Old Cincinnati Chili Parlor Commercials

Earlier I was on YouTube, don't remember what I was watching (probably something involving dogs, cats or someone taking a football to the groin) but somehow I came across an old commercial for Gold Star Chili. So I thought it would be fun to take a look at past ads for local chili parlors. Most of the ads I found were relatively new but I did find 3 old Gold Star ads (1993, 1998 and 2007), an old Skyline ad (not sure of the year) and an old Channel 12 news feature (young Rob Braun FTW!) on the famous and super catchy Skyline Chili jingle.

Blue Jay Restaurant History

Like most of Cincinnati's mom-and-pop chili parlors, Blue Jay Restaurant was founded by Greek immigrants. Danny and Kathryn Petropoulos traveled to the U.S. in 1959. For the better part of that decade they worked odd jobs such as making golf clubs at MacGregor. By 1967, though their English was rough and they were beginning to raise a family, the Petropoulos's decided to open a restaurant. Blue Jay, simply named after Danny's bowling team, was founded in the heart of Northside on Hamilton Avenue. Now, 44 years later, the Petropoulos family is still running the restaurant. They stopped serving dinner about 10 years ago, but Blue Jay is still a Northside staple when it comes to breakfast and lunch.

Covington Chili History

Though Dixie Chili is often considered a staple of Northern Kentucky's chili history, another parlor established just seven years later still holds its own in the Covington neighborhood. Covington Chili, serving chili since 1936, has a loyal following of regulars in the region. Recognizing the charm of this neighborhood institution, George Stamatakos bought the restaurant in 1995. Like a majority of local chili parlors, Covington Chili features a secret blend of spices to make the chili.  They also use 140 pounds of ground beef every day. Though Stamatakos expanded the menu and made some minor renovations, he credits the long-standing patronage to the low prices and the fact that very little has changed about the restaurant over the years.

Gourmet Chili History

The history of Gourmet Chili begins in way that is quite similar to some of the other chili parlors we have visited: An immigrant travels to the United States to find a better life for himself and his family. Working odd jobs and struggling to keep afloat, he ends up working at one of Cincinnati's many chili parlors. Seeing the business as a great opportunity in a town that truly loves its chili, he opens his own chili parlor and it stands for decades.

The man in the story this time is Steve Stavropoulos, a Greek immigrant who worked at Skyline for awhile when he first came to America. He opened Gourmet Chili in 1986 on Monmouth Street in Newport, Kentucky. Though he has since passed away, he is still remembered in his community as having been a very spiritual and kind person. His restaurant carries on with the original recipes Stavropoulos created when founding Gourmet Chili.

Price Hill Chili History

In 1961 Sam Beltsos identified a vacant store front on Glenway Avenue as a business opportunity. With the help of his Greek immigrant father-in-law Lazaros "Pops" Noutsis, Price Hill Chili was founded. In the beginning there were only 12 stools and four tables. But the neighborhood restaurant quickly became popular, and after many expansions over the years, including the adjacent Golden Fleece bar, the seating capacity is now at 400.

In 2003 Mr. Noutsis passed away at the age of 95. He was actively involved in the parlor until 2 weeks prior to his death. The business, which boasts having served six generations of Price Hill residents, is still owned and operated by Mr. Beltsos.

Price Hill Chili is a landmark on the West side, but people from all across the Tri-State region come to Price Hill to get their chili fix.

Beltsos and Lazaros (Photo credit: Price Hill by Christine Mersch)

Pleasant Ridge Chili History

There are many "mom and pop" chili parlors in Cincinnati, Pleasant Ridge Chili is one of those and is a long standing landmark on the Eastside of the Cincinnati.

Many Cincinnati chili parlors can trace their roots to other parlors in town, but not Pleasant Ridge Chili. Pleasant Ridge Chili was founded in 1964 by Tony Sideris. It is his special recipe, which is a family secret,  that holds a special place in the hearts, and bellies, of many Cincinnatians. Sadly last year Tony fell ill and passed away, but the restaurant has stayed in the family and is now owned by his son Dan.

