Reading the anecdotes and recollections on this site has brought back memories of those weekends in the late 70's and early 80's. Belle was indeed quite the vivacious personality, and would remember our names from year to year - even though we were only there one weekend per year! Their motto "Same Day Service" was funny, but true ... you didn't order food there if you were in a hurry. We can remember some of the locals would come in, place their food order, and tell Belle that they were going shopping and would return in an hour or two. Sometimes their food would be ready when they returned, sometimes not. We met many of the regular patrons who told us stories of the “glory days.” The place was obviously declining. For example my wife had occasion to use the restroom and remembers being directed downstairs to a facility with only one stall (obviously the men’s room as shown on the recreated floor plans on this site). 

By the time you got your food you were usually so hungry that you could have eaten an old shoe, but the food was always good, definitely freshly prepared and massive in quantity. French fries or breaded mushrooms came in only one size: "one pound." By this time, they were no longer pressing and breading their own pork tenderloins, but instead offering THREE commercially purchased patties served on TWO standard issue hamburger buns, plus all the trimmings. You did not leave hungry!

Thanks to all those responsible for this website. These are some great memories.

Bill Pritchard (Former member of the Golden Mile Street Machines club from Joliet & Aurora, Illinois)