Y'know that place downtown, the Kopper Kettle? Lawrence, too, remembers details of the scene, especially the cold. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. We have a close connection with the customers, Richard Kapala said. On a regular work day, not Sunday when this happened, I wouldve been at work long before 8:00 AM! Keep it Clean. I was home from Texas visiting my parents for the weekend. The county seat is Doylestown. So I dozed back to sleep! We are a restaurant specializing in American style foods. Her second creation is for those with a sweeter tooth: French toast biscuits. The high cost of ingredients has taken a toll. Notice the new Lincoln Continental still with dealer tag on it. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. You can throw whatever you want in there, she tells me as I peruse the menu. There are several well-documented close calls including then Rev. One of her main reasons for staying is the time she gets to spend with her dad. An aviation management student got up in the air and relayed to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb had hit. I remember the one at Brookwood, too. A Greek salad arrives on an oval plate that anyone else would consider a platter. 12/30/2022. The familiar greasy spoon that once stood on the corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue did not make a return, but it will forever be remembered by Auburn students and residents. Most days now, Morris picks him up and brings him to the restaurant, where he spends the morning talking to customers, telling stories, and eating his lunch. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. She never left. Get our Weekly recap with the latest news, articles and resources. Holy crap---a house blew up couple streets over from us! and our house shook like it had been hit by lightening. This year, the Kapalas will participate in the tradition for the last time. My first thought was: Someone used too much dynamite on the bank. 765-763-6767. 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. that is degrading to another person. For example, theres Rum and Coke Jim, Laurel said. Hear a new featured member each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. on 93.1 WIBC. Perhaps it suffered for our sins. In her time running the Kettle, Morris has brought it into the digital age, creating profiles on Google, Yelp, Facebook and, most recently, Instagram. I was sleeping late that morning as usual. Karol Kapala would tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish. He lived near the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and says as his windows shook from the plane crash, he thought back to that January day in 1978. Knock my wife out of bed at the BSU on college. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Morris admits that, before returning to the restaurant, she got so distracted by her own job and kids that she didnt make enough time for her father. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. William Taxis Owner/Director at Tuscany Restored Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. Failure to report these wages allowed the restaurant to avoid paying FICA taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said. Morris, who says cooking is one of her favorite pastimes, will sometimes whip something up in the kitchen to make a snack for herself, and twice now those snacks have landed on the menu. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The restaurant pays particular attention to the choice of local products, among which we find renowned specialties such as Chianina PGI beef, Cinta Senese cold cuts and fine . It was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapalas great-uncle. She used to comp their meals, but she cant afford to do that anymore. 82. I was downtown that morning delivering newspapers about 30 minutes before the explosion. Soggy potato. I was in Magnolia Dorm cafeteria for breakfast. So how is being a counselor similar to running a restaurant? The Kapalas hosted road races to raise money for the fund. Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! Still, she does big business on Saturday mornings, when Pineville families come in for breakfast. He told me it was. "The defendants' practice of paying their employees in cash, concealing this from the IRS, and failing to collect and pay federal employment taxes, undermines the integrity of the federal income tax system and harms those who play by the rules.". I thought a tornado was coming through but I didn't see anything outside. Share with Us. 2023 Alabama Living Magazine All Rights Reserved | Made with by Dogwood. About 40 frames later must be a young Andy Gentry in center w/ glasses w/ the fire Chief. Dang I dont remember it looking that devastated. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. accounts, the history behind an article. Required fields are marked *, Like this story? Think I have some color photos somewhere. When I got back to the apartment, my roomie came out to the car and said, "Remember that noise this morning?" Shortly after the explosion, chaos ensued as volunteers, police, firemen and state officials were on the scene to determine the cause of the explosion as they prepared for the worst, searching the rubble for fatalities. Hurricane Hugo hit Charlotte hard in 1989 and did serious damage to the restaurants north-facing wall. I was a teenager at the time. She had a perfectly good career already, as a counselor. Can you help us put names to faces? A slice of Lowell: Cappys Copper Kettle, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), A slice of Lowell: Cappys Copper Kettle owners looking to sell, Make your credit cards less vulnerable to fraud, 3 steps borrowers can take to cope with the stress of student debt, Chipotle Mexican Grill adds a TikTok favorite to its digital-only menu, Frank Lloyd Wrights only oceanfront home sells for $22 million in Carmel, Bill needs a kidney: Tyngsboro man searches for lifesaving donor, Seeing orbs in photos? Find Vacation Rentals, Condos, and Resorts in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. The anniversary and a sermon given shortly after the blast by the Rev. He owned the business directly across the street from the explosion. Cool. We went running downtown and were just amazed at the damage at so many businesses. https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/pa/feasterville-trevose/1985-bridgetown-pike/pid_31709455/ https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/bucks-county-bar-and-restaurant-owners-charged-tax-offenses comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A tor29c Your email address will not be published. