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shopping centers such as
Eastwood Mall, Western Hills Mall, Vestavia Hills Mall and Five Points West Shopping City. A location was also opened in Huntsville. These eventually became the only locations, as the three original downtown restaurants were closed by the end of the 1970s. The Memphis management tried the same diversification, with several locations in suburban shopping centers eventually replacing the downtown restaurants. As the two companies struggled against the competition, the remaining cafeterias were converted into all-you-can-eat buffets; this was done with at least three Memphis locations and the one remaining Birmingham-area store in Hoover in the 1980s. The measure was only successful in the short term, and two Birmingham Britlings finally closed or sold off their Birmingham and Huntsville locations. The Hoover location was sold and became Battle Buffet, which itself closed in the early 1990s. There was also a Britling Cafeteria located at 221 W. 1st street (Park Ave.) Oklahoma City, OK, which also utilized the multilevel balcony seating format. This location, opening in December 1932, operated through the late 1940s to the early 1950s although the exact dates are unknown. The building that housed the Britling was demolished as a result of Oklahoma City's failed urban renewal program in the early 1960s.
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In their heyday, the
Britling cafeterias were local institutions in Birmingham and Memphis, particularly the earlier downtown locations. The First Avenue North location in Birmingham was a popular gathering spot in the late 1940s and 1950s, even featuring live music. The Twentieth St. North location
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Little information about the beginnings of the
Birmingham company is publicly available, except that it was owned by John H. Holcomb of Birmingham. Originally the Birmingham and Memphis cafeterias were one company, but in about 1930 the original Birmingham cafeteria was taken over by First National
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restaurants became increasingly popular and widespread. In both cities, the
Britling management tried to counter this trend by expanding into suburban locations, a move that was successful for a time. In Birmingham, the chain opened locations on Highland Avenue, in Mountain Brook, and in popular
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featured seating in a balcony overlooking the main floor, and also connected to the Third Avenue North cafeteria; the two downtown
Memphis cafeterias were similar. After-church Sunday afternoon lunches at Britling's were a tradition in both cities.
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Bank due to financial hardship, with
Holcomb buying the Birmingham operation from the bank. They agreed that the Britling name be continued in both locations.
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One of the downtown
Memphis locations is noteworthy not only as a local landmark of its era, but for one of its former employees: Gladys Presley, mother of
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memorializes the
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408:"Old cafeteria to close; nostalgic era fades away"
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461:Regional restaurant chains in the United States
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381:"A Mother's Day Tribute: Gladys Presley"
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413:The Birmingham News
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259:Birmingham, Alabama
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52:Please help
47:verification
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206:Area served
435:Categories
313:References
80:newspapers
306:fast food
299:Graceland
234:Divisions
110:July 2010
138:Industry
18:Britling
391:12 July
358:Gas Age
293:legend
277:History
190:Defunct
179:Defunct
171:Founder
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