The chili isn't the only reason many flock to Pleasant Ridge Chili. The signature item at Pleasant Ridge is not the coneys or the 3-ways, its their gravy cheese fries. If you mention you are going to Pleasant Ridge Chili to a Cincy chili lover, they will likely tell you to make sure to try the gravy cheese fries.

Chili Time tidbits

We like to find out the history of each chili parlor we visit, but unfortunately despite Chili Time having a long history in town, we could not find out a lot about its history at the restaurant or on the internet. We did find out some info during our sleuthing but not enough for a full fledged history post, so we will share the tidbits we found. If any Chili Time aficionados have more information about the restaurant, please share!

• There used to be multiple Chili Time locations.  The one and only Chili Time still operating is located in St. Bernard.  There used to be a Chili Time in Roselawn as well that many long time residents have fond memories of. However that location closed in the mid 90's. There appears to have been one in Bond Hill at one point, but not sure when that location was in operation.

• Chili Time is another Cincinnati chili parlor that can trace its roots back to the original Cincinnati chili parlor, Empress Chili.

• Chili Time is owned by someone named Chris. Don't know a last name, so I'm just gonna assume he has none and is the Madonna or Bono of the Cincinnati chili scene.

• There has been some major controversy at Chili Time within the past year. There was a waitress named Pam Holbrook who had worked at Chili Time for over 20 years and was very well liked by the Chili Time regulars. However she was fired in early 2010. This angered many of those regulars, who then started a group on facebook to try to get her rehired. Based on my research it doesn't look like that worked as she lists Walmart as her current employer. (I also found out via her MySpace profile that she is a "sexy bitch" and a "proud grandma". I would link to her profile, but I wouldn't wish going to MySpace upon any of my readers)

• MC Hammer may, or may not, have been involved in the naming of Chili Time.

Camp Washington Chili History

It isn't hard to find a Skyline restaurant that has a rival Gold Star just blocks away. But when you find two non-chain chili parlors sitting literally across the street from one another, you know you are in a neighborhood of serious chili lovers. Camp Washington's two chili parlors are US Chili, which was our third stop in the quest, and Camp Washington Chili, which will be our next review.

Camp Washington Chili was established in 1940 by Steve Andon and Fred Zannbus. The current owner, John Johnson, began working there for his uncle in 1951. Camp Washington Chili is basically home for John as it has been the only place John has worked at since moving to America. He is also the keeper of the secret family recipe.

Camp Washington Chili is lucky to be in its current location. 24 years of battle with the city continually threatened to demolish the original parlor. In 2000 the bulldozers won and the parlor was flattened for the sake road widening projects. Fortunately for the family business, they were able to acquire an adjacent lot and maintain their patronage in a brand new parlor.

Camp Washington has received numerous praise and recognition for their brand of chili. Their chili recipe received an American Regional Classic award from the James Beard Foundation. In 1985 the CBS Morning News set out to find "the best chili in the nation" and crowned Camp Washington Chili as its winner. Camp Washington is not only a Cincinnati institution, but also a nationally recognized restaurant.

Blue Ash Chili History

Blue Ash, Ohio is a northern suburb of Cincinnati that is a mix of suburbia and office parks.  Blue Ash has twice been named one of the Top 50 fabulous places to live and Fortune Magazine named Blue Ash one of the best places to live and start a small business. One of those small businesses happens to be Cincinnati Coney Quest stop #4, Blue Ash Chili.

Blue Ash Chili was founded in 1969 by a Greek family like so many of the Cincinnati chili parlors. Even though the founding family no longer owns the restaurant, the current owners have kept the same recipe that Blue Ash Chili has been known for the past 41 years. Blue Ash Chili is not just known for their chili, they take pride in having a menu that features items for everyone. Aside from their chili they are known for having massive double decker sandwiches. They are also one of the few chili parlors with a liquor license.

