Manufacturer: Scammell China
Name of pattern/user: DeMet's
Distributor: American China & Glassware Co., Chicago
Date of plate: circa 1939

1939 menu cover

1939 menu with teapot illustration

1939 menu

DeMet's store in 1929

1933 menu

1957 ad

Tearoom ad

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Notes: In 1898 George DeMet opened a candy store in Chicago, Illinois, to sell the candy he produced. Over the years more stores were opened in Chicago. By the 1940s, there were three restaurants, 12 tea rooms, and 25 candy stores in operation.

A 1957 ad for DeMet's Candies lists "Stores Throughout Chicago," but no ads were found for the chain's restaurants in that year, and that was also the last year that a help-wanted ad was found for DeMet's for a "tearoom usher," at 19 N. State Street.

In 1966, however, help-wanted ads began appearing for DeMet Restaurant at 208 S. LaSalle.

By 1968, the ads were for DeMet Restaurants. In January 1969, James DeMet, one of the company's founders, died. Thereafter, the name changed to George DeMet Restaurants. James had been the co-founder and president of DeMet's Restaurants, at 208 S. LaSalle Street and at 209 S. Wells Street. The brothers James, George, John and Nicholas founded the restaurants in 1934.

The last ad for the restaurants found was in 1977. George DeMet died in 1983 at 91.

Turtles, that candy made of pecans, caramel and chocolate, have been DeMet's lasting legacy. Their website says, "With an unforgettable shape and unique ingredients, Chicago candy maker, George DeMet struck gold with Turtles^® caramel nut clusters in 1916." A Wikipedia page for Turtles (chocolate), begs to differ as to the timeline and credit: "Turtles were developed in 1918 by Johnson's Candy Company (which became DeMet's Candy Company in 1923)." But today (2025), Turtles are DeMet's enduring moneymaker.

DeMet's Candy Co. was purchased by Nestle in 1988. It is today (2025) owned in the United States by Y1ld1z Holding in Turkey and in Canada, by Nestle.

Scammell produced at least three patterns for DeMet's. A 1939 tearoom menu features a teapot and sugar bowl with cup and saucer on the cover. This is the same illustration used on Ivory china that Scammell made for DeMet's. This pattern has a red pin line at the verge. The menu contains sandwiches, salads, and club luncheons, the type of fare served in tearooms.

DeMet's 2, by Scammell China
DeMet's 3, by Scammell China
DeMet's 4, by Sterling China

Sources:
DeMet's website
Turtles Wikipedia
1937 Chicago Tribune
1957 Chicago Tribune 
1966 Chicago Tribune
1969 Chicago Tribune
Wikipedia – Turtles (chocolate)

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author