John's City Diner: Difference between revisions

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:''This article is about the restaurant operated from 2004 to 2023. For its precursor, see [[John's Restaurant]].''
[[Image:John's City Diner logo.png|right|125px]]
[[Image:John's City Diner logo.png|right|125px]]
'''John's City Diner''' (originally '''John's Restaurant''') is a restaurant known for its seafood specialties and signature '''John's Slaw''' salad.
'''John's City Diner''' was a downtown restaurant opened in [[2004]] by [[Shannon Gober|Shannon]] and [[Shana Gober]] at 112 [[Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North]].


John's was first opened in [[1944]] by Greek restauranteur [[John Proferis]] at 214 [[21st Street North]]. It later moved a block down the same street to its current downtown location at 121 [[Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard North]]. Through most of its history, John's served a meat and three lunch and brought out white tablecloths for dinner. Noted entrees included trout almondine and prime rib served with cornbread sticks and a finely-shredded cabbage salad with a signature-recipe French dressing.
The roots of the business date back to [[John's Restaurant]], which was opened in [[1944]] by [[John Proferis]] and moved to 112 21st Street North in [[1978]] under the leadership of Proferis' nephew [[Phil Hontzas]]. It was sold to the Gobers by Phil's nephews [[Tom Hontzas|Tom]] and [[Pete Hontzas|Pete]] on [[March 22]], [[2004]].


The restaurant was remodeled and modernized in [[1949]] with new dining room fixtures which included coat-hooks on the end of each booth. Proferis closed the restaurant again for remodeling in the summer of [[1959]], with a grand re-opening held on [[July 20]]. The renovation included new kitchen equipment, new dining room furnishings and colorful decor.
The Gobers updated the menu and renovated the interior, changing the name to "John's City Diner". They later opened a second location at 1483 [[U.S. Highway 11|Gadsden Highway]] in [[Trussville]], but that location has since closed.


Proferis' family sold the business when he retired in [[1972]] and it subsequently changed hands several times.  
In June [[2014]] the [[Birmingham Design Review Committee]] approved the design for a painted wall mural on the south side of the downtown restaurant featuring the skyline from the John's City Diner logo and the slogan "[[It's Nice to Have You in Birmingham]]". Gober also replaced the canopy, renovated the exterior neon sign, freshened the interior decor and upgraded some of the utilities.


In [[1990]] Proferis' great nephews [[Tom Hontzas|Tom]] and [[Pete Hontzas]] began bottling the slaw dressing for retail sale under their [[Hontzas Brothers Foods]] label.
Gober announced the closing of John's City Diner in April [[2023]].
 
The restaurant was bought on [[March 22]], [[2004]] by [[Shannon Gober|Shannon]] and [[Shana Gober]]. They upgraded the menu and completely renovated the interior, changing the name to "John's City Diner". The Gobers also opened a second location at 1483 [[U.S. Highway 11|Gadsden Highway]] in [[Trussville]], but that location has since closed.


==References==
==References==
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* Evans, Amy (March 11, 2004) [http://www.southernfoodways.com/oral_history/greek/BG11_zoes.shtml Interview with Zoë Cassimus]. ''Greeks in Birmingham'' oral history project. Southern Foodways Alliance
* Evans, Amy (March 11, 2004) [http://www.southernfoodways.com/oral_history/greek/BG11_zoes.shtml Interview with Zoë Cassimus]. ''Greeks in Birmingham'' oral history project. Southern Foodways Alliance
* Walsh, Jan (May 2010) "Downtown Landmark: From Ambience to cuisine, John's City Diner is familiar and comforting." ''Birmingham'' magazine. Vol. 50, No. 5, p. 53
* Walsh, Jan (May 2010) "Downtown Landmark: From Ambience to cuisine, John's City Diner is familiar and comforting." ''Birmingham'' magazine. Vol. 50, No. 5, p. 53
* Tomberlin, Michael (June 25, 2014) "John's City Diner mural, Jimmy John's downtown among Birmingham Design Review actions." {{BN}}
* Jacoby, Kathryn (September 9, 2014) "Birmingham's John's City Diner steps up its game and embraces history with $225,000 of renovations." {{BN}}


==External links==
[[Category:Former restaurants]]
* [http://www.birminghammenus.com/johns/ John's City Diner] website
[[Category:2004 establishments]]
* [http://johnsfamous.com/ John's Famous Dressing] website
[[Category:2023 disestablishments]]
 
[[Category:Meat and three restaurants]]
[[Category:Greek-owned restaurants]]
[[Category:1944 establishments]]
[[Category:21st Street North]]
[[Category:21st Street North]]
[[Category:U.S. Highway 11]]
[[Category:U.S. Highway 11]]

Latest revision as of 10:24, 12 April 2023

This article is about the restaurant operated from 2004 to 2023. For its precursor, see John's Restaurant.
John's City Diner logo.png

John's City Diner was a downtown restaurant opened in 2004 by Shannon and Shana Gober at 112 Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North.

The roots of the business date back to John's Restaurant, which was opened in 1944 by John Proferis and moved to 112 21st Street North in 1978 under the leadership of Proferis' nephew Phil Hontzas. It was sold to the Gobers by Phil's nephews Tom and Pete on March 22, 2004.

The Gobers updated the menu and renovated the interior, changing the name to "John's City Diner". They later opened a second location at 1483 Gadsden Highway in Trussville, but that location has since closed.

In June 2014 the Birmingham Design Review Committee approved the design for a painted wall mural on the south side of the downtown restaurant featuring the skyline from the John's City Diner logo and the slogan "It's Nice to Have You in Birmingham". Gober also replaced the canopy, renovated the exterior neon sign, freshened the interior decor and upgraded some of the utilities.

Gober announced the closing of John's City Diner in April 2023.

References

  • Guster, Chanda Temple (December 26, 2007) "New owner of Birmingham landmark restaurant kept beloved bread on revamped menu." The Birmingham News
  • Evans, Amy (March 11, 2004) Interview with Zoë Cassimus. Greeks in Birmingham oral history project. Southern Foodways Alliance
  • Walsh, Jan (May 2010) "Downtown Landmark: From Ambience to cuisine, John's City Diner is familiar and comforting." Birmingham magazine. Vol. 50, No. 5, p. 53
  • Tomberlin, Michael (June 25, 2014) "John's City Diner mural, Jimmy John's downtown among Birmingham Design Review actions." The Birmingham News
  • Jacoby, Kathryn (September 9, 2014) "Birmingham's John's City Diner steps up its game and embraces history with $225,000 of renovations." The Birmingham News
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