In Feb. 2011 the former Ko-op Restaurant, located on the SE corner of Lincoln Ave. and Seventh St. in Charleston, IL, was for a short time “Georgie Boy’s.” Georgie Boy's was owned by a Mattoon family and served breakfast, lunch and dinner fare.
From the late 40s through the 70s, the two-story red-brick building directly east of Old Main had housed a restaurant and been a place of employment for many EIU students. The second story that originally was housing for a number of students and student workers was later converted to apartments.
The building was originally owned by Walt Warmoth, who also owned the famous eatery Walt’s (across the street from McAfee Gym, now called Marty’s) and later sold to Larry Mizener, a Phi Sig who had worked for Walt. Except for Old Main and the northeast corner of campus, for a few decades Larry Mizener controlled that area around Lincoln and Seventh.
[Above excerpted from an article in the Spring 2011 Phi Sigma Epsilon Newsletter]
By July of 2011 Georgie Boy's was closed and a 'For Lease' sign was placed out front. The Aug. 22, 2011 issue of the Eastern News printed the following: "While the abrupt closing of local diner Georgie Boy's surprised many Charleston residents, they can take comfort knowing the restaurant will soon reopen under new ownership as a sports bar."
An article in an early Oct. issue of the Eastern News announced plans for the new restaurant, Dirty's Bar & Grill:
Eastern News followed up with the announcement that Dirty's Bar and Grill opened for business (Oct 30, 2011)
Labels: Dirty's Bar and Grill, Eastern News, Georgie Boy's, Ko-Op Restaurant, Larry Mizener, Phi Sigma Epsilon, Seventh and Lincoln, Walt Warmoth
