The Webster Museum - A Ground Round with Everything

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A GROUND ROUND

WITH EVERYTHING!

RECIPES | LINKS

...1929

LOCAL

Alex Tahou's opens a hot dog stand and names it for his son, Nick Tahou.

1918

Solomon Bogorad opens Sol's Hots at Sea Breeze. The business is officially incorporated August 18, 1927.

1919

Vince's Place is opened by Vince Hurysz at Sea Breeze.

1928

Vic Anuszkiewicz begins work at Stanley's Place, a popular Sea Breeze "Hot Stand" owned by Stanley Wagner.

1928

NATIONAL

Nathan Handwerker opens a hot dog stand at Coney Island, later to become Nathan's Famous.

1916

A & W is founded in Lodi, CA by Roy Allen (A) and Frank Wright (W)

June 20, 1919

White Castle is founded in Wichita, KS

September 13, 1921

1930's

LOCAL

Myron Orbaker opens a hamburger stand along route 104 in Williamson.

1932

Vince's Place is badly damaged by explosives placed within the structure. Vera Wagner the wife of Stanley Wagner, owner of nearby Stanley's Place, and Edward Mroczek, a Wagner employee are put on trial for the destuction. Despite confessions for the crime, both are aquitted.

1935

Vic & Irv's is born. Irving Anuszkiewicz joins his brother Victor who opened Vic's Place at Sea Breeze in 1934.

1937

Bill and Alberta Gray open a small Hot Dog stand on Ridge Rd. in Webster.

1938

NATIONAL

Steak n' Shake is established in Normal, IL by Gus Belt

February 1934

Big Boy is founded as Bob's Pantry in Glendale, CA by Bob Wian

August 6, 1936

1940's

LOCAL

Don Barbato with the assistance of his brother-in-law Robert Beri open Don and Bob's at Sea Breeze. Bob is not directly involved in the day to day operation of the restaurant, but Don's wife Ann is.

1945

Thanks to the addition of windows, insulation, and heat, Bill Gray's is able to stay open all year for the first time.

1948

Sol's Hots burns down on May 3rd...but is rebuilt in 18 days, re-opening on May 21st.

1949

NATIONAL

Samuel Caston opens Sam's Tavern in Seattle, WA, but soon changes the name to Sam's Red Robin.

1940

Lovie Yancey founds Fatburger in Los Angeles, CA.

1947

In-N-Out Burger opens its first drive-thru restaurant in Baldwin Park, CA.

October 22, 1948

Richard and Maurice McDonald opens their first hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, CA.

December 12, 1948

1950's

LOCAL

Don and Bob's opens a Monroe Ave. location, Don's brother Joe, takes over management of the Sea Breeze restaurant.

1953

Tom Wahl, Sr. opens his first Tom Wahl's restaurant in Avon NY.

1955

Vince's Place is rebranded Walt and Leo's after Vince Hurysz moves on leaving the business in the hands of his brothers, Walt and Leo. Their hot stand remains open for another five years.

1955

Joe and Ken Schaller open Schaller's Drive-In at 965 Edgemere Dr. in Rochester.

1956

After much growth, Bill Gray's relocates to a larger facility in Henrietta.

1959

NATIONAL

The first Whataburger is opened by Harmon Dobson in Corpus Christi, TX.

August 8, 1950

Topsy's Drive-In of San Diego, CA is rebranded as "Jack in the Box".

February 21, 1951

Burger King founded as Insta-Burger King in Florida.

1953

Sonic founded as Top Hat Drive In in Shawnee, OK.

June 18, 1953

Ray Kroc founds McDonald's Systems Inc. and opens its first franchise in Illinois.

April 15, 1955

Burger King introduces the "Whopper".

1957

1960's

LOCAL

Bill Gray sells his Ridge Rd. restaurant and nearby home to George Vokakis, a Rochester area entrepreneur. Vokakis initially keeps the "Bill Gray's" name, while expanding the restaurant menu, and hours. George Musclow, Bill Gray's son-in-law and longtime employee is named manager.

