise. Too bad no one had faith in the business once it was bought up by that conglomerate.
Steve
Eagle Wi.
Rich, my name is Craig and I worked at red barn in Wyoming. In 1979 I was the manager of the #1 volume Red Barn in the country, located in Rawlins Wyo. I started working at Red Barn in May 15, 1974, right out of high school. My first day of work I met my manager and assistant manager, and to this day....in 2006, we still work together as partners in different venues.
Right after motel 6 bought out servomation,,,and tried to run the restaurants the same way they ran their motels, we saw the writing on the wall. Shortly thereafter, we changed the name of our restaurants to Peaches Family Restaurants. Using the same chicken breading, (which we had analyzed in a lab), we were able to rename the sandwiches but mainly kept the same menu and cooking procedure. God how I would love to have a big barney right now. anyway...just thought you might enjoy our story.
Nice reading your sight....
Craig
ps ...we still have some chicken buckets and ashtrays....lol
I use to like to eat at the Red Barn down where I was from ( The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia ). Why did the Red Barn shut down? It was the best place in town to eat, better then McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken or Burger King. I used to have the glasses that when you brought a Barn Buster Combo you get a coke glass for 99 cents. Them glasses were the best thing that I have ever seen. Where can I get these glasses now, ( I'm talking about the glasses with the red, white and blue with stars ) ? My email is: xxxxxxxxxf.net I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mason
Hi Rich,
Though I don't ever recall going there to eat as a child, Red Barn
suddenly entered my thoughts today, perhaps because there was one
relatively close to my house. Your photo identified as "Downriver, MI"
was actually located on Telegraph Road in Taylor, MI (exact address
unknown, though it was located between streets Chernick and Haskell,
which would place the address somewhere in the 8000's). It maintained
the classic "Red Barn" appearance for many years after closing
(including the outdoor sign) but has since been modified extensively and
the sign removed. I recall it being a few different restaurants after
it was a Red Barn, and am not certain what it is now (it might actually
be vacant). If you use Google Maps and turn on the satellite view for
8500 Telegraph, Taylor, MI 48180, zooming in really close, you can pick
out the building by the shadow the roof casts!
I enjoyed the site and the brief trip down memory lane. Thanks so much!
John
Rich,
I am from the Findlay, Ohio area and a few folks at work are having a
discussion of Red Barns in the area. In the early 1960's my father was
treasurer for the Foodcraft Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. I remember as a
kid coming to Findlay and eating at the two Red Barns in Findlay. We
would come up unannounced so Dad could see how service, quality, etc. were
at the Red Barns. It seems that nobody but me remember having two in
town...they only remember one. One is now a carryout and the other (in
question) is an Arbys. The Arby's building is fairly new now but it
originally was in the old Red Barn building. Can you confirm any of my
memories?
Thanks. We really enjoyed looking through your website. Lots of memories
there.
Tom
Hi Rich,
There's a question for you in this email, as well as a photo.
I live on the west side of Cleveland in an area that was once the independent city of West Park, OH. I'm a founding member of the West Park Historical Society.
I also write neighborhood history articles for a small local publication, Kamm's Magazine, published by the Kamm's Corner Development Corporation.
I'm working hard on a book covering many West Park restaurants with photos, memories, and stories. I have a lot of the big chapters finished with 12 to 18 smaller chapters to go. It's supposed to be published by the West Park Historical Society but, if those plans don't work out for some reason, I will find another way to publish it.
In any event, it won't see print before November at the earliest.
We had one Red Barn in the area, right on the edge of West Park on West 117th Street. It still stands today. I've attached a recent photo.
Will you consider contributing to my book with a brief general history of the Red Barn chain of anywhere from a few paragraphs to two pages in length? There's no money in it (none for me either under the present arrangements) but your article will, of course, be credited to you with a reference to your web site.
I'll write the rest of the chapter focusing exclusively on the local Red Barn.
You can see samples of my writing at westparkhistory.com or at http://www.kammscorners.com/pr.html - the website for Kamm's Magazine. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have.
I fully understand if you'd rather not. My motivation is only this – since you know more about Red Barn than I ever will you'll do a better job than me, plus I won't have to research the chain more than I already have.
Once again, no offense if you'd prefer not to. I will almost certainly include a reference to your website under any circumstances, unless you object.
Sincerely,
Gary
I can not believe that this site exsists, my father and mother ran
three Red Barns in the Detroit area. I grew up climbing through the
rafters of the building. I miss those days.
I came to your website after looking up my old boss Harry Barmier. I managed the Red Barn Restaurant at the corner of Broadway and Libby in Maple Hts., Ohio from 1971 to 1973. It was owned by Interstate Restaurant systems and it's call letters was IRS # 25. I also was Asst. Mgr. at the store in Fairlawn, Ohio prior to the above IRS # 5. Your site brings back many fond memories. I have that Christmas album somewhere I think. I'll have to check out all the boxes in the basement! Thanks for the memories! Horkysnorky@cs.com
All photos and wording are property of barnbuster.net, or used by permission and may not be used in any form without written permission of site owner
was watching the CNBC special on McDonalds tonight and wondered if I could find anything on the Red Barn. I am suprised! (I think)
I remember my mom would stop and get me a hot dog at our Red Barn in Springfield, Ohio in the early 1960's. It had a special rectangle bun, and a taste that I have yet to find anywhere in the world in my travels. Does anyone else remember these special hot dogs?
Later in the 60's, the Junior High School I attended was just a short walk from that Red Barn. My choices were to stay in school and eat the cafeteria lunch for 30 cents, or...I could go to the Red Barn and get a hamburger for 15 cents, a small Coke for 10 cents, and a small fry for 10 cents, total of 35 cents. My mom gave me 30 cents a day for lunch and I had to scramble to find the nickle. Boy, I wish the cash flow challenges I faced for the next 40 years of life were that easy to fix!
