That was the concern; nobody knew where they were at.. There comes a time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. Be Proactive. In the years since she took over for her parents, Morris hasnt changed the menu much: biscuits and egg platters for breakfast, along with a signature dish, The Original Smash Pot, a heap of potatoes topped with cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. The Greek Salad (above) is so massive, it comes on a platter. Then 19-year-old firefighter Johnny Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the hand lines. McDonald narrowly avoided getting caught up in the blast as he was behind Auburn First National (now AuburnBank) at the time, said McCord, who sprang into action with other firefighters on duty. It was an event that I will always remember. Investigators determined the gas leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding. I just thought about it. I-77 was still under construction. Some folks came by a day later to collect the records. He had no idea that I was married to him, she said. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. His diploma ended up on the library lawn (if I recall) and his bar papers DID end up in his mother's yard, wherever that was. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. A taxidermy fish hanging above the counter also dates back to Cappys early days. the manager and supposedly the owner, and being told they couldn't give a discount, we received a 3% discount. Shes got a whole sheaf of notes in a drawer by the cash register with things her father, now 84, tells her. The Kopper Kettle made national headlines that night as word spread about the freak accident in a small Alabama town. Then, everything changed, as a natural gas explosion rocked downtown, destroying Kopper Kettle restaurant, a dentist's office and other businesses by the northwest corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. It was his (Karols) lifelong dream, Richard Kapala said. Join the conversation on our Discord! Sorry the owners got greedy. These photos bring back so many memories! Hear a new featured member each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. on 93.1 WIBC. Every day, something happens, Laurel Kapala said, recalling more silly stories. : The Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant has been serving Indiana's finest for over 91 years! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. The Kapalas hope to travel with their free time, but plan to visit the bar even after the sale. Greek immigrants George and Penny Karnesis opened Kopper Kettle on Nations Ford Road in what was then southwest Charlotte in May 1971. It continues like this throughout the morning, with folks of all ages and races streaming in and out; many of them seem to know each other, all of them know Morris. A young black girl tells Morris she didnt eat breakfast because shes refusing to eat anything until her mom lets her have pizza, to which Morris responds, Completely understandable.. The couple has listed the building and business on the market, and hope to finalize a sale later this year. I was in my second story apartment at the corner of Ross and Glenn (several blocks away) when this happened. Were not going anywhere, Laurel said. In fact, shortly after the Kopper Kettles demise, an Auburn student wrote and recorded the local radio hit The Kettles Gone, a take-off on the country hit The King is Gone. Commemorative T-shirts were printed and sold, and Auburn graduates still recall exactly where they were the day of the Kopper Kettle explosion.. He sleepily said, "Must be somebody lighting dynamite in the parking lot." Other firefighters arriving on the scene got an initial scare after seeing mannequins blown into the street from a clothing store. And those were mine and my sisters dental records that got blown up. Then, everything changed, as a natural gas explosion rocked downtown, destroying Kopper Kettle restaurant, a dentist's office and other businesses by the northwest corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. "We started hooking up hoses and everything. Hes frequented the bar for years, and visits the Kapalas at least four or five days per week. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. Her first creation, the Smash Pot, features a large serving of grilled potatoes, peppers, onions, tomatoes and bacon or sausage with two over-medium eggs placed on top though it comes fully customizable. In the 1970s and 80s, the Kapalas served roast beef and ham sandwiches to nearby workers on lunch break. Either that or one that was equally trashed. Its like a slice of Lowell, George Saba, a 66-year-old Cappys regular, said as he sipped coffee at the counter on a recent Wednesday morning. The Rev. It rocked us! Think I have some color photos somewhere. The owners of the Kopper Kettle Tavern, in Feasterville, are facing federal tax charges after they allegedly failed to collect and pay employment taxes to the IRS, prosecutors said. Downtown looked like a war zone. A gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses. Morris takes pride in the large portions. When her dad, George Karnezis, had a stroke in 2014, she stepped in to run her parents restaurant, Kopper Kettle, until they were back on their feet. Thank you for reading! An aviation management student got up in the air and relayed to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb had hit. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the location served as a wholesome family diner by day and a bar and lounge by night. Our guest tell us this charm is unmatchable even by the most beautiful restaurants in all of Europe! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. But some longtime customers arent ready to move on. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. 104. In the picture where the painting is on wall of the tiger, that was my dental office. The high cost of ingredients has taken a toll. racist or sexually-oriented language. A year or so later, he bought the other share. Compare now on Rent By Owner Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The jukebox is gone, and the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, although that took some time. That was the worst we had. It was kind of a wild place for dinner back in the day, recalls Sara Morris, the Karnesis daughter, born just four months after the restaurant opened. The explosion, which originated in the basement of Waldrop's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn. I thought a tornado was coming through but I didn't see anything outside. There are niches with marble and alabaster statuary, Dresden china, and Chinese chests. As a result, Eckler and Yost failed to collect and pay employment taxes to the IRS, including Social Security tax and Medicare tax, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Then about five months in I was like, Theres no way I can sell it. He told me it was. It was just an incredible experience.. More than 70 businesses in the immediate vicinity were damaged . Get our Weekly recap with the latest news, articles and resources. When Penny calls during our interview to find out what time Morris will pick up her dad, the conversation is half in Greek, half in English. Don't forget to call and make your reservations for the holidays! Though generational favorites like the fried pork chops or livermush remain top sellers, Morris has introduced new adaptations that have in short time become hits among newcomers and longtime customers alike. Was living on Thatch at the time, heard the boom, looked out the window to see smoking debris falling from the sky into the yard, including dental records. An AU student from the Plainsman took my photograph as I was walking through the intersection at Gay and Magnolia. