Walt Warmoth's Story - Part 2

This article contains some of the same or similar information with others posted before; however it also covers a little new ground.

(February 21, 1964). “Walt’s Boys Succeed . . .” Eastern State News, p. 3.

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=den_1964_feb

As far as college “hangouts” Eastern takes a backseat to none. Many students find that Walt’s, the Ko-Op and Little Campus provide good places to while away their their leisure hours before, between and after classes. Evenings are no different. Many a coke date has been spent at one of these “hangouts.”

A history of Walt’s, the Ko-Op and Little Campus also consists of a history of Walter Warmoth, better known to Eastern students as Walt.

Walt came to Charleston 1935 on an inventory trip for Walgreen’s Drug Store. He returned in 1937 and opened the Little Campus where he had worked during his school days at Eastern. With increased enrollment, he soon found it necessary to build and additional room to accommodate his patrons.

In 1939, Walt further expand his business by buying the Ko-Op. The Ko-Op had been a grocery store, but it was not long before it was converted into a popular Eastern “hangout” serving sandwiches, fountain goods and hot meals.

When Lincoln and Douglas halls were built, Walt recognized the need for another “hangout.” In 1953 Walt’s expanded. For the 1st year the additional room in Walt’s was used for dancing, but the following year tables were placed in the room to accommodate more students.

Ivan “Ike” Kennard became the proprietor of Little Campus in 1948. “Ike” had worked for Walt in 1940 at the Ko-Op.

In 1952, Larry Mizener, an Eastern graduate became the proprietor of he Ko-Op. He had also worked for Walt at the Ko-Op during his college years.

According to Walt, students were most interested in buying complete meals that would “fill them up” when Little Campus first opened, instead of buying odds and ends as they do today. Complete meals then cost 25 to 30 cents.

Little Campus received its best competition from another Eastern “hangout,” when the Panther Lair, then located on the corner where Lincoln Hall now stands, opened.

Walt recalled that the Panther Lair, then directed by Hobart F. Heller, present vice president of instruction, always seemed to undersell him. The present Panther Lair in the University Union is operated by Tim Mitchell, also a former employee of Walt.

Other former employees of Walt manage and own restaurants, snack-bars and cafeterias. At the present time, Walt knows of seven former employees who are connected with university snack-bars and cafeterias.

Walt has a great interest in Eastern students and enjoys working with them. “They’ve always been easy to deal with,” he said.

Walt also said the he’s “in the most pleasant business. My greatest appreciation is that I am able to associate with Eastern students and faculty.”

Walt feels that students today are “smarter” than when he went to school. “Whether it’s due to television or what, I don’t know but I think they’ve learned much since my school days,” he said.

Eastern “hangouts” are always busy, but busiest hours seem to be noon, late evenings and float periods. Sunday evenings, especially in the winter, tend to bring additional business, according to Walt.

The “hangouts” used to be busy during the entire evening, but now it seems that students don’t begin to come in until later. Walt attributes this change to the increase in activities for couples in the evening and to the availability of transportation to other places.

“The total traffic count for a night is not very different though,” he said.