lsbair
1 post
Feb 08, 2014
10:19 PM
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Kettering Village Inn, not to be confused with the other Village Inn's that were in the area, was initially started by my father and his family. When they first opened, it was still initially Van Buren Township. The basement of the building used to house the first YMCA, and they used to hold meetings for other events there.
My nana, Helen, was a constant fixture there, until her passing in 1991. My father, Jake, continued the business until his retirement. Eva, the sweetest and dearest woman on the planet, was the cook for many years, and she also retired at the same time as my dad.
I have read so many wonderful memories of the KVI, and it was such an amazing place to grow up in, I feel very lucky to have had such a great upbringing by my dad.
My dad just passed away this past April, and I wish I could share all of the wonderful memories that other people have passed along!
I'm thankful to each of you that share your memories. They are even more special now that Dad is gone, not only to me, but the rest of my family.
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historybuff
63 posts
Feb 09, 2014
7:38 AM
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Isbair, I don’t know how old you are, but do you remember your dad hosting several of Bud Crowell’s WAVI radio listener nights at the Inn? I attended a few of those and they were really great. Well attended and the restaurant was packed. A chance for the talk-show callers to meet each other in-person. WAVI pioneered talk radio in the Dayton area and that was long before one of the “Biggies”, WHIO, became all talk. And of course, there was no Internet. At that time, WHIO was only “elevator music”. Any old-time WAVI talk-show callers still out there?
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olds88
225 posts
Feb 09, 2014
3:46 PM
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ISBAIR-I was aregular atKVI IN 59,60 ara remember Helen well and believe Eva was Mrs.Lewis my friends mom.You might want to look through the other pages of this blog as there is several other comments about KVI.
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lsbair
4 posts
Feb 09, 2014
10:36 PM
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I'm 45, and I don't remember the radio listener nights, but that sounds great!
Eva was Mrs.Lewis, and such an amazing lady. I have looked through other pages on here. I just recently discovered this website, and I am enjoying looking through everything so much. (especially memories of my dad) I'd love to hear from anyone that knew my grandfather, too. He unfortunately passed away before I was born.
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joey m
178 posts
Feb 10, 2014
9:09 AM
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Isbair your dad was a good friend of mine. At one time my dad and I owned Angelinas Pizza and we supplied KVI with pizza doughs and I will always remember Helen she was a real character and a lot of fun.I also remember Eva her receipes for the food there were excellent. I remember your pizzas were one of my favorites of course Angelinas were the best (just kidding). I remember your dad very well and he was a generous and kind man. We often traded ingredients when we ran out. I'm not sure but was your family related to the Di Pasquales. And I'm sorry to hear about your dad.
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lsbair
5 posts
Feb 11, 2014
10:09 PM
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Joey M, what's your last name? I heard him talk about so many people from other restaurants, and never had a bad thing to say about any of them! No, we weren't related to the Di Pasquales, however I do remember Dad mentioning that name.
I'd love to chat with you some more.
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historybuff
68 posts
Feb 12, 2014
12:09 AM
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JoeyM, just read your recent post mentioning the Di Pasquales. Don’t remember your age offhand, but years ago I worked with a Lou Dipasquale. I wonder if he was a part of that family. I’m pretty sure he was from Dayton.
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joey m
179 posts
Feb 12, 2014
9:16 AM
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isbair My last name is Marks and I visited often with your dad. I just remember when I would borrow cheese or pepperoni from Jake, he would just say you know where it is and I would go down stairs to the walk in and get it. He never asked to weigh it, I would give him the amount and as soon as I received my shipment I would return it and vice versa. If he wasnt busy at the bar we would sit and chat about our business's. Business was different in those days, a lot easier and it was also fun. That changed in the mid to late 70's. I also remember when he opened the restaurant where the old Wishing Well was in Centerville.
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joey m
180 posts
Feb 12, 2014
9:34 AM
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historybuff I'm 70 years old and yes Louie was a brother to Tony. We bought our pizza houses from Tony. At one time I think Tony owned or started about 6 or more pizza houses in the Dayton area.The one on Kettering Blvd. might have been the second actual pizza house in Dayton. Cassanos. on Schantz was the first. Vic's first location was in a small grocery on Shantz where there is a car repair shop.
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historybuff
70 posts
Feb 12, 2014
3:46 PM
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Joey: To further pin down that particular individual, at the time I worked with him, it was in a laboratory at WPAFB and he was either a chemical or biology technician. I also think he was going to college at the time, maybe UD. Later on I think he earned a Phd and had a job in the Eastern part of the US. Manager of a Lab facility, I believe. Does any of that sound familiar? I lost contact with him after that job.
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lsbair
10 posts
Feb 12, 2014
10:59 PM
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Joey, I remember that, the Centerville Inn, I believe? I was pretty young when he had that. He also opened P.J.'s Snack Shop and World of Wines in Oakwood. There were a few bars that he owned too, but I am pretty sure that was before I was born.
Business was so much different then, and you could definitely trust more people. Dad still ran tabs for people up until the time he closed, gave people free food, etc.
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joey m
181 posts
Feb 13, 2014
8:09 AM
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historybuff I think the Louie I was talking about was the father of the Louie you were talking about. I went to school with Louie Jr. at Chaminade and I would guess that is who you were talking about. We graduated together in the class of "71".
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historybuff
74 posts
Feb 13, 2014
2:50 PM
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Thanks Joey, That may actually be the one. I have some old employee lists I have to get out and check. I was in that job from 1963 to 1986 so it could have been during that period. TNX.
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Susan63
5 posts
May 21, 2014
3:44 PM
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Loved KVI. I used to live really close by and could smell it from my backyard. I really miss it. Loved their Lasagna.
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Redfestiva
34 posts
Mar 29, 2015
4:47 PM
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I worked at KVI in late 70's. I Was the Sunday porter and would go by Helens home real early and get the restaurant key and go do my work and before I was done Helen would meet me there. I remember buying an old Gibson electric guitar from Jake once.
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MikeC
1 post
Apr 01, 2015
8:05 AM
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My dad, Rocky Couch was a regular there for many years starting late 70s and al through the 80s. He would meet his friends there everynight for happy hour. I would join him at least once a week. Jake was a great guy. I miss those days
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lsbair
13 posts
Apr 13, 2015
1:20 AM
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MikeC, your dad remodeled our basement, too! I was little, probably 5 at the time, and had a huge crush on your dad. I remember he loved this pink dress that I had, and I wore it every time he was around. Great memories :)
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