I was born & raised in Muscatine, so as I grew up Maid-Rites were part of my childhood. Back then there were three stands in Muscatine and they were all busy. I've lived in Marshalltown since 1980 and we're fortunate to have TAYLOR'S Maid-Rite here which is one or the remaining places that still makes them the ORIGINAL way with the meat cooked in-house. Back in the 70's my, now, wife (also from Muscatine) managed one of the restaurants in Muscatine for Fred Angell's son and for over ten years I had a business in Toledo where the BIG-T was not only a place to buy lunch but also and occasional customer. SO, the news of this closing certainly hits me personally. It would be wonderful if a new owner would maintain not only the franchise, but also the original atmosphere and methods that make Maid-Rite an Iowa landmark.
Taylor's was the 2nd franchise outside of Muscatine, the first was in Newton so it appears that these in Cedar Rapids were among those that started in a flurry of activity in the years just after Fred Angell got the whole business started.
Great story! Just reading or hearing the words "Maid-Rite" starts an overwhelming craving in a whole lot of Iowans. There was one in Shenandoah in my youth, and that set the hook. Later I'd eat at them all over Iowa. And how many times have I dined at Taylor's in Marshalltown, always swearing I was not going to have a chocolate malt with my sandwich(es) -- but did? Here's hopin' somebody steps up to save Cedar Rapids!
I was born & raised in Muscatine, so as I grew up Maid-Rites were part of my childhood. Back then there were three stands in Muscatine and they were all busy. I've lived in Marshalltown since 1980 and we're fortunate to have TAYLOR'S Maid-Rite here which is one or the remaining places that still makes them the ORIGINAL way with the meat cooked in-house. Back in the 70's my, now, wife (also from Muscatine) managed one of the restaurants in Muscatine for Fred Angell's son and for over ten years I had a business in Toledo where the BIG-T was not only a place to buy lunch but also and occasional customer. SO, the news of this closing certainly hits me personally. It would be wonderful if a new owner would maintain not only the franchise, but also the original atmosphere and methods that make Maid-Rite an Iowa landmark.
Taylor's was the 2nd franchise outside of Muscatine, the first was in Newton so it appears that these in Cedar Rapids were among those that started in a flurry of activity in the years just after Fred Angell got the whole business started.
Great story! Just reading or hearing the words "Maid-Rite" starts an overwhelming craving in a whole lot of Iowans. There was one in Shenandoah in my youth, and that set the hook. Later I'd eat at them all over Iowa. And how many times have I dined at Taylor's in Marshalltown, always swearing I was not going to have a chocolate malt with my sandwich(es) -- but did? Here's hopin' somebody steps up to save Cedar Rapids!