Porky's Diner in Des Moines leveled 9-21-09

YES! hahaha! I laid on the floor and got my milkshake.. I even got here to pour some in my mouth! I don't know if it's still there or not.

 

I understand it closed also. The newer "Themed -Good" ones never seem to stick around for very long. To bad it was a good place to eat. Now the Iowa Machine shed right infront of the Living History Farm is about the only good place left out on that side. I'm headed up there for T-Giving.

 

All in the name of progress. Tradition has no place in today's society.

 

"Sticker" has more than one meaning...
Not that I was there, watching...That would be sick and wrong...

 

Actually Stella's Diner out on 86th Street in Urbandale (DSM Suburb) re-opened last year. I think some of the former employees bought out the previous owner & kept everything else pretty much the same. I work fairly close to there & they always seem to have a pretty good crowd. It's in a strip mall but the decore is still the same kitchy 50's diner style. They'll still let you hold the glass on your head while they pour the milkshakes if you want to.Not really a good parking lot for a cruise night, but it's a great place to go to get some good diner food.
As far as the regular cruise night scene in town goes, after Porkys quit having cruise nights last year, one of Porkys former owners has partnered up with the owners of a custom bike shop (Radical Cycle) turned bar & they are calling it "Porkys Pub". They've taken over as the Wed, Sat night cruise spot in town. They're out on N.E. 14th Street just N. of interstate 35 / 80. Not a huge parking lot, but they have a large grassy field next to the place. There is also a cruise night Wed night at the Bennigan's on Merle Hay Rd that was very well attended & the Hardee's on S.W. 9th is still doing it's Friday night cruise nights. I'd love to see George's Chilli King get back to being a good cruise night spot. I think they're going to start having them there on Saturday nights next year. It's a bit of a dive, but they've been there over 50 yrs so they must be do'n something right. Besides, who really want's to eat a Coney dog in a modern soul-less chain restaurant? : )

 

Scotty...I do believe you were there with me that night.

 

Ya the NEW Porkys Pub totally sucks!! They do nothing really for the car crown other than let them come hang out and spend a few dollars. Totally blows they tore the old Porkys down.

 

Now this story is really getting good...

 

My sentiments exactly. I go there regularly. Excellent food IMO. I've seen some people talkin trash about the place, but from talking with folks who were actually around "back in the day" it sounds like George the Chili King("dumpy" or not) has remained alot closer to the way things really were than most of these glitzed up throwback joints.
I will admit that I do enjoy Stella's as well.

 

Its a shame was there way before gg,s when the titus boys came there with the kkoa it was just a hoot well ya know they just want to mowem down for progress thats the new way of thinkin always got to change things for the better with some of the NEW generation..... glad that alot of hambers still believe in tradition we have lots to learn from our elders just somthing to think about new is not always better...

 

Yea DesMoines used to be a realy bitchin car town in the 80s 90s. The concrete cruisers would get up a sock hop type dance that coininsided with KKOA event or GGs at the Bellair ballroom i believe it was. got there sober seems I always left drunk. Always went to the local cruise ins. This last year other than GGs it sucked, Sorry locals.

 

"at the Bellair ballroom i believe it was"

I think you mean the Val Air Ballroom. Which is currently fighting with local neighbors do to noise. The Bass appearantly travels extremely well, rattling windows in the houses near the ballroom.

 

Love George the Chili King. Food is still great and the old style drive-inn still rocks.

 

Sad to see history lost to "progress"

 

Man.... I know it's an old thread, but I drove past there the other day and I'm still mad that it was torn down! They still haven't done anything with it, such a loss the the hot rod history in central Iowa.

 

Talk about adding insult to injury.

 

his name is John and here is a picture of the Hemi mopar that he and his dad bought new. He has other cool stuff too!

 

And I just found this pic of me and the mrs in the track roadster the last night waiting to get a spot to park

 

^^^Thats Richard and Dell's trucks in the background^^^ Those two were there every week, I spent a lot of time there the last year as well. I was there in this truck, it was rough on the wallet but so worth it to say I was a part of that history

 

Google street view from 2022. Still just an empty lot...

What's the latest on the Chili King? Web says "temporarily closed". I know George passed away a couple years ago.

 

I was at Porky's once while attending the 2006 GG event at DSM.
While walking the parking lot, a guy with a nice '32 sedan has engine problems he's working on.
I see his Hawaii license plate, so I have to start a conversation.
"I know you didn't come from Hawaii just to visit Porky's" .
Turns out they shipped the car to the mainland to do a 3 month circle tour of the lower '48, attending the big events most weekends.
I've been good friends with Ron and Evelyn since that evening.

Yes, the worn out sbc rocker was replaced easily and their trip continued.

 

Larry Spear`s 57 Ford

 

this still makes me sad.....