Vonachen’s Old Place will never reopen. The train cars are being moved to Wheels ‘o Time Museum, and the building is being razed.
And I’m sad. In a world full of cookie-cutter chain restaurants, VOP’s was truly unique. It was a great place to take the family for lunch or dinner. It was a great place to go for special occasions. The private dining rooms on the train car were great for dates. And I took many an out-of-town business associate there, since it was one of the most interesting places in town to eat.
The place is full of stories. Like the train car that is closest to Prospect Road — it was a private car for Toledo, Peoria & Western (TP&W) president George McNear. Railroad workers went on strike back in the 1940s, and McNear wouldn’t give in to their demands. At one point, he tried running a TP&W train with strikebreakers — and armed guards to ensure passage past picketers. Some picketers got injured in that confrontation, and on March 10, 1946, as McNear was walking home from a Bradley game, he was shot to death right on the street. The murderer was never found.
But now stories like that will be tucked away at a museum north of town, along with the clock from the old Peoria County Courthouse and other treasures long discarded by Peoria. No doubt a chain restaurant will take the place of the eatery originally known as Vonachen’s Junction, and it will probably be very successful, too.
Oh well. Times change.
I have been talking with Pete Vonachen, owner of the railcars, for a little over a year. He graciously allowed us to go in and photograph the railcars. The woodwork inside is incredible. Lights, trim, everything is beautiful. We are so glad to hear that the railcars are going to WOT. They will take great care of them and I look forward to visiting them in their new home. Pete also owned a steam locomotive at one time but it became to expensive to keep it up so he donated it to someone else. There is a lot of history behind the railcars and the old locomotive. Sorry to see Vonachen’s go down, but progress ruined it. The cars and the restaurant have sat there vacant and that was a shame. Hopefully Alexis Khazzam can revive that corner into something beneficial for the entire area.
I always enjoyed eating at VOP. The food was good and reasonably priced. It always seemed like the place was busy. Why it closed and did not re-open is a mystery to me. I am also sad to see it go. These kinds of places are what help make our community unique. I would hate to see a chain eatery open there, as I think Peoria has way too many chains as it is.
Slight correction: McNear’s murder took place in 1947, not 1946.
If a restaurant does open at this location you can be guaranteed it will be a chain. The best we can hope for is a decent chain unique to the area, not another Chili’s/Applebees type or Texas roadhouse style steak place.
PeoriaIllinoisan: I hope you are wrong.
“a decent chain unique to the area”
What does that even mean? The terrible thing about chain restaurants is that their pricing is almost impossible to compete with which means that in tough times like this Chilis can run a 2 for 20, or whatever their latest deal is, and small mom and pop places are basically axed because they cant compete for dining dollars. Another important note is that Sizzling India on Main St closed which caused me to shed a tear.
I went to high school with one of the McNear daughters. It was my first experience ever watching anyone get dropped off and picked up by a driver. She used to speak to me in the library and was always very polite. I would see the two daughters and their mother at the bank I worked at after high school wearing those magnificent hats and coats. Now, I am wondering why she was there when I was there if her father was killed in 1947. I was born in 1953. I would find it hard to believe she had been held back several times, but maybe she was. Sadly, I think she has passed on.
George P. McNear was born in 1891, so maybe you knew a granddaughter.
I know she was one of the girls that walked around in the HUGE hats and fur coats with the mom. Her name was Virginia. Did the daughters have children? I know she lived in the Knolls for awhile then they moved, and I thought it was to Grandview.
MAWB: You met you were born in 1963 not 1953 right? 🙂
I am sad the train will me moved. Isn’t that what Junction City is all about?
“Was” all about–youth has taken over–I guess that can be a good thing, but I will miss the train–just knowing it was there for special occasions. I know my cousins and I enjoyed going there with their little kids because we could have a car to ourselves and not bother anybody.
If, by unique, you mean mediocre food and service that couldn’t even be called mediocre, then you are correct – VOP’s was unique. Sorry, but I have to break with the rest of you. I wouldn’t call myself a regular there, but I would venture to say I was there 10 times, and maybe once in those 10 visits, I actually got good service. I never got good food, I got Okay food, but never good.
