By Jay Whipple
Trend Magazine Online™
A New Attitude!
Re-published from a previous edition
Trend Magazine Online™
A New Attitude!
Re-published from a previous edition
I have been dining at this establishment for nearly two decades and am
finally getting around to writing a review. Sometimes we take for granted
the things that are right under our noses and or considered common place.
I have also been mentioning this eatery on our very popular Black
African-American Heritage Tours™ for the same length of
time. I tell our tour guests that this place has the best
Polk (Pork) Chop Samiges (Sandwiches)
in the area and that it used to be called Skip’s Original
Chicken N Ribs; but Skip skipped – if you
know what I mean. I usually get a chuckle or two from our tour guests and
occasionally an inquiry as to how to get back to their local.
This take-out only restaurant dates back to 1952
and is located in what we call the heart of the Black
community in the Queen City -- known as the
Northwest Corridor. The neighborhood is called
Washington Heights which was the first street car suburb
for Blacks in Charlotte. It is situated
along Beatties Ford Road which is named in honor of an
early Scottish-Irish farmer-settler from
Pennsylvania – John Beatty. This
road used to dead end at the Catawba River going north
west, and there used to be a low spot that folks would cross called a
ford – hence the name Beatties Ford Road. On the
south side of Charlotte is Nations Ford
Road, named in honor of the nation of Indians.
It too once crossed the Catawba River but to the south.
We know that you are not from Charlotte, or are new here
when you pronounce this street’s name as it is spelled -- as
opposed to the correct pronunciation; which is
“Bayties.”
Now, back to the matter at hand; this establishment underwent major
renovations in the last year and although it looks a thousand percent
better in terms of esthetics, my concern was simple. Did you change
stoves and is the food going to be the same? Well, the stoves were
replaced and I will let you know about the food shortly. I typically stop
by this place after one of our Queen City
Tours® and such was the case this time. This
time, however, I was greeted by a very nice white lady who cordially
greeted me and asked to take my order. I must admit that although the
food here is the bomb, the service was to the contrary as I am normally
greeted by sad and vexed faces. I guess with the new digs comes new and
improved attitudes. I applaud this welcomed change.
