It’s been a while since my last post and I’m hoping to show some new things soon. In the meantime I received this email the other day from Tom Malloy of Memphis, TN that I thought was worth sharing:
I grew up in Exton, Pa on Shoen road not far from the Cow. I remember Willie riding through my neighborhood., He would always say hello in his special way. I was always amazed that he remembered my name even when I was just a little kid. I don’t think I ever saw Willie without a gigantic smile on his face. I remember one time he let try to hold his bike up when I was little kid. It was too heavy for me with all of the horns and mud flaps and mirrors. I remember seeing him at the Farmers Market and I’d always see his parked in the Drive In.My family would got to the Cow every Sunday after church. I think I ordered the same thing every week for 15 years or so. It was cube steak sandwich with fries and a black & white shake and it was awesome. I can still my brothers lips stained black by the blue moon ice or the licorice. It was a great place in a great time.It was my brother Brian’s first job working at the cow.Do you remember the place across the street where the big cow sign stood. It was called the Vittle House run by three brothers. They sold a sandwich called a beer sandwich that was incredible. I could die for one of those beer sandwiches now.Thank for the Memories. I live in Memphis, Tn now and it was a great trip down memory lane.
Thanks for the note Tom! Does anyone else out there remember the Vittle House and what beer sandwiches are made of?
I do remember the Vittle House. Oddly, when I think about how long I lived near the joint, the only time I visited was when the Vittle House had closed and was selling its inventory. It was timely for me because I was moving into my first post-college apartment and was able to buy some glassware cheaply. 23 years later, two glasses still lurk in my cupboard. I can’t really prove their provenance so I’m guessing they’d be of little value to collectors.
The Vittle House was a trendsetter in its day. At a time when beer choices were limited, I recall a sign boasting of 100 different imports, or something along those lines. Sadly, the restaurant shut down before it could cash in on the beer revolution that followed.
Beer sandwich? A quick search on Google yielded little helpful information and a little amusement. Perhaps something was simmered in beer such as thin-sliced roast beef.
I sure do remember the Vittle house, great sandwich’s, unbelievable selection of beers ,I used to drive there with my Dad and Uncles to get exotic beer and sandwich’s, when we had company, also remember , Dick Thomas and his foot long hot dogs which was further up the road heading to Downingtown, the area was just developed enough during the 1950′s when I grew up in Bradford Hills I have the greatest memories of that area and that era… I think it was the happiest time of my life really…. chuck calderone ,formerly of 13 overlook drive downingtown pa…
I lived in Paoli during the early 60′s and the Vittle House was one of my favorites. Great stacked sandwiches , pickle, and imported beer – at a time when imported beers were a real treat. Things do pass – - – - -
I don’t remember the Vittle house but I do remember Dick Thomas and his foot long hot dogs. My dad and mom would take us there as a treat when I was a little guy! Does anyone have any pictures of Dick Thomas restaurant?
And I was looking for some pictures of the Exton drive-in!
I certainly remember Dick Thomas’s restaurant as I ate there many times with my girlfriend who then became my wife and still is . The strange thing I remember is that there was a threaded rod stressed and trussed between the two outer walls to hold them together at the ceiling line. I did take engineering courses later in life and then realized what they were trying to do! The building was falling apart and they were trying to save it! Amazing what sticks in your mind that you remember. I was just a high school kid in 1965! I also remember the vittle house and the Guernsey cow and the Exton firehouse with the sockhops they had . Exton was really different then . No Malls! imagine that!
I too would luv if there were pictures of Dick Thomas’s – I worked for Mr. Dick Thomas in the mid 70′s. And what a great guy he was. I wish then I would have taken pictures from when I worked there but I only have the memories. And remember the minature golf next to the resturant. And Exton Roller Rink and Exton Drive In many memories shame no pictures to share
Oh yes what memories! – I grew up in Exton in the 1960′s and my dad used to take me into the Vittle House with him when he bought beer and Sid or Charlie used to give me a giant kosher pickle from the barrel by the door.
I’d forgotton all about Willie from The Cow till I ran across this but he was always hanging out at the Farmers Market.
I’ll bet Willie is long gone now!
My Dad used to work at Foote Mineral right off Route 100 near the Exton Crossroads and we lived in Meadowbrook Manor – typical 60′s suburbia I guess you could say now.
I eventually moved to California but I still have great memories of this place, a really historic area as I came to learn later in life.
Mark W. Curran
Los Angeles, CA
2011