Richard and Laurel Kapala both work about seven days per week. The Best in Charlotte: Best in the Nest 2022, The Best in Charlotte Best in the Nest 2021, The Best in Charlotte Best in the Nest 2020, The Best in Charlotte Best in the Nest 2019, Family of Mount Hollys Ransom Hunter Fights to Preserve Legacy, Charlotte Professor Breaks Architectural Boundaries with Myco-Materials, Queen City Nerves Most Read Stories of 2022, Tragic Death of Charlotte Artist Francis Wabibi Leaves Family Seeking Justice, New County Department Prepares Violence Prevention Plan, distribution locations all over Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, contribute to our journalism efforts here, The Causes and Effects of Losing Lesbian Bars, VIVA Chicken Celebrates a Decade of Growth, Love in Action Cafe Opens on Tuckaseegee Road, JK Wine: Pairing with Headscratchers at Cellar Distributing. A taxidermy fish hanging above the counter also dates back to Cappys early days. I just found this website. I remember associating the other one with upscale after church eating. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. "There was a clothing store back there, and there were these mannequins. chat with Leigh Langkable, owner of Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant in Morristown, Indiana. Amazing. I was sleeping late that morning as usual. In 1964, Richard's father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. After a couple hours in the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it. "The alarms went off in the station," McCord said. Cloudy. It was an attorney's office, not a dentist. It remains one of Charlotte's most famous unsolved murders. Not sure why you got downvoted, but despite the food being good the dining room was far from clean. (SUN/Julia Malakie)A couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra. Next the cardboard panels stuck in the (I think there were six vents in the block base of those glass windows) blew out and the building rattled. Do you have any stories from that day? Hurricane Hugo hit Charlotte hard in 1989 and did serious damage to the restaurants north-facing wall. It was a miracle that it happened when the damage was to property not people. In 1964, Richards father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. . Thats a loaded one, she says, pausing to think it over. Our guest tell us this charm is unmatchable even by the most beautiful restaurants in all of Europe! An aviation management student got up in the air and relayed to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb had hit. 67 followers 67 connections Downtown looked like a war zone. Oh, and now we have video.). Useful. It turns out running a caf filled with regulars suited her. When her dad, George Karnezis, had a stroke in 2014, she stepped in to run her parents restaurant, Kopper Kettle, until they were back on their feet. It remains one of Charlottes most famous unsolved murders. At that time, Auburn was a sleepy little village still on the cusp of the economic boom it would see years later. He got an idea of the severity of the incident as he headed into help after he turned off Highway 280 onto Highway 147 and rose to the top of the first hill. Karol Kapala would tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. "From north Auburn, you could see the plume of smoke on the horizon in that high spot, so I had an idea that there was something big going on," he said. "It was just like, Holy moly. You look there, and theres this whole section of the block thats gone," he said. I got up to go to church and had pretty much forgotten about it. You can help keep more like it coming by becoming a TWER patron. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. Join over 20,000 Charlotte residents who receive our daily updates. "My office will aggressively pursue businesspeople who operate in such an illegal manner," McSwain said. I love this place.. Long ago, the Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant put Morristown on gourmets' list from coast to coast as a stop on Route 52 where a fine meal may be enjoyed in a delightfully restful setting. I was like, That sounds delicious, she says, laughing. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. They're still open. He threatened to tell the owner, she recalled with a chuckle. In 1981, the bar expanded into the space next door. 800 Newtown-Richboro Road Richboro, PA ROBERT YOST OBITUARY Robert Yost, co-owner and operator of the Kopper Kettle in Feasterville, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on. I remember the one at Brookwood, too. McDonald narrowly avoided getting caught up in the blast as he was behind Auburn First National (now AuburnBank) at the time, said McCord, who sprang into action with other firefighters on duty. A family style fine dining restaurant, known for its famous pan fried chicken, delicious. The Kapalas guess that the wall is as old as the bar, possibly dating back to the 1930s. Auburns was all greasy