By Bobbie

November 11, 2010 7:52 AM | Link to this

I went to work at Wympee’s at just barely 17 in Nov.1967, left in mid 1970. I started as a carhop, then moved inside, later was 3rd shift manager, and ended working the breakfast shift. Those years at Wympee’s are one of my fondest memories. I loved my years there, the women I worked with, then owner George Thomas, his father “Pop” who was beloved by all of us, and of course our many, many ‘regulars’. Third shift during that time on Friday & Saturday nights was like going to a party with all your friends showing up and getting paid for it! Especially, after Sam’s Bar across the street, and other bar’s closed..and Wympee’s was their patrons, and many of our regulars next stop. That place still holds a special place in my heart, as does everyone associated with it back then. I also met my ex-husband there…we were together for 26 yrs. When I saw it how it went downhill in the 80’s, it broke my heart. And when it became vacant I stopped by, and looked in the windows at the ruins several times, wishing I could buy it and save it. Wishing the previous owners had not so foolishly did what they did to the seating area. Putting in that ugly booth, discarding some of those historic bar stools, removing the built-in pie case, and the jukebox, etc. I longed to restore it, but couldn’t…so glad to see someone else saw the potential and historic value and it will now be brought back to life!!!!

By Steve

October 8, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this

I agree…it should be restored and moved to Carillon Park. It is a piece of Americana!

By Donald Gill

October 5, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

I left Dayton 50yrs ago and never returned,but i remember WYMPEE

By bob scott

October 4, 2009 8:07 AM | Link to this

worked at delco now retired and my mother inlaw and i would meet at linch there every day.she is gone,now dayton is dying all so a little at a time. tou all can thank the mayor and her friends for the decaying of a one great town.

By Maggie

October 3, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

I was one of those St. Joe’s girls (in uniform) who drank cokes and smoked cigaretts behind Wympees. (Until someone tipped off the nuns about our bad behavior.) One of my favorite memories of Dayton! How about moving Wympees to Asheville?

By Crusty biker

October 3, 2009 9:16 AM | Link to this

Maybe someone can buy it restore and open it up again Anyone?

By kyderdog

October 3, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this

The last of the greasy Spoons in Dayton… Lived in Dayton my whole life never went in and will not miss.

By Sandy

October 3, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this

My Mom, who is 86, used to tell of eating there long ago. Burgers and a milkshake for a dime. She will be sad to hear its closed. But I have her stories…

By Mr. D'Agostino

October 3, 2009 5:40 AM | Link to this

A classic b-level diner for so many decades until the 80’s. After that it was all downhill from there. I have many fond memories as a young boy and teenager sharing a meal there with my father during the 60’s and 70’s. It was a very tired building then and I don’t think it was designed to stand as long as it has. Haven’t been there since the 90’s. I’ve always tried to imagine what it was like in its heyday. It always had that “petrolania” kind of feeling to it.

By mike

October 3, 2009 4:37 AM | Link to this

what once was nice is now nasty,it was a nasty place back in the day,but when your young that is overlooked.but still good memories

By leftout

October 3, 2009 2:30 AM | Link to this

the last time a tourist came to dayton, was after the flood

By Erich

October 3, 2009 2:20 AM | Link to this

It saddens me that a Dayton landmark is no longer. While I have not frequented Wympees in awhile I have fond memories of My Dad and I stopping in for a Wympee burger.

By urinthedark

October 3, 2009 2:20 AM | Link to this

dayton died a long time ago…nobody bothered to tell its residents…

By darren

October 3, 2009 2:13 AM | Link to this

Bummer, sounds like something is closing every time I visit the website, but this one really hurts…What an institution, haven’t been there in years, but while attending Stivers and Patterson, used to make regular trips there, great burgers, always just a little dumpy, but that was part of the charm…..’Tis a sad, sad day indeed….

By reader

October 2, 2009 11:30 PM | Link to this

And the hits just keep on comin…

By AuroraGal

October 2, 2009 11:24 PM | Link to this

My grandparents used to go there on dates back in the 40s. So sad to see it go.