Blue Ash Chili has a loyal fan base which is continuing to grow especially since it was featured on an episode of Food Network's Diners, Drive-In's and Dives.

History of US Chili

When we drew US Chili for the next stop on the Coney Quest I was looking forward to writing the history post for it. I was expecting to write about how awesome American's such as Hulk Hogan, Brett Favre, Chuck Norris, Captain Sully Sullenberger and others, teamed up to make the most butt-kicking Cincinnati style chili ever created. However Alison did some research and broke the bad news to me that US doesn't stand for United States Chili, it's actually Uncle Steve's Chili. Bummer.


The real story is US Chili is another Cincinnati chili parlor who has roots with the original Cincinnati chili parlor, Empress Chili. Jim Storgion is the current owner, but it was his grandfather who came up with the US Chili recipe. He was a former employee at Empress who decided he too could tweak the Empress recipe to create his own brand.

US Chili is located across the street from the iconic Camp Washington Chili. According to our research, yes there is a story behind that.  From what we can gather, the owners of US Chili are related to the owners (not by blood, in-laws) of Camp Washington, and wanted a share of Camp Washington ownership.  However John Johnson did not agree and instead became the sole owner of Camp Washington Chili. The disgruntled relatives left Camp Washington and opened up US Chili across the street.

When we visit US Chili we hope to find out more details about its history, especially their feud with Camp Washington. I know some people are passionate about their chili parlors but never knew we had a Hatfield's vs. McCoy's in the Cincy Chili Wars!

History of Dixie Chili

It is appropriate that the first stop on the quest after Empress is Dixie Chili. If Empress is the father of Cincinnati style chili, then Dixie is one of its sons. Eighty years ago an employee of Empress Chili, Nicholas Sarakatsannis, decided to leave Empress and set up his own parlor and give birth to a new flavor of Cincinnati chili.

As a teenager Sarakatsannis escaped to the U.S. from Greece, a country in violent battle with Turkey at the time. He worked in Greater Cincinnati area candy stores and hot dog stands as a young man until he became an employee at Empress Chili.

Seeing the potential in this product and believing he could improve the recipe, he decided to start up his own chili parlor in Newport. Despite having been founded at the beginning of the Great Depression, his restaurant has not only survived the test of time, it has thrived. Dixie now has two additional locations in Erlanger and Covington, and can be found at local grocery stores. The original location is now the oldest chili parlor in Northern Kentucky.

Dixie Chili, the pride of the Sarakatsannis family, boasts its thick, spicy, and freshly made chili. It is made in the Newport Commissary by Sarakatsannis's sons who maintain the original, and very secret, family recipe. Since the beginning of the quest, Dixie Chili has been one of the most recommended by readers. We will soon find out if Dixie lives up to its reputation.

History of Empress Chili

Stop #1 of the Cincinnati Coney Quest brought us to Empress Chili. We chose to go to Empress first because Empress Chili is the originator of Cincinnati Style chili. In 1922, brothers Tom and John Kiradjieff created their iconic chili by experimenting with a Greek style stew over hot dogs and spaghetti at their hot dog stand which was located next to the Empress Burlesque Theater on Vine, between 8th and 9th street. The original location is no more, but there are three parlors remaining: Alexandria, Delhi and Hartwell. You can also find Empress Chili in the frozen food isle of various tri-state grocery stores.


Without Empress Chili, two of Cincinnati's beloved chili parlors would not exist. Dixie Chili and Skyline Chili were both created by former Empress employees who tweaked the Empress recipe to create their own brand.  Even though Empress is the first Cincinnati chili parlor, it does not have the market share of chili kings Skyline and Gold Star, however, owner Jim Papakirk would like to change that. In an interview with Cincy Magazine, Papakirk indicated that he would like to expand Empress beyond its current locations and put Empress back on the Cincinnati chili map.


Tomorrow we will share our reviews of Empress Chili (Alexandria) and if we felt the original Cincinnati chili stands up today.