Member Center

After 70 years, Dayton restaurant calls it quits | Taste: Dayton food and restaurants
 

Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2009 > October > 02 > Entry

After 70 years, Dayton restaurant calls it quits

By Mark Fisher | Friday, October 2, 2009, 02:38 PM

wympees sign3.JPG

Wympee — a diner that served burgers and coffee at 416 E. Third St. in the shadow of downtown Dayton since 1938 — has closed.

“Due to the high cost of maintenance, this building and business will be closed” permanently, according to a hand-written sign taped to the front door of the throwback burger restaurant. “Thank you for all your loyalty and business. I will miss you all.” It was signed “Linda and Richard.”

I presume the “Linda” is Linda Anderson, who was the focus of a Dayton Daily News story in May 2008, when Wympee was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

The online story generated dozens of reminiscences from folks who frequented or worked at the diner over the decades. (Click here for photos of the restaurant. )

I think I ate at Wympee no more than twice, and yet, this news saddens me. This diner was truly a place that time forgot, and it was frequented by some real characters. If those old stools could talk …

Permalink | Comments (40) | Post your comment | Categories: Restaurant closings

Comments

By Eric

October 12, 2009 3:41 AM | Link to this

I’m a big fan of nostalgia but Wympee always looked filthy. Maybe some new owners could take over and fix the place up.

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

Things to do