Feels Like Yesterday
A portrait series featuring Calgary’s classic eateries
The Galaxie Diner opened in 1996. Serving up an array of classic breakfast foods with “bottomless hashbrowns and endless toast”, the retro decor evokes memories of diners from the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Sean has worked as a cook for the Galaxie Diner for 10 years. He is also an accomplished musician.
The King Eddy originally opened in 1905 as the King Edward Hotel. The hotel bar became a staple of “whiskey row” on 9th Avenue, popular with working class Calgarians at the time. In the early 1980’s, the King Eddy transitioned into a renowned blues bar, attracting some of the biggest blues acts of the era and employing the moniker “Home of the Blues.” The bar and hotel closed its doors in 2004 before being acquired and fully restored back to its original glory by the National Music Centre. The King Eddy officially reopened as a permanent music venue in 2018.
Ava has worked as a server at the King Eddy for six months.
Buchanan’s Chop House opened in the west end of downtown in 1988. The walls are adorned with archival photos, advertising and promotional ephemera, and movie posters, all with ties to the city of Calgary and the Buchanan family. The bar is also home to one of the largest selections of whisky in Canada.
Mikey, restaurant and bar manager, has been with Buchanan’s for over 30 years.
Jim Spiropoulas opened the greek-style restaurant, Spiros, back in 1969. In 2004, Spiropoulas turned over ownership to his nephew, John Kontalis, who had began working at Spiros as a dishwasher in 1972. Well known for its pizza, Spiros has been a staple on the corner of 17th Ave and 33rd St for over 50 years.
Annah, daughter of owner John, is the restaurant manager and has been working in the family business since her father took over ownership in 2004.
Nick’s Steakhouse has been a landmark of northwest Calgary since opening in 1979. Founder, Nick Petros (pictured), is a greek immigrant who moved to Calgary as a teenager and worked in the restaurant industry for years before opening Nick’s in the late ‘70’s. The classic steakhouse decor is brimming with charm and nostalgia.
A mainstay on Edmonton Trail, Boogies Burgers has been a haven for hamburger enthusiasts since 1969. After downing a burger and fries, you can grease up the joystick on one of several vintage arcade games in the dining room. They even host an annual Ms. Pac-Man tournament.
Amanda is the general manager of the original Renfrew location. She’s been working at Boogies for 10 years.
Hy Aisenstat opened Hy’s Steakhouse in 1955. The success of the Calgary restaurant led to several other locations opening across Canada. The original Hy’s location on 4th Ave SW closed its doors at the beginning of 2007. However, the locally famous steakhouse reopened in its current location on Stephen Ave in 2015. Ownership of the restaurant is still in the family, with Aisenstat’s son, Neil, now at the helm.
Irene has worked as a hostess at Hy’s for the past seven years.
The Blackfoot Truckstop Diner is one of Calgary’s oldest restaurants and can be found in Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood. The diner opened in historic Inglewood back in 1956 and has been serving diner favourites at fair prices ever since.
Terry Taylor owns the diner. Taylor’s mother, Edna, was the diner’s founder and owner until her passing in 2011.
Angel’s Drive In has been a fixture in the community of Bowness for decades. The local favourite was given a complete overhaul a few years ago, with new decor that echoes diners of the 1950’s.
Rae is the head chef. She’s been slingin’ burgers and fries from the Angel’s kitchen for 22 years and is also a longtime resident of Bowness.
Caesar’s Steakhouse is a Calgary institution. With its extravagant Roman Empire-influenced decor, Caesar’s opened its doors 50 years ago in 1972. While there have been many renovations and upgrades over the years, the owners have done their best to retain the same look and nostalgic feel to the dining room and cocktail lounge.
Raven has worked as a server for one year in the famous cocktail lounge.