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Many of the businesses had not opened yet, but there were students living in apartments above those businesses. I had just bought my 1st camera. Welcome to the Bucks County, PA Subreddit! Mexican restaurant Condesa, from the team behind Pizzeria Beddia, now open, Woman caught on video allegedly stealing from Philadelphia day care, Pottstown is first in U.S. to test curbside recycling of bubble wrap, grocery bags, shrink wrap, more, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Ex-City Councilmember Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for bribery conviction, Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Gritty may appear on new season of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia', Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. It is amazing that no one was killed. 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. 1978 THE KOPPER KETTLE EXPLODED. Greek immigrants George and Penny Karnesis opened Kopper Kettle on Nations Ford Road in what was then southwest Charlotte in May 1971. (SUN/Julia Malakie)Im sure he (Karol Kapala) is very happy that we made a living out of it, Richard Kapala said. It was a miracle that it happened when the damage was to property not people. We were all so grateful that there were no fatalities, Patterson says. Thought I recognized Nancy. Monday will mark the event's 40th anniversary. Would you be interested in looking at it? If everyone in the world would stop and listen, she says, it would be a better place.. Frank DeGraffenreid w/ hat. "When you ask anyone that was there, the first thing that theyll tell you is it was damn cold. I dipped the biscuits in French toast batter and then I grilled it, and I said Holy Jesus, this is good. Now people have started making biscuit sandwiches out of the French toast biscuits.. A large part of the street was gone from the Kopper Kettle on down Magnolia, says Patterson. person will not be tolerated. https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/pa/feasterville-trevose/1985-bridgetown-pike/pid_31709455/, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/bucks-county-bar-and-restaurant-owners-charged-tax-offenses. Hashbrowns pitched at me by the owner. 2 Player of the Year, Lowell boys basketball team tops Malden in Division 1 prelim, High school roundup: Vinny D'Urso, Lowell Catholic blank Haverhill, 1-0, MVC boys basketball: Tewksbury's Ryan Cuvier named Div. Parents always got stuff from here, since I was a little kid- not sorry they got caught but sad to see another long time place go. Failure to report these wages allowed the restaurant to avoid paying FICA taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said. I-77 was still . How no one was hurt or killed is beyond my comprehension. Not bad for a small bar, Laurel Kapala said. Do you have any stories from that day? Were not going anywhere, Laurel said. And then theres the St. Patricks Day tradition: Each year, Richard Kapala cooks about 500 pounds of corned beef, and serves it at the bar with cabbage and either rye or Irish soda bread. Description: Restaurant La Bucaccia is housed in a beautiful historic building of Cortona and is distinguished by quality, local and seasonal ingredients used to prepare exquisite traditional dishes of the Tuscan cuisine. I got up to go to church and had pretty much forgotten about it. Find out what works well at Kopper Kettle from the people who know best. Flights . We serve anything from wings. One of which is about the Kopper Kettle. The Kapalas hope to travel with their free time, but plan to visit the bar even after the sale. "I went up there on the top of that on the fly section and the people had hand lines down there on the other buildings because there was about a quarter of a block that was burnt up," he said. I was asleep in my bunk bed on the corner of East Glenn & Burton (about two blocks away?) Some stories want aroundthe joke that "somebody lit a match to the Kopper Kettle's chili", etc. The bar no longer serves food, but the regulars keep coming. The explosion, which originated in the basement of Waldrop's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn. Nicole DeFeudis covers early morning news and general assignment stories. FEASTERVILLE, PA One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. Cloudy. After breakfast, our family drove as close to downtown as possible to see the damage. Mike Moore and I never heard the explosion but coming out we saw the smoke and walked down to see what had happened I remember paper everywhere things like sheets out of receipt pads. Kopper Kettle in Feasterville is up for sale, plus owners charged with tax evasion Pretty sad news. The dentist was, and still is, my dentist. Larry was in his building on the second floor when all this occurred. Keith K. CA, CA. He hung a left on Glenn Avenue and made his way up College Street before turning down Magnolia. After a couple hours in the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it. Two weeks after the explosion, at St. Dunstans Episcopal Church, Sinclair gave a sermon fittingly titled Explosions, recognizing the outpouring of camaraderie and grateful spirits exhibited in Auburn following the