Chadwick's ice cream parlor on the Lexington/Waltham, Mass., line held the distinction of having customers develop headaches most enjoyable.
This tiffany-style, somewhat phony-looking old-fashioned ice cream spot (but, hey, it was endearing!) was best known for birthday celebrations. Extremely loud drummers and wait staff singers surpassing the decibel level of, say, a Deep Purple concert, started the birthday celebrations with free ice cream for the birthday boy or girl. Apparently, some immoral types had several birthdays a year!
Some passed off Chadwick's as a gimmick, but I thought the ice cream was excellent (will always remember the orange-pineapple) and lunch and dinner selections were much better than its chain competitors of this dining genre.
The "Bellybuster" sundaes were huge, kids always had a ball here, and the parents might have even enjoyed the experience more. Interesting to note that Amy Poehler and Rachel Dratch, of Saturday Night Live fame) worked at Chadwick's. Now that's pretty funny!
Ok so this post is a year old, but yes I remember Chadwicks, I was one of the loud obnoxious waitresses! ;)
ReplyDeleteI remember you!
DeleteThis was my grandfather’s restaurant! I was one of the few grandchildren to remember it. RIP self-playing piano.
DeleteMy mom worked there for YEARS!!!.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a fun place to work!
DeleteI miss it! I loved going there for ice cream!
ReplyDeleteThe orange pineapple was the best!
DeleteAmy Poehler writes about it here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/10/14/131014fa_fact_poehler
ReplyDeleteI think Rachel Dratch worked there, too!
DeleteMy parents lived up the street. It was one of my stepfather's great treats to take my daughter there.
ReplyDeleteToo bad today's generation can't enjoy Chadwick's. Your daughter was fortunate to experience such a fun ice cream place!
DeleteI lived in Belmont when my first two children were younger. They had at least two bday parties there.
ReplyDeleteGreat place.
Those birthday parties were classic. I grew up in Arlington and will always remember those loud celebrations!
DeleteI used to take my kids there when they were small. my youngest called it "the drum place".
ReplyDeleteI think those drums could be heard in Winchester!
DeleteI remember my mom taking us there when she worked at Polaroid in Waltham. Anyone remember the Wal-Lex?
ReplyDeleteChadwick's gone. Polaroid Waltham gone. Wallex gone. What a shame! FYI, here is an article I wrote on Wallex: http://old-school-boston.blogspot.com/2016/05/anyone-remember-wallex-recreation.html
DeleteWhat great memories, and thanks for mentioning, Dean Dairy, too! Wasn't that on the Watertown line?
ReplyDelete