Thanks for creating the web site. I enjoyed the memories.
.I grew up about a block away from the Red Barn in Cortland, NY (I posted a short blurb about it on Roadfood that you may have seen). I found your site a while back while researching my favorite childhood restaurant and I think the site is just fantastic. My mother still lives in the house I grew up in, so on a recent visit I photographed the old Red Barn bulding. It was most recently a Jreck Subs. It is now vacant, although the Jreck signs are still there. There are rumors it may be taken over and/or demolished by the gas station next door, so I wanted to photograph it just in case! I'll let you know if anything else develops. Photos are attached. Hope you can use them!
Kelly
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Hi Rich, We received the shirts and they look great. Thank you so much for getting them to us before Thanksgiving. Since the entire family is getting together for Thanksgiving dinner, my husband and his mother are going to show up wearing them. The reason for this is because when he was a child, his mother would take him to the Red Barn after picking him up from kindergarten. For his entire life, his six older brothers and sisters have teased him and his mother relentlessly because he was the baby and they never got to go. This is always a topic of conversation at just about every family get together. Any how, this is sure to be a laugh amongst them when they both show up to dinner wearing them. Thanks for making it possible. Your website is great. We were really happy to see it. Take care and have a wonderful holiday. Mary
Rich, my name is Craig and I worked at red barn in Wyoming. In 1979 I was the manager of the #1 volume Red Barn in the country, located in Rawlins Wyo. I started working at Red Barn in May 15, 1974, right out of high school. My first day of work I met my manager and assistant manager, and to this day....in 2006, we still work together as partners in different venues.
Right after motel 6 bought out servomation,,,and tried to run the restaurants the same way they ran their motels, we saw the writing on the wall. Shortly thereafter, we changed the name of our restaurants to Peaches Family Restaurants. Using the same chicken breading, (which we had analyzed in a lab), we were able to rename the sandwiches but mainly kept the same menu and cooking procedure. God how I would love to have a big barney right now. anyway...just thought you might enjoy our story.
Nice reading your sight....
Craig
ps ...we still have some chicken buckets and ashtrays....lol
Rich,
I am 45 years old and I clearly remember my mother taking myself and my younger brother to the Red Barn about once per month on 95th ST in Overland Park, KS back in 1966 and 1967. It was a thrill for us to eat there because it was a special treat to ever eat dinner out away from home...household's in those days mostly contained full time stay at home moms and they normally would always cook at home, so going out to eat for families was rare. We would always go out there for burgers and shakes during the week when my Dad was traveling on business.
Is there any chance that you can locate any old photos from that location? When did this location first open and when did it close? The location was near Antioch Road on 95th St in Overland Park, KS.
Please let me know if you have anything to share on this spot!
It is funny how we hold on to certain simple pleasures from when we were kids! Also, I was completely shocked to find the website..I assumed that it was long gone from anyones mind but mine!
Regards,
Jeff
Hi Rich, It's nice to see more additions to your website since I visited about six months ago. I managed SEVERAL of the Red Barns in your album...namely Frederick, MD; Camp Hill, PA; Carlisle, PA; Harrisburg, PA...all back in the '60's. We actually started a breakfast sandwich BEFORE Micky D's! It was called the 'Country Breakfast' and was an open-faced muffin with Canadian Bacon, egg and cheese...ironic! I worked for two different owners when we changed to Farm Family Restaurants, too! Enjoy going back thinking of those days...keep up the good work.
Bob
Johnstown, PA
Dear Rich,
I grew up in Stow, Ohio and have very fond memories of "Hanging Out" at the "Stow Red Barn" as we called it. When I was 15(1974) I began working there and worked my way through my high school years. When I started college I transfered to different Red Barn locations as I changed colleges. I started working the "Short Shift" and worked my way up to management in 1977. I left the company in 1981. My sister and Grandmother worked for Red Barn in Stow, Ohio as well. My Grandmother worked for Red Barn from 1972 until they closed the Stow, Ohio location in the late Eighties. I had many peices of Red Barn memorabilia I had accumulated over the years. Sadly when I was living in Florida I lost almost everything I owned to the destruction caused by Hurricane Charley. Along with it, my collection of Red Barn Keepsakes. I just recently found out about your site and just had to visit it. I remember having and using many items that folks shared pictures of and it brought back some fond memories. However, I had two items I didn't see a picture of on your site. One was an ashtray that was red and round with the slogan "Come Hungry, Go Happy, At Red Barn" that ran around the perimiter. The other was a stack of Battlestar Galactica iron- ons. Just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for having a site dedicated to one of the great slices of "Americana Gone By". The one and only Red Barn!
Thank You,
Ross
My cousin Kathy use to live in Nashville Tn and went to the Red Barn all the time. She was skinny as a toothpick and could eat two big Barneys with cheese and fries no problem. I was the fat kid who had trouble scarfing down one. Now I don't eat beef at all so maybe that explains it. Anyway Kathy is 51 and still wants a big Barney. Her brother is a truck driver and goes all over the states. Is there one true RED BARN (not the kind on my farm) left anywhere? I found your site and got all excited because hope springs eternal.
Thanks
I dont know how much 'memoribilia" I have, thought it looks like Rick and
Georgia have me covered on that kinda stuff. I had one of those ads on our
page and remember ALOT of the stuff posted all over the site from my dad
bringing it home when I was a kid. I just found the negatives of the
demolition. I had no idea when it was happening, but the Fates must have
wanted me to see it, because I just happened to be in the neighborhood and
driving by te location on that fateful day. I ran across the street to CVS
and purchased a few disposable cameras and went back to take these shots. As
soon as I can get the prints developed I will post them on a website so you