VOP’s was dirty- and the service was poor. Vop’s was caught in a time warp and they were unable to move beyond the 1970’s -similar to the River Station which was equally pitiful. Even the new River Station was caught in a time warp. Wake up – salad bars and prime rib are out- period!
Unfortunately, most Peorians do not travel, do not read and are unable to embrace what is current. The city is a reflection of the majority- sad…but true.
Maybe they can build a Hunt’s at the site.
Hunt’s? ICK
Oh, Em!! I love you!! That makes you younger too, ya know! 71 71 71 71 (remember that cry?)
I ate at VOP twice, once in 1999 and for the final time in 2006. The two lovely female attendants were the only highlight of the first time, and nothing the last. 🙂
Anyone remember the ‘wormeaters club’?
By the time I had come along VOP’s had turned into the time warped place that George was referring too, but after hearing Pete Vonachen on the radio this morning it sounds like it would have been a great place to visit back in the day. And he is quite a character!
I’ll bet you guys are a real hit at funerals.
Too bad Pete didn’t auction off the engine and cars and give the money to the Chiefs to be a dividend(return on money invested) to the many, many investors who literally gave him hundreds of thousands of dollars to help keep the hapless Chiefs here.
I have to dissent on the value of VOP as well. There is good reason it closed. The company that ran it (or couldn’t run it). Poorly run. The same company (Mercedes?) managed The Grill on Fulton (closed), Sonoma Cucina in Bloomington (closed), Famous Dave’s (closed), Rainwaters in East Peoria (closed). Food quality at all these places was inconsistent more often than not. Often the wait staff didn’t know what was in a dish or just made it up on the spot. I think the only place they have that can be called successful is Alexander’s — a place where you cook for yourself and have limited wait staff exposure. Glad to see it go too. What an eyesore for that corner. I look forward to the next eyesore to be built there.
I dont understand why everyone is so bent on predicting what will go in the place of VOP. Have the Khazzam’s not done a great job in restoring Junction and making the whole area better for the community? Only a few years ago Junction was in shambles, and now its the most blossoming center in town. My opinion is to give the earned benefit of the doubt to the developers and wait and see. They have only succeeded so far. From what I understand, a BIG local restaraunt is opening on the warehouse side of Junction in April, so I doubt we will see another one at the VOP site. Kudos to the Khazzam’s for maintaining their word to the community and keeping Junction a local place for all our community. I love all the new stores there, and there have been a many new openings there this year. Truly a great accomplishment
I agree with you about junction city being improved but I wouldnt go so far as to say its a great success. I mean one of the major stores there is a verizon store? They have had several stores close there. Butcher Block constantly feels like its about to close. I mean junction city has done better but lets not have a parade yet.
Stephen, since I am a neighbour, and frequent Junction almost daily, Ill just add my point. There have been approximately a dozen new store openings this year, 1 better than the other. I often wonder how Junction is doing this in the worst of times. A new bar (Tavern on Prospects), Bronzed Frog from Grand Prairie, a great gift shop (Anectdotes), nail salon (natural nails), financial center (benjamin Edwards), a counter top marble place and a few others. Butcher block is a mess and I agree, but I have found their breakfast, which is very busy, to be of great quality. In any case, it may not be a great success yet, but I believe its well on its way, and lets not forget that 2 short years ago there were 4 owners to the land, a drug and prostitute infested hotel, which very negatively affected our neighbourhood and Junction was a terrible anchor around the city’s ankles. If where it is today isn’t considered a great success, then I’m not sure what to call it. Thats just my opinion, but ill tell you this, the neighbourhood around here is nothing but extremely greatful that what the Khazzam’s are accomplishing and are firmly behind them. Kep it up Junction!!
Paul and Stephen: You are probably both correct. It is much improved but I would think all those stores are just getting by with the economy.
Paul is correct though, that eliminating the hotel was a great improvement to the neighborhood. I live somewhat nearby Junction and running the back way to the Heights from North Peoria along side the Junction is a favorite course of mine. With the troubles the hotel brought, I was afraid to run along there in the early a.m. Several times I met up with strange fellows out wandering at 6:00 a.m.???
Paul – Do you know the name of the restaurant or what it is going to be like that is going into the warehouse area? I would love to see a place with the food and atmosphere of the Oyster Bar in E.P. go into Junction City.
When is the”upscale”senior citizen development of Peterson going up?