Gus's Original Forty Niner Restaurant (Charlotte, N.C.) memorabilia

Collection

Identifier: MS0230

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Memorabilia relating to the restaurant, formerly located near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Includes photographs of Dean W. Colvard and Bonnie E. Cone.

Dates

1971, 1995-1996

Creator

Kokenes, Steve (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Established in 1969 by Steve Kokenes, Gus's was named for Kokenes' father, Constantine "Gus" Kokenes, who came to Charlotte from Greece at the age of 14 and operated the Star Lunch diner uptown in the 1920s. It served dishes like Corned Beef on Rye, the Mecklen-Burger, steaks and pizza on red and white checkerboard tablecloths. Gus's operated until November 1995, when the family closed it to focus on other business ventures, including the Open Kitchen restaurant on W. Morehead St. The restaurant's antiques and equipment were sold in an auction in January, 1996. [Among the antiques were heavy double brass doors from the old Duke Power Building in Charlotte and the bank teller counter, with brass railing, from the now-demolished Independence Building in Charlotte.

Extent

0.15 Linear Feet (8 items (including 1 photograph).)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Memorabilia relating to Gus's Original Forty Niner restaurant, located near UNC Charlotte at 10008 University City Boulevard. Includes a matchbook, tour guide pamphlet describing furnishings and art work in the restaurant, a photograph of the owner, Steve Kokenes, with UNC Charlotte chancellor Dean W. Colvard and UNC Charlotte founder Bonnie E. Cone, and an auction announcement and partially priced sales list.