Manufacturer: Carr China
Name of user: Grillis Grill – Jackson, Mississippi
Distributor: H & R Supply Co., Atlanta
Date of platter: circa 1920s – 1930s

1927 ad in the Daily Mississippian

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Notes: According to an article in the Clarion-Ledger dated Mar. 1, 1931, Theologus Grillis first came to Jackson, Mississippi, around 1920. After two years in the delicatessen business, he opened the eponymous Grillis Grill at 115 West Capitol Street. "Since then, the Grillis Grill has grown to where it is now considered one of Jackson's finest eating places."

From the same article: "After several years at 115 West Capitol Street the Grillis Grill grew so fast that it was impossible to serve its many patrons efficiently and so they moved to … the corner of West Capital and Roach Street. It has always been our policy to serve only the best foods … and cleanliness at the Grillis Grill is the first requisite."

Around the same time Grillis opened the Grill, he, along with help from his brother Chris, also opened a sandwich shop called the Coney Island. It proved to be very successful and led to the opening of a second Coney Island Shop.

In 1939, the brothers moved the Grillis Grill to a new location in Jackson on East Capitol Street. In conjunction with this move, the brothers held a contest to come up with a name and slogan for the new restaurant. As a result, they chose Grillis Bros. Grill for the name and "Food to Thrill" for the slogan.

However, the good times were relatively short-lived for the Grillis Grill. An article in the McComb Daily Journal dated Jul. 19, 1943, said: "Lurid enough was the case of Theologus Grillis, operator of Grillis Grill, in Jackson, Miss., who ran short of pork to feed his customers, and solved the problem by slaughtering a hog that was diseased.

"Grillis pleaded guilty, and was fined $5,000 for killing livestock without a permit. The meat was condemned and destroyed."

After this malfeasance, there is not much to be found about the Grillis Grill.

White body platter with a green stripe around the outer rim, and directly under this stripe is a green pinstripe. At the top of the verge is another green pinstripe. The stacked words "Grillis" "Grill" in a matching green script font are at the top of the platter's rim.

Sources:
Clarion-Ledger Mar. 1, 1931 – story about the Grill's new location
McComb Daily Journal Jul. 19, 1943 – story about Theo Gillis selling tainted pork
Kingfish1935.blogspot.com – matchbook
Cardcow.com – postcard

Contributors:
Ed Phillips