1961

Solomon Bogorad retires and closes his hot stand after 42 years at Sea Breeze.

1961

George Musclow opens a restaurant on Empire Blvd. across the street from the Empire Drive-In. The site was previously Zornow's Hot Stand, which was a popular hot dog stand through much of the 1950s.

1962

Bill O'Hara purchases Orbaker's from the Orbaker family.

1963

Gerald "Jerry" Burns opens Jerry Burns Hots a brand new all year hot stand on Culver Rd. Charlie Riedel, Jerry's son-in-law works at the restaurant.

1963

Solomon Bogorad dies leaving $10,000 toward the creation of a Yiddish to English dictionary.

February 7, 1964

Partnering with long time friend, Bruce Hegedorn, Bill Gray opens a new restaurant on Route 104 in Ontario and later in the year, opens another on Culver Rd. in Sea Breeze. The Sea Breeze location was purchased from Jerry Burns for $155,000.

1965

George Voxakis, builds a new restaurant called "The Satellite" directly behind the existing Bill Gray's on Ridge Rd. Upon completion of the new restaurant, the original Bill Gray's is torn down.

1965

Charlie Riedel opens Charlie's restaurant.

1969

NATIONAL

Carrol's opens its first New York franchize

1960

The Big Mac is introduced by McDonald's (at 45¢ a piece).

1968

Wendy's is founded by Dave Thomas in Columbus, OH

November 15, 1969

1970's

LOCAL

Carrol's opens a location in the village of Webster at 77 E. Main St.

May 1972

For health reasons, Don Barbato sells the Monroe Ave. location and returns to Sea Breeze, renaming the Sea Breeze location Don's Original.

1973

Irving Anuszkiewicz dies of a heart attack while pumping water out of the Vic & Irv's parking lot.

1973

Bill Gray's opens its Hard Rd. location adjacent to Hegedorn's.

1978

NATIONAL

McDonald's introduces the Shamrock Shake. Initially it has a lemon-lime flavor, but by 1973 it is reformulated with a mint flavor.

1970

The Egg McMuffin is introduced by McDonald's.

1972

Carrol's begins to convert its restaurants to Burger King's.

1975

The Happy Meal is introduced by McDonald's.

1979

1980's

LOCAL

Don Barbato dies after a long battle with cancer.

1982

Jim and Ralph Nucelli, the twin sons of longtime Don and Bob's manager and boxer Nello Nucelli open Jim and Ralph's on Elmgrove Rd. in Gates.

1983

The Corning House (66 W. Main St.) is torn down to make way for McDonald's.

March 24, 1983

Webster's first McDonald's opens on site of the former Webster Dairy (190 W. Main St.).

December 2, 1983

Bill Gray's acquires Tom Wahl's restaurants.

1986

NATIONAL

Chicken McNuggets are introduced by McDonald's.

1983

Ray Kroc dies.

January 14, 1984

Five Guys opens its first restaurant in Arlington, VA

1986

1990's

LOCAL

Long time employee and friend, Terry Klee purchases Don's Original from the Barbato family.

1991

The Ilijevsky family opens Empire Hots at 2209 Empire Blvd.

1991

Bill Gray passes away.

July 3, 1994

Nello Nucelli, longtime Don & Bob's manager passes away.

May 18, 1996

NATIONAL

2000's

LOCAL

The Penfield Don's Original opens.

2002

Kevin Klee (brother of Terry Klee), purchases Vic & Irv's from the Anuszkiewicz family.

2004

John and Karen Cipro purchase the Penfield Don's Original and begin converting it to Don's Restaurant and Pub.

2005

Alberta Gray passes away.

February 13, 2008

Richard Guon owner of the Webster McDonald's passes away. His wife, Mary Ellen steps in to run the family franchises.

