This is what it looks like today - YES, TODAY! The photo was taken today...
An empty lot - just DIRT! Do you have a clue yet? Here's a little more history for those of you who don't know which restaurant we're talking about:
The restaurant was built in 1946. It's original name had the word Bavarian in the name. At that time, most of it's customers came from Hammer Field. Now who knows what Hammer Field was and what it is today? We'll tell more as we talk more about this wonderful establishment where such great food was served at excellent prices. After several years, it was described as a "cozy 1950's roadhouse". It had open-beam ceilings, red brick walls and redwood paneling. There was a Cheyenne Banquet room that sported vivid red booths and table linens. If you haven't guessed it yet, you're probably one of the younger crowd.
Back then, your choice of appetizers were shrimp cocktail or.... yes, you guessed it, shrimp cocktail!
One of the customer's favorites was the "Signature Clam Chowder". And get this: At it's peak performance between 1965 and 1985, it sold up to 4,500 dinners a WEEK! That's over 640 dinners a night for 20 years running - seven days a week. Phew! Most likely many restaurants do that kind of business today, but back then with a privately owned establishment, that was a bunch!
And imagine this - $9.95 in 1993 would get you prime rib or filet mignon dinner with foil wrapped baked potato, soup and salad along with hot French rolls with garlic butter. And it's safe to guess that they didn't charge for the sour cream, butter or chives, either. Find that kind of price for prime rib in Fresno today!
Alright - one last clue - Do you remember when a Learjet crashed? The two men on board were killed and several people on the ground was injured. The restaurant we are talking about was spared and the pilots were called heroes for managing to miss the private school that was in their path about 3/4 mile before the crash scene. That was December 14, 1994.
http://abc30.com/news/fresno-learjet-crash-20-years-later/413056/
Alright, most of you are most likely saying, "Fine, we KNOW already!" So here's the facts:
Yes, it was The Outpost, originally named The Outpost Bavarian Gardens - built in 1946 on the southwest corner of Olive and Chestnut avenues. We mentioned Hammer Field, which was an army base back then and is now the location of the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (often known as either FAT - by the airlines or as FYI - by Fresno locals).
The restaurant was purchased by Dan Vukson and Pete Troisi in 1951 and although they sold it in 1956, they purchased it back in 1959. Finally, Dan Vukson and his wife, Betty, became the owners in 1965. (Editor's Note: The name rings a bell and just might be a name for research for a future story on Fresno Has Taste)
1990 brought the passing of Dan Vukson. That, the plane crash in 1994, changes in the neighborhood and the debut of Highway 180 through the area affected the decision to close the Outpost in 1997. Certainly, we understand that the Vukson family owned the building and property at that time. When a suitable offer never appeared, the decision was made to demolish the restaurant in 2003 with the hope that the vacant parcel would attract better offers. That's as far as our information goes - if anybody knows anything that has transpired since 2003, please share what you know in the comments.
And another tad of nostalgia about a restaurant that still exists at the north-west corner of Chestnut and Olive: Chopsticks Chinese Restaurant.
Chopsticks is your classic little neighborhood Chinese restaurant, pictured above. There was a day when the Valley Yellow Pages advertising sales reps would make the tough choice about where to enjoy their lunch. It was a tough choice between The Outpost and a fabulous steak lunch and Chopsticks and their Cornish Game Hen special. Chopsticks would prepare a full Cornish Game Hen if one would give them a call about 1/2 hour before your arrival. That was back in about 1998, give or take a few years. Upon research, it was learned that they no longer serve the Cornish Game Hen. But by the looks of things, they are still serving up some good Chinese food!
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