By Cityresident

October 2, 2009 11:21 PM | Link to this

The health dept. should of closed that trap 30 years ago. What a nasty place to eat. I want to vomit just thinking of wympee’s.

By Cindy

October 2, 2009 11:20 PM | Link to this

Oh no, say it ain’t so. How sad. Spent quite a few lunch hours there enjoying good, reasonably priced food. Where will you eat, Ann?

By Old Scratch

October 2, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this

Dayton has so little character to offer, and now it has less.

By jacob

October 2, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this

Adios Wympee’s, thanks for sticking around this long.

By Di

October 2, 2009 9:03 PM | Link to this

Born and raised native Daytonion from the east end and on my way to St. Joe’s Commercial High School. Would get off the bus meet up with classmates, drink cokes, smoke cigarettes and head on to school. That is my memory of Wympee’s. The good ole days of the 60’s

By maduro55

October 2, 2009 8:48 PM | Link to this

I moved to FL about 5 years ago, Wympees was always the place I’ve told people to go to if they go to Dayton to visit. Not a single complaint! My Dad took me there for the first time in 1966, he went there in the early 50’ when he attended Stivers. It’s sad to see a Traditon end.

By JP

October 2, 2009 6:26 PM | Link to this

Elisabeth: I’d reconsider that move to Dayton…….

By Melodie

October 2, 2009 6:18 PM | Link to this

I hadn’t been in Wympee’s since my high school days, but it’s kind of sad to know it won’t be there anymore when I come back to Dayton to visit. My mother used to stop there for lunch after her doctor visits when she was pregnant with me in the ’50s.

By Suburbian

October 2, 2009 6:04 PM | Link to this

No one is scared to go downtown, its just that there isnt much downtown that you cant find closer to home (for us suburbians)… not to mention the news always portrays it as bad, and maybe if they would clean it up and add more attractions things would quit closing… DUH!

By Wordell

October 2, 2009 5:53 PM | Link to this

…”I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”… (What Wympee would say to Popeye)…sad to see it go…

By Chris

October 2, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this

I hope they are going to move the building to Carillon Park. It’s a historical landmark and should be kept for the future. http://www.daytonhistory.org/destinations/carillon-park.htm

By Gary

October 2, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this

Move the building to Carillon Park!!!

By Urban Sprawl 1

October 2, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

Urban Sprawl, the yuppie’s are scared of you, not Downtown.

By Flipper 1

October 2, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this

Hey Flipper, If you would donate some of your valuable time to helping the vagrant’s, maybe you could help them out.

By Urban Sprawl

October 2, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

Maybe they should move the building to the Greene, all the “yuppies” will love it. Their just afraid to go downtown.

By History

October 2, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this

It saddens me. Never been there just because I’m not downtown much; but the historic look and the stories I’ve heard make me wish it’d stayed forever. Guess people like myself should frequent these places and then maybe they’ll stay open. Just too afraid to delve into the unknown. :o( Very sad.

By Joker

October 2, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this

chiefwino: the Gallery is moving it’s location so the lot will sit empty.

By RR

October 2, 2009 4:00 PM | Link to this

My Dad used to “cruise” Wympees in the fifties….so long…

By flipper

October 2, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this

Where will all the vagrants go now?

By chiefwino

October 2, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this

Maybe the Wine Gallery across the street can use the parking lot.

By oh-boy

October 2, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this

Went there one time, got a lottery ticket after my snack and got 4 of 6 numbers! Thanks Wympee! Your are the source of my biggest lottery winnings to date!

By Elizabeth

October 2, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this

How sad. I’m from Chicago and considering a move to Dayton. When driving through Dayton a few weeks ago I noticed Wympee as being one of the many quaint landmarks the city has. What a shame to let it go.

By Sweet release

October 2, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this

But really, what if those bar stools could talk, that would horrible! 70 years of (posterior), then thrown to the scrap heap. Is it a final indignity? or perhaps it is a mercy for them? Sweet release…

By Washington Township

October 2, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this

…and Dayton gets a little bit more bland and sucky.