spoon and stuff. Required fields are marked *. That was my best friends (Drew Gentry) dad that didnt go into work that day. The shops across the street, "War Eagle PIzza" and others had shattered glass storefronts. She expected the role to last a year at most. Thanks for listening! (Photo by Ryan Pitkin) A bird's-eye-view picture of the restaurant and the land around it that was taken in 1971 hangs on the wall near the cash register today, and it shows just how isolated the Kopper Kettle was three residential trailers are all that can be seen nearby. A young black girl tells Morris she didnt eat breakfast because shes refusing to eat anything until her mom lets her have pizza, to which Morris responds, Completely understandable.. I've heard rumors it's already sold. A year or so later, he bought the other share. Then, everything changed, as a natural gas explosion rocked downtown, destroying Kopper Kettle restaurant, a dentist's office and other businesses by the northwest corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. There are niches with marble and alabaster statuary, Dresden china, and Chinese chests. I can say that I was rocked by the song and also by the Kopper Kettle.. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. There are several well-documented close calls including then Rev. Its such a gem, she says. He had no idea that I was married to him, she said. But over the years, multiple customers have claimed that they caught the fish and gave it to Cappy. Frank DeGraffenreid w/ hat. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism I thought a tornado was coming through but I didn't see anything outside. The anniversary and a sermon given shortly after the blast by the Rev. I was working at the old Spur station on the corner of Gay and Glenn. I think I remember asking my roomie on the top bunk: "what was that!?" Flights . Called off services due to potential other gas leaks. Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS. We serve anything from wings. Much to everyones relief, not a single person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained. Charles Britt of Auburn United Methodist Church barely made it through the red light at the corner of Magnolia and Gay before the blast. "Criminals like Eckler chip away at the integrity of the system, which has a ripple effect on everyone in the community. The event made national news. McCord worked on top of the ladder truck for about three and a half hours before being relieved. Sinclair and his wife, Louise, now live in Charlottesville, Va. By the early 1980s, the block was rebuilt and the evidence of the blast was gone. I hits close to home, huh? "The defendants' practice of paying their employees in cash, concealing this from the IRS, and failing to collect and pay federal employment taxes, undermines the integrity of the federal income tax system and harms those who play by the rules.". Jan. 15, 1978 was a quiet Sunday in downtown Auburn. While the devastation to downtown Auburn shocking, that no one died or suffered a serious injury from the explosion was the most remarkable thing about that day. All Rights Reserved, On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon. Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike. Spelling copper with a K was Georges idea, Morris says, because theres no C in the Greek alphabet. Its definitely like a family atmosphere down here, Saba said. An Irish band plays from 2 to 8 p.m., but some regulars arrive early in the morning to claim their tables. Some folks came by a day later to collect the records. 82. Low 66F. Its not just the great food or even her Kopper Kettle family that keeps her around, however; theres also her real family to think about. On Sunday morning, January 15, 1978, several businesses on East Magnolia Ave in downtown Auburn were destroyed in an explosion caused by a natural gas leak beneath the restaurant. It was so cold, Lawrence got stuck to the sidewalk after getting sprayed from the ladder truck while working a hand line on the ground. These photos bring back so many memories! I-77 was still . Rod Sinclair was preparing for the 8:30 a.m. service when the explosion happened, knocking him to his knees. I dipped the biscuits in French toast batter and then I grilled it, and I said Holy Jesus, this is good. Now people have started making biscuit sandwiches out of the French toast biscuits.. In the years since she took over for her parents, Morris hasnt changed the menu much: biscuits and egg platters for breakfast, along with a signature dish, The Original Smash Pot, a heap of potatoes topped with cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. Where I am standing is no more than 40 feet from the blast site and you can see the stacks of plates that are unharmed! Saradina Morris didnt plan to spend her life running a small caf surrounded by warehouses and industrial parks outside Pineville. The Kopper Kettle is the place where one can savor Hoosier fried chicken, broiled prime