Mr. Steak was near Northgate Mall. Click to enlarge.
photo by Harmon Jolley
After Northgate Mall opened in Hixson in 1972, commercial development around it soon followed. Across from the shopping center, several businesses sprang up on Highway 153. Customers circled the parking lot to get a space at the new Dunkin Donuts. Those with cars needing to be re-tired went to the new Firestone Car Care Center (which would later move into the old J.C. Penney Auto Center at Northgate). In 1973, Tullus E. Crawford staked out a location at 5307 Highway 153 for a new Mr. Steak restaurant.
The Hixson location was the first in Tennessee for Mr. Steak, Inc. a Denver-based restaurant chain which operated in 250 locations in the United States and Canada. The restaurant incorporated the franchise’s standard architecture that featured a shingled mansard roof. The interior décor included wood-paneling and brick, a common look for 1970’s restaurants.
A Yellow Pages advertisement for Mr. Steak proclaimed it to be “America’s Steak Expert.” It was said to feature a “full selection of family-priced meals – featuring naturally-aged USDA choice steaks and personal service.” Customers were invited to “get to know us.” The restaurant’s primary competition in the Hixson area came from Shoney’s and the Longhorn (the locally-based one, not the franchise), which were located on Hixson Pike. I always liked the diagonally-sliced steak sandwich at the Longhorn, which was held together by a plastic sword.
Mr. and Mrs. Crawford personally managed their restaurant during its first years.
The 1973 menu included the pre-inflationary prices of $2.19 to $3.25 for a lunch menu selection, or a $4.95 steak-and-lobster meal. Steaks were kept in special wine-based marinades for at least 24 hours. Irene Pinkerton kept customers supplied with hot loaves of bread from the kitchen. An order from the children’s menu included a puppet for Junior or Janie. Deep dish cherry and apple pies capped the customer’s meal. Mr. Steak soon became popular with families after church, and young folks on a date (Remember going there, Mrs. Jolley?).
The number of restaurants in Hixson continued to increase in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Shoney’s moved from Hixson Pike to Highway 153 in 1975. Fast food chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Long John Silver’s opened. Ryan’s brought its steak-centered menu to Hixson in 1985. Whether as a result of increased competition or some other cause, Mr. Steak closed its doors in 1984. The building is still standing, though, and restaurants with various cuisines (Rascals, Ming Garden, Cancun) have operated there over the years.
If you have memories of Mr. Steak, please send me an e-mail at jolleyh@signaldata.net.