Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-08-17

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW   Barbershop-style singers help local schools       ...       Water plant upgrade to increase water bills       ...       Giving back to the givers       ...       Barbershop-style singers help local schools       ...       Water plant upgrade to increase water bills       ...       Giving back to the givers       ...           50TH ANNIVERSARY Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Comment By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 18, 2015 at 5:59 PM Updated Apr 18, 2015 at 6:00 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 18, 2015 at 5:59 PM Updated Apr 18, 2015 at 6:00 PM »  Social News With less than two hours left to go in its 50th anniversary special Saturday morning, the staff at the Witham Restaurant in Medford was having trouble catching a break in the action. From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., the restaurant, attached to the Witham Chevron station and truck stop on Biddle Road, rolled back its breakfast prices to 1950s levels, charging a mere $1.10 for a plate of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast. A cup of coffee? 10 cents. Restaurant staff said they didn't advertise the special online, only an advertisement in a local mailer and signs in the windows. But word of mouth spread and by 11 a.m., the parking lot and the restaurant's dining rooms were full.  "I'm ready to go to bed," said owner Joe Stella, laughing. Stella, who has owned Witham's for 25 years, said the restaurant caters as much to families as it does to truckers and that the anniversary event drew as many first-timers as it did dedicated patrons. Jokingly trading barbs with wait staff, trucker John Wilson said he's been coming to the restaurant for 49 years. "I've been coming here since '66," he said "Most of the people I used to eat here with are dead." Wilson said that when he first started out as a trucker, Witham's was about the only truck stop in the area. Now, he still goes out of his way to go there for gas. "The last 25 years, it's gotten worse," he said laughing, prompting a joking shove from a waitress. Eating lunch with friends, Pat Jacquet said she and her husband moved to Medford about a year ago. While they were buying a car, the salesman recommended they check out Witham's. "He told me that they had the best chicken-fried steak around," she said. "And they do." Jacquet said that there are many other restaurants in the area that serve similar food, but it's the small touches that have kept her coming back to Witham's. "The bacon is good quality, the sausage is good quality and the ladies here always provide excellent service," she said. Reporter Thomas Moriarty can be reached at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty .  By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 18, 2015 at 5:59 PM Updated Apr 18, 2015 at 6:00 PM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501