Manufacturer: Scammell China, Trenton China
User: LeKas, Peoria, Illinois
Date of examples: circa 1925-1940

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Notes: LeKas was founded in 1907 in Peoria, Illinois, at 510 Main Street. In 1917, LeKas moved to 422 Main Street. At that time, it was operated as "Illinois Sugar Bowl." The dining room section had hand-painted murals above the mahogany woodwork. A 19-foot, marble-topped soda fountain was in the front of the shop.

By 1920, Fotis S. Lekas was the vice president and manager. He died in a car crash in January 1933. On December 31, 1940, the Bishop Cafeteria Co. acquired the LeKas Sugar Bowl, and all its contents went on sale on January 7, 1941.

Christ S. LeKas started a new LeKas restaurant on Knoxville Avenue in 1940. It closed in 1944 when he retired.

Scammell made Trenton China with an Art Deco border of triple curved lines with "LeKas," in black, in the well, at the 9 o'clock position. This pattern may have been used in the Knoxville Avenue location from 1940 to 1944.

For more info:
LeKas, by Scammell's Trenton China
Illinois Sugar Bowl, by Scammell China

Sources:
Peoria Historical Society – company history
The Pantagraph – Jan. 7, 1941, LeKas restaurant equipment sale by Bishop Cafeteria

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author