Manufacturers: Shenango China and Carr China
User: Sanitary Cafe – Anniston, Alabama
Date of examples: circa 1920s – early 1950s
Notes: The Sanitary Cafe – or Gus' Sanitary Cafe – was located at 1125 Noble Street in Anniston, Alabama. It was a Greek restaurant run for many years by Greek immigrant Gus Nichopoulos. His son, George, grew up in and around the restaurant, and went on to become "Dr. Nick," personal physician to Elvis Presley. The building is now owned by an attorney, Thomas Knight, and operated as a law firm. ("Dr. Nick" was involved in a controversy concerning Elvis' death, photo above.)
When the cafe opened and closed is not known. The building at 1125 Nobel Street once housed a previous restaurant – the Plaza Cafe – as shown in the photo above with horse-drawn cart.
Shenango white body green lined bowl with two green lines at the top, a thicker line over a thinner line, and a thin green line around the base. On the side of the bowl in matching green are the words "Sanitary Cafe" in a distinctive script font that underlines both words. Underneath are the words "Anniston, Ala." in green block letters.
Carr China's Glow-Tan body cup with Carr's Erwin pattern in brown around the top, which is interrupted on the left side with the insertion of the Sanitary Cafe's distinctive fancy script, but without the words "Anniston, Ala." Although slightly different, the "C" and its flourishes are a match for the Shenango bowl.
Sources:
Alchetron.com – article on Oct 1, 2022, about connection to Dr. Nick
Anniston, Alabama Photo Archives on Facebook – Russell Brothers Collection
Anniston Star March 3, 1940 ad
Contributors:
Bowl and cup photos: Kathleen Lathom
Author: Ed Phillips