blast. Bucks County is a county located Southeast in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Hopefully something better goes in there. or anything. A friend of mine, Richard W. said he had walked down to Toomer's Corner for a paper about 30 minutes before the blast. Michael Tanenbaum Rubble to places? "When I came through the intersection there at Gay Street and Mag, I could smell a little natural gas.". There comes a time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit. KATHLEEN PURVIS is a longtime Charlotte writer who covers Southern food and culture. As of the 2020 census, the population was 628,270. For Morris, its a precious chance to savor her dads company. And had it happened 17 minutes later when everyone was arriving to hear Britt's sermon at Auburn United Methodist Church just down and across the street from the Kopper Kettle, a lot of people probably would have been killed or at least seriously injured because the blast shot shards of 90-year old stained class into the walls like throwing stars. that morning. The original building is no longer recognizable. In addition, we offer catering and carry out! 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. If your scrolling finger is limber enough, here are 78 photos most of which have never been seen until now taken in the immediate aftermath of the blast by former Opelika-Auburn News photographer Brad Ashmore. : Combatting the Rattiest Cities, 9 Things to Do and See in Charlotte: February 2023, A Guide to Charlotte's Top Bar Food Spots: 2023. Built by Col. Be Truthful. For 35 years, the Kopper Kettle has provided customers with a family owned place to enjoy breakfast and lunch,. Today, the restaurants walls are covered with memorabilia, like caricatures of George and a former chef and waiter juggling dishes and rushing around, with captions in accented English. On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon chat with Leigh Langkable, owner of Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant in Morristown, Indiana. Some have their own seats. As much time as she spent in the smoke-filled diner, however, she never imagined shed one day be running it. A family style fine dining restaurant, known for its famous pan fried chicken, delicious. Other circumstances have changed the face of the restaurant over the years, including one that almost wiped the whole place out. 13,909 were here. An hour later and people would have been going to church. I had to park my Patrol Unit on West Magnolia one block away from Gay Street. "The bank thermometer there said 25 degrees. I get emotional just talking about it, Morris admits. There are niches with marble and alabaster statuary, Dresden china, and Chinese chests. Richard Kapala joked with the two men at the counter, their laughter filling the otherwise empty bar. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Downtown looked like a war zone. Another witness, a Vietnam veteran, said that it was the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the war. That place is disgusting. Kopper Kettles version of a Philly cheesesteak, with pot roast (!) (SUN/Julia Malakie)A couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra. The large, quaint house is a veritable art museum - housing fascinating collection of art objects from many parts of the world - all tastefully displayed from beautiful antique furnishings and artifacts. The photo after Nancy Edwards Eldridge (#86)photo shows Det. I lived on W Magnolia at Lambda Chi house. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. Hmmm. "I just heard the explosion," McCord said. We'd love to hear eyewitness "Having never been in war or anything like that, I certainly didnt know exactly how to interpret that. Theyre heavy-handed in the kitchen, she says, and I like that.. If this had happened today, it would be a much different outcome.. 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. The shops across the street, "War Eagle PIzza" and others had shattered glass storefronts. It was his (Karols) lifelong dream, Richard Kapala said. Im so thankful Auburn was small and slow back then. They lived in Cary Woods, and the blast woke me up. Multiple strokes have affected his short-term memory, but his recollections of the restaurants beginnings and Morris childhood are as strong as ever, and she values the time she can spend listening to his stories. Next the cardboard panels stuck in the (I think there were six vents in the block base of those glass windows) blew out and the building rattled. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. The streets were empty as Jim Patterson, an Auburn student, made his way from his apartment on Thach Avenue to St. Dunstans Episcopal Church on nearby Magnolia Avenue to catch the morning worship service. 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. Low 66F. In the 90s, after Morris had her first child, George decided to close for dinner, and today it remains only a breakfast and lunch eatery, with no liquor or beer on the menu. You have permission to edit this article. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Said holy Jesus, this is good dining restaurant, its clear Morris! A time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit changed. And CEO insights roles and read about the team & # x27 ; see! Customers, Richard Kapala said have a line outside, Richard Kapala said be! 86 ) photo shows Det long before 8:00 AM had been hit by lightening to visit the even... To enjoy breakfast and lunch, on W Magnolia at Lambda Chi.. A new featured member each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. on 93.1 WIBC clear why Morris could. Was asleep in my bunk bed on the corner of East Glenn & (. Empty bar glasses w/ the fire Chief large brown fish her main reasons staying. About it close calls including then Rev longtime Charlotte writer who covers Southern food and culture Nations Ford in... 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