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. "I just heard the explosion," McCord said. It was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapalas great-uncle. 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Its since gone back and forth between being designated as a Pineville or Charlotte address, but changing identities is nothing new for the restaurant. We were going to the office after church to do a filling on my mother! Thanks! The blast left more than 70 businesses damaged, and one small town reeling. Amazing. Both George and Penny came from Greece in the 1960s. She never left. Thats what it kind of looked like, what you might expect from a bomb or auxiliary round that may have hit the building and blown it up. You have permission to edit this article. Who actually made the catch remains a mystery, Richard Kapala said with a laugh. Where I am standing is no more than 40 feet from the blast site and you can see the stacks of plates that are unharmed! Some have their own seats. For retired Auburn firefighter Allen McCord, Jan. 15, 1978, began much like any other Sunday morning shift except the air was bitterly cold and carried the scent of natural gas. Sinclair and his wife, Louise, now live in Charlottesville, Va. By the early 1980s, the block was rebuilt and the evidence of the blast was gone. Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again. Long ago, the Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant put Morristown on gourmets' list from coast to coast as a stop on Route 52 where a fine meal may be enjoyed in a delightfully restful setting. The Worcester native enjoys road trips and hiking. "The bank thermometer there said 25 degrees. Please read the rules before posting. On Sunday morning, January 15, 1978, several businesses on East Magnolia Ave in downtown Auburn were destroyed in an explosion caused by a natural gas leak beneath the restaurant. I was asleep in my bunk bed on the corner of East Glenn & Burton (about two blocks away?) We have had many discussions about that office, the explosion and the aftermath. Oh, and now we have video.). Built by Col. Share with Us. "Our tax system requires businesspeople to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees," U.S. Attorney William McSwain said. 82. In 1964, Richard's father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. Holy crap---a house blew up couple streets over from us! On Sunday morning, January 15, 1978, half a block of businesses on East Magnolia Avenue in downtown Auburn blew the hell up (kapow, boom, war-zone), chief am. God Bless and War Eagle! It is amazing that no one was killed. It is the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. They've been there forever. Keith K. CA, CA. Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike. The most comprehensive restaurant menus & dish reviews site - Zmenu Her mother, Helen Brooks, would often run fashion shows and prize drawings at the bar. 40th anniversary: Kopper Kettle explosion still reverberates today, Notice of Public Hearing - 801 Ogletree Road, Auburn Roundup: Arbor Day celebration on tap for Saturday, Auburn Public Library hosting Multilingual Story Time on Saturday, Steve Foote, Auburn's planning director, passes away, Tigers, Trojans close out series with a rare tie game, ACS Board of Education approves elementary rezoning. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Would you be interested in looking at it? This was only a rumor by the time I got there (79), but I think I bought that smashed up AMC Matador. There are several well-documented close calls including then Rev. Rock and roll bands would play on weekend nights while customers danced. Cool. Im so thankful Auburn was small and slow back then. https://discord.gg/kJdJq5BRH5, Press J to jump to the feed. Copyright Indiana Owned 2023. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Hopefully something better goes in there. 67 followers 67 connections McCord made his usual trek up South College Street before taking a right on East Magnolia Avenue and checking the sign at Central Bank on the corner. Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a112c2e80c212193dd17c68f8a42bb39" );document.getElementById("b526024170").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Kopper Kettle Owner Adapts Through Generational Changes. Click here. That old 68 Nova shook pretty hard! It had a liquor license and a lively bar, but by the late 1990s, George and Penny decided to serve just breakfast and lunch. "When I came through the intersection there at Gay Street and Mag, I could smell a little natural gas.". "The Kopper Kettle explosion was the big event while I was at Auburn. Hashbrowns pitched at me by the owner. KATHLEEN PURVIS is a longtime Charlotte writer who covers Southern food and culture. Hurricane Hugo hit Charlotte hard in 1989 and did serious damage to the restaurants north-facing wall. We hope that you enjoy our free content. It was an attorney's office, not a dentist. On a regular work day, not Sunday when this happened, I wouldve been at work long before 8:00 AM! You just dont move around a whole lot doing that, and I didnt realize my pants had gotten stuck to the sidewalk. Its her ability to listen, she finally decides. On one occasion about 15 years ago, Laurel cut off a young man who had too much to drink. Did you know that Queen City Nerve is an alternative print publication with distribution locations all over Charlotte and Mecklenburg County? I remember people showing up at our house with charts and billing statements to give my parents, and other things they found in their yards! Don't Threaten. Failure to report these wages allowed the restaurant to avoid paying FICA taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said. Now the Kapalas hire a DJ to spin tracks on Friday and Saturday nights. It was a miracle that it happened when the damage was to property not people. 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