April 4, 2009

Jay Tarmino opens Webster Hots at 55 E. Main St. in the village of Webster.

May 2009

NATIONAL

Shake Shack opens as a novelty hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in NYC. The cart was stocked by Eleven Madison Park, a three Michelin star restaurant owned by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group.

2001

Smash Burger founded in Denver, CO.

2007

2010's

LOCAL

Victor Anuszkiewicz dies at the age of 95.

February 16, 2010

After 28 years, Jim and Ralph's serves its last ground round. A few months later, three of Jim's kids (Jimmy, Kyle and Lindsay) open Jim's Grounds on Spencerport Rd.

2013

McDonald's opens a new restaurant in Webster at 1135 Ridge Rd. which replaces their Main St. village location.

August 15, 2013

George Musclow, owner of Musclow's Restaurant dies.

June 7, 2014

Operation Brain Freeze opens a Dairy Queen restaurant in Webster at 919 Hard Rd.

September 12, 2014

Sonic opens its first Rochester location in Irondequoit.

September 20, 2014

Jim Nucelli of Jim and Ralph's passes away.

February 24, 2015

Wendy's opens its first restaurant in Webster at 987 Ridge Rd.

August 4, 2015

Vic & Irv's is torn down after closing in 2014.

September 3, 2015

Bill Mutschler becomes the new owner of Webster Hots.

June 2017

Bill O'Hara, owner of Orbaker's dies.

December 28, 2018

Charlie's celebrates 50 years in business and Charlie Riedel's 91st birthday.

August 20, 2019

NATIONAL

Actor Mark Wahlberg and brothers, Donnie and Paul open their first Wahlburger's restaurant. The name "Wahlburger" is licensed from Tom Wahl's.

2011

The Steak n' Shake on famed Route 66 in Springfield, MO is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2012

Burger King merges with Canadian restaurant chain, Tim Horton's.

2014

Burger King begins selling the Impossible Whopper, a 100% vegetarian burger.

August 8, 2019

2020's

LOCAL

Bruce Hegedorn dies at the age of 93.

February 17, 2021

Charlie Riedel dies at the age of 92.

March 14, 2021

Bob and Dawn Heintzelman purchase Orbaker's from the O'Hara family.

July, 2023

Shake Shake opens its first Rochester location on Clay Rd. in Henrietta.

July 9, 2024

NATIONAL

WE HAVE RECIPES

ACCURACY VARIES BY LOCATION

Rochester Hot Meat Sauce

VERSION ONE

Ingredients:

1/3 cup green peppers, chopped small (bite-size)
1/3 cup onion, chopped small (bite-size)
1 pound ground beef (hamburger)
1 quart warm or room temperature water
15 onces tomato sauce or 3 cans tomato paste
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon chilli power
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (aka red pepper)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon allspice
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion powder

How you'll make it:

Sautee your vegetables in oil and throw them in a medium to large size pot.
Using the same pan, brown your hamburger.
Combine all other ingredients into a sauce-pot and let simmer for 2 hours!

If you have a slow cooker or crock pot:

Saute veggies in oil and add them to slow cooker
Brown hamburger in same pan and add to slow cooker
Combine all other ingredients and throw them in the slow cooker/Crock pot and let simmer for 2 hrs!

source

VERSION TWO

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon oil
1 medium onion chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
1 cup beef broth
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
salt to taste

Instructions:

ln a large skillet, over medium heat fry onion and garlic in oil until soft. Add meat and spices, periodically stir and break up any clumps of beef with a fork. Cook until the meat is no longer pink.
Once the meat is cooked though, add beef broth, tomato paste and brown sugar. Simmer 10 minutes. Use a hand immersion blender to further give the meat a finer texture, a couple of quick whirls here and there are all you need.
Simmer 1 hour, adding more beef broth if necessary to keep it moist, but avoid adding too much and letting the sauce get soupy.

source

VERSION THREE