steaks, and delicious seafood, served by lovely girls in peasant costumes. and our house shook like it had been hit by lightening. Parents always got stuff from here, since I was a little kid- not sorry they got caught but sad to see another long time place go. She had a perfectly good career already, as a counselor. Jan. 15, 1978 was a quiet Sunday in downtown Auburn. I work days and he works nights, Laurel said on a recent Wednesday. We were all so grateful that there were no fatalities, Patterson says. Specialties: Over 150 Years of History Full of Beautiful Antiques Serving Indiana's Best Chicken, Filet Mignon Seafood Tuesday - Saturday 11 - 8:30 Sunday - 11:30 - 6:30 Established in 1858. The Kapalas are currently selling the building and business for $850,000. Thats what it kind of looked like, what you might expect from a bomb or auxiliary round that may have hit the building and blown it up. Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Larry P. Pelullo, Retired Carpenter with over 30 years Experience, Open Houses Planned In The Bensalem Area: Here Are The Latest 3 Listings, State Sen. Farry Launches Satellite Office Hours In Bucks. William Taxis Owner/Director at Tuscany Restored Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. It BLEW UP!" Many of her regulars are police officers and firefighters. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy. Auburn had made the national news. Though generational favorites like the fried pork chops or livermush remain top sellers, Morris has introduced new adaptations that have in short time become hits among newcomers and longtime customers alike. A birds-eye-view picture of the restaurant and the land around it that was taken in 1971 hangs on the wall near the cash register today, and it shows just how isolated the Kopper Kettle was three residential trailers are all that can be seen nearby. Two weeks after the explosion, at St. Dunstans Episcopal Church, Sinclair gave a sermon fittingly titled Explosions, recognizing the outpouring of camaraderie and grateful spirits exhibited in Auburn following the blast. Found out later that day what had happened. Owners Stephen Eckler, 68, of Ivyland, and Robert Yost, 52, of Southampton, allegedly did not report $263,340 in cash wages to dishwashers between March 2012 and September 2016. I thought my 1 1/2 year old fell out of bed when it blew. "The chief was there directing the ladder trucks in, directing me in, but I thought he was getting me way too close," he said. The Kapalas hope to travel with their free time, but plan to visit the bar even after the sale. I was routed around the downtown area.. The room was about 20 x 10 feet. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. We actually got there prior to fire/police. The county seat is Doylestown. Keep it Clean. And it blew all those mannequins out there on the sidewalk and the street," McCord said. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. It is the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. [] in the late 70s a restaurant in downtown Auburn, AL blew up because of a gas leak. They were only open for takeout for a few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off. https://discord.gg/kJdJq5BRH5, Press J to jump to the feed. Kopper Kettle, Morristown: See 94 unbiased reviews of Kopper Kettle, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #1 of 5 restaurants in Morristown. So I did it. Sorry the owners got greedy. They are down to two prospective buyers, both of whom plan to run a bar in the space. Morris admits that, before returning to the restaurant, she got so distracted by her own job and kids that she didnt make enough time for her father. My dads dental office was above the Kopper Kettle (Dr. James L. Carroll)! She never left. Rubble to places? Have a blowup of that photo hanging on my wall today. My mom drove through the intersection 20-30 minutes prior, on her way to the Baptist Church a block away. He thought a small plane had crashed into the downtown area. For this speech, Patterson will talk about what he witnessed at both the Kopper Kettle explosion in Auburn, and on 9/11 when he worked in Washington D.C. as a diplomat. People are also reading Kopper Kettles version of a Philly cheesesteak, with pot roast (!) People really appreciate it when you listen. God Bless and War Eagle! It was just like the movies you see on TV where there is a big explosion, the building rocks and all the windows start moving around, Patterson says. Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a 250,000. The 1930s thought a small caf surrounded by warehouses and industrial parks outside Pineville Kapalas... Suited her hanging above the Kopper Kettle ( Dr. James L. Carroll ) she. To Cappys early days, and i said Holy Jesus, this is good. ) my... That he caught the fish and gave it to Cappy still on the cusp of the ladder for. Blew all those mannequins out there on the top bunk: `` what that! 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