Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt

By Editor | May 6, 2026 |

Richard Pence asked about articles I’ve written on Mount Ayr restaurants in the 1960s. There have been many, but I don’t mind adding one more. Mr. Pence once worked at Shamrock Cafe, so let’s start there.
George Rogers (father) and Keith Rogers (son) opened Rogers Truck Stop in 1953 on the site now occupied by Casey’s General Store. Rogers’ Cafe was part of the truck stop.
In 1963, Johnny Warin bought the Rogers’ business with the new names being Warin Oil Co. and Shamrock Cafe. Bernard and Leta Sullivan were the first managers of Shamrock Cafe in September 1963. An addition was built onto the restaurant in 1965 increasing the seating capacity by 80.
DonNell Boyd was the next mamager, followed by Jay Snyder. Sharon Glick took over as manager on May 1, 1969.
John Donald Warin passed away on March 8, 1986. An auction was held October 24, 1989 to sell the service station and cafe. Hank Smith bought the property for $43,000.
Ruth’s Cafe was owned and operated by Ruth (Powell) Cavender and began the decade at 104 N. Taylor St. In 1962 Ruth moved her coffee shop to 300 W. South St. (Highway 2). This was the former Skyway Cafe. Ruth’s husband Pete opened Pete’s Escape Room upstairs of the cafe at the same time.
This business was also known as Ruth’s Steakhouse. When Ruth was at 104 N. Taylor, she had the bus depot as well, and that agency went with her to the new location. Pete and Ruth moved to the former West End Market in April 1971.
I don’t have enough space to list all the owners, operators and managers of the Sandwich Shop, 100 E. Madison, but it opened in 1932 with Fay Bryant as the owner and the last managers were Aden and Valerie Stewart beginning in December 1967.
Bev’s Pantry opened January 22, 1963 at 110 W. Madison with Matthew and Carolyn Bevington as owners. This cafe was described in the newspaper as the “most modern” in southwest Iowa. Raymond Umbarger bought the restaurant in April 1974 and named it after his two daughters: Patty and Lynn. The new name was Patty-Lynn’s.
Keith Rogers opened Dog’N’Suds on East Highway 2 in April 1965. A year later he sold it to Roy Payne. In early 1970 the Dog’N’Suds was for sale.
The Sale Barn Cafe started in December 1939 with Fay Bryant in charge and the restaurant lasted until 2007, the longest running restaurant in Mount Ayr history. In the 1960s, managers at the Sale Barn Cafe included Cora Patterson and Iola Rice.
Let’s not forget the lunch counters at Horne Pharmacy and McNeiley Drug. I still hear people talk about their favorite food or drink at those places.
I didn’t include the Dari Sweet because of absence of indoor seating. Nor did I include the concession stands at the swimming pool and other locations.
This list is not very long, but things were different then. In the 1960s, the menus were larger with more variety (I memorize menus). At Ruth’s one could get a doughnut or a steak. Ruth was well-known for her cinnamon rolls and Shamrock Cafe was famous for their pies.
I didn’t live here in the 1960s but I remember in the 1970s Johnny Warin greeted his customers at Shamrock Cafe on Sunday after church. I delivered Ruth’s newspaper in 1970-71 and she always had a smile while greeting her customers. Many of the restaurants I just mentioned were more than eating establishments; they were institutions.