Toddle House

Toddle House

Toddle House was a national restaurant chain in the United States specializing in breakfast and open 24/7. Each tiny 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 Frederick C. Smith, the father of Frederick W. Smith, the founder of FedEx. A regional manager of the chain, Joe Rogers, Sr., 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, [ [http://web.bryant.edu/~ehu/h364proj/sprg_97/crowell/dobbs.html Dobbs House] ] and the franchise was allowed to decline. [ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v18/ai_3367412 Dobbs House franchising revamped Toddle House | Nation's Restaurant News | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] 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. [ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4353771 DHG acquires Steak 'n Egg; consulting firm enters family restaurant business - Diversified Hospitality Group Inc | Nation's Restaurant News | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] [ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n11_v22/ai_6480459 CPS sells Dobbs to Morrison - Carson, Pirie Scott and Co., Dobbs Food Service Management Inc., Morrison Inc | Nation's Restaurant News | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] 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).

References


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