New Ko-Op Cafe Opens - September 17, 1961

Coe, Nancy (Sept. 27, 1961). “Walt Warmoth Opens New Restaurant; Enters 21st Year of Business in the City.” Daily Eastern News, p.10.

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=den_1961_sep

A cigarette and a cup of coffee are the trademarks of a man who can usually be seen leaning against the cash register at Walt’s Cafe - Walt Warmoth.

Walt had been in business for some 20 years at two locations near the campus. His restaurants have been favorite gathering places for students and faculty alike.

Warmoth’s latest venture, the Ko-Op Cafe, opened Sept. 17, on the location previously occupied by the original Ko-Op.

The old Ko-Op, Walt’s first restaurant, was erected on Lincoln St., just east of Seventh, in March, 1940. It served students until 1959, when construction of Route 17 (State Hwy 16) resulted in the condemnation of the building.

Warmoth then started Walt’s Cafe, often called the “Open,” on the corner of Fourth and Lincoln. The new Ko-Op was open for business only six weeks after his August decision to re-build the cafe.

“Things have started off real well at the Ko-Op,” said Walt. ”It’s a good traffic corner.”

Under the direction of Larry Mizener, who has been with Walt as manager since 1952, the Ko-Op will operate much the same as Walt’s. Both restaurants function entirely with student help consisting of some 30 men.

“Many of the guys who have worked for me in the past have tremendously good jobs now?, Walt said. “Some have even opened their own restaurants.”

Howard Skidmore, flight-service commander to the carrier that picked up astronaut Alan Shepard after his space flight, worked for Warmoth during his college career. “Skidmore is a good man,” Walt said. “Recently, he sent me pictures of the pick-up. It was really something.”

Walt commented that he never seemed to have many big problems with his businesses. “I suppose I could find some if I really looked, but I just enjoy the work,” he said.

A sports enthusiast and Panther fan, Walt attends most of Eastern’s games, as he said “according to season.”

Walt attended Eastern in 1935 and 1937. He then entered the University of Illinois medical school. When asked just why he left the university, he replied, “I decided that hamburgers smelled better than formaldehyde.”

"Eddie" Brown, today that's Dr. Edward & Pastor

Another fellow worker from undergrad college days is Edward Brown (We addressed him as Ed or Eddie). Ed worked at the Short Stop Drive-In (Northwest corner of 7th and Lincoln). During my junior year, I moved back and forth - - worked some hours at the Ko-Op and some across the intersection at the Short Stop. By the time I entered my senior year, I worked mainly at the Short Stop.

(Click photo to enlarge) Edward Brown (2nd row, 3rd from left) 1967 EIU Warbler.
Bob Warnsley who worked at the Ko-Op is also in the group.

Edward and I were both industrial arts education majors, and we had one or two classes together. We shared several work hours at the Short Stop; he was an energetic and fun co-worker - had a great laugh. During our senior year, we both student taught at Mattoon High School. We rode together, back and forth from Charleston during that Winter quarter (Late Nov. 1967 to early Mar. 1968); we were out a few days after a brown recluse spider infestation was discovered in the service tunnel / crawl space. Ed graduated in the Spring of 1968 and began a teaching career in Chicago.

Edward Brown (1968 Warbler yearbook photograph)

Edward later graduated from Chicago State University with a Master's degree in education. He also earned both a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, specializing in pastoral care of the congregation. Ed was formerly the assistant pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois.

These days Dr. Edward C. Brown, Jr. is the senior pastor of the Skokie Valley Baptist Church in Wilmette, Illinois. Edward loves preaching (Listen to a recent sermon at the church's website) and teaching God's Word and has been privileged to preach in many pulpits across the nation and in two countries in Africa. Ed is married, and he and his wife, Diana, have one adult daughter, Camille.

March 2018

I recently revisited the church website for Skokie Valley Baptist Church (Wilmette, IL) and noticed that Ed was no longer listed as their Senior Pastor. He has retired.

Ko-Op Konnections (706 Lincoln, Charleston)

     Welcome to a blogsite for posting information about the Ko-Op Cafe and Short-Stop Drive-In; both located on or near corners of 7th and Lincoln in Charleston, Illinois.
     The Ko-Op was a cafeteria-style establishment that catered mainly to students, faculty, and staff of Eastern Illinois University. The Short-Stop was built and opened in the mid Sixties and was a faster-food establishment that also served EIU students and the larger Charleston community. Both businesses were operated by the Larry and Jean Mizener family.
      Today the Ko-Op building is used for activites of a neighboring church, and the Short-Stop is now a Domino's Pizza business. The former Mizener residence (located on the third corner of the intersection) is a Christian bookstore.
      I invite former workers and customers of both establishments to re-introduce themselves, post their memories here, and reconnect to friends and co-workers from their EIU days.
     Myself, I worked at both the Ko-Op and Short-Stop from November 1964 until graduating from EIU in August 1968. You can visit my profile section here to learn more . . .
Larry Johnson
larrjoh@gmail.com
http://eduscapes.com

Updated information (Fall 2011): Son, Benjamin tells me that an eating establishment of some kind is now operating in the old Ko-Op location. Have to check that out the next time I am in 'Chucktown.'