Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Club 64 remembered ...

One of the restaurants mentioned a few times in the comments was Club 64, which stood for years on the east side of Council Bluffs. I only remember dining there twice, but I remember enjoying it both times. I know it was there as early as the mid 1970s, and from evidence, it lasted well into the 1990s.

An original Club 64 menu has surfaced, and I hope those of you who remember Club 64 (and those who don't as well) will enjoy it.

So, courtesy of a friend of mine, who we will refer to as "BBTBABE" (LOL!) :), here is a set of scans from a ca. 1995 Club 64 menu.

First, the cover:


"Mobile [sic] Award Winner?" :)


Inside, the main menu section:



And the rear, sandwiches and libations and such:


"Mad Dog?" Hmmmmmm. :)

It's kinda fun to reflect on the style and the comments they used ...


"Prepared in our kitchen."

Well, uh, where else would it be prepared? The cellar? The restroom? :)

I guess they really mean that it's prepared in OUR kitchen, instead of THEIR kitchen down the street, right? :)


"All meat ..."

What else would it be? (Yes, I know what a Veggieburger is.) :)


"Help Wanted: Proofreader. Apply in person, Club 64. Experence not necesary." :) :)

Yeah, yeah, I know ... they were in the restaurant business, not the typography business! :)

Oh well ... :)

Thanks again, Bbtbabe! :)

59 comments:

Bosco55David said...

Omababe - Club 64 closed down sometime between 1996 and 1998. I remember this because my parents took me there right before they closed and that happened within a couple years of me moving to Council Bluffs, which was mid-1996.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you start a blog specifically on Omaha restaurants. Your knowledge is obvious and I would love to see this.

Omababe said...

>Why don't you start a blog
>specifically on Omaha restaurants.
>Your knowledge is obvious and I
>would love to see this.

The thing is, the more this thread goes on, the more I realize that there is so much I *DON'T* know!

I'm really not the one to do a project such as that, sorry.

Sheri said...

The 64 Club was open in the early 60's and perhaps before. My parents took my sister and me there on special occasions. Norrie Egger was the band leader I believe. He lived a block from us in Omaha's Keystone neighborhood. My husband and I always got chateaubriand

Sheri said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
life after 7 kids said...

My wife and I ate at Club 64 on our wedding day in June 1957. I guess the food was good!

Curt said...

Oh wow! I came across your post about Benson (I live right off of Maple in downtown Benson) and after reading it I read a few of your older posts and came across this post about the 64 Club. My grandpa owned it from the early 80's, I think, until it closed. He also owned Club 89 in Omaha. This brings back a flood of memories. Thanks for the post.

FYI my dad was probably responsible for the menu. He was the kitchen manager (amongst other things) for a long time. He's very goofy and a notoriously bad speller. :-)

Anonymous said...

Garlic Break?

Omababe said...

>Garlic Break?

LOL, I missed that one! :)

Hmmmm ... "d" and "k" are not adjacent to each other on the keyboard. Difficult typo. :)

Anonymous said...

My first serious date with my then fiance (later wife) was at Club 64 in January, 1956.

Diana said...

I most remember the pate that was included in the relish tray. Does anybody remember what it was called, or even better, how it was made??

Anonymous said...

It really went down hill towards the end. It was owned by George Elias but he sold it out a couple years before it closed. The relish tray was wonderful. Another joint right near the 64 Club was called The Other Place.

Anonymous said...

George Elias owned the 64 Club in the 60's, 70's, not sure when, but he sold it to the Glasgows. Carol & Dick. I worked there the summer of 1987. It did close down in the late 90's. I believe Carol died recently, last year.

WeworkforAmerica said...

When I lived in Omaha, the tradition was for me and my wife was to eat Chateaubrian there every anniversary. It was great food at a relatively cheap price but most NE/IA food is. I like wine with beef but I was surprised when we went there one anniversary and I ordered red wine and they put...ICE in it. We had to move to Houston with ENRON CORP and I have found NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL like Club 64 here.

Anonymous said...

My Mom worked there for years before 2 security guards were killed in a robbery Dec. 5th 1967. It has been said they got away with $1500. Rumors flew & still do - but we won't go there... It was a very nice place to go - but the stigma of the unsolved murders eventually lead to it's closing.

Rick said...

This was fun, I just found out about it. I am Rick G the bad speller. but I did not have laser or Ink Jet at that time. We did outsource some of our print. I did the kids menus. I enjoyed all the people I met and was lucky enough to work with the 11 years I was there, I work at Club 89 before that. I did do a lot of the cooking but I had many others back in the kitchen that were equally as good. We had to close down early in 1997 because the city of Council Bluffs closed the road to the restaurant for over a year and a half. it is hard to have a restaurant when the clients have to walk a mile to it. :) Dad and I talk all the time about the things that happened. I have terminal cancer and requested on my caring bridge for restaurant stories, someone pointed this to me. I miss the restaurants.

Anonymous said...

I would love the Pate' recipe! I have searched high and low for it. Loved the place.

Anonymous said...

Great place to eat in CB. I miss the Pate' also! If I only had that recipe I could make some for my dad. He took me there for my 16th birthday, (and many other times). I had a cake and a Roy Roger's in a glass boot to drink.

I can remember the owners walking around talking to everyone! It was great.

If anyone has the recipe, you can email it to robbin231@gmail.com.

Thanks for the memories!

Unknown said...

Last time I remember going there was in 1969, for my parents 25th anniversary. We also used to go to a place called the Grainery, and the Chalet Lounge.

Chaplain Royal, Inclusive Life said...

I worked for Dick and Carol Glassford at the Club 89 (Their Omaha restaurant) and helped now and then at the 64 Club. They cut their own meats, and it was all made from scratch food. The casino's moving really hurt local mom and pop eateries.

Rob said...

As a student at Tri Center H.S., Dr. Welbourne, a local vet in Neola would take the entire basketball team to the 64 club once a year. God, I loved that place!!! It was a classic American supper club.

Anonymous said...

I used to work there form 1996-1997. I miss that place. I hope the owners are doing well. It was a great place to work and had the best "cattlemen Steak"

Dave said...

My love of good food started at the "64 Club." My grandparents would take me on occasion with them to eat out, which was a BIG deal in the '60's. My Dad only took us there for monumental events, like the birth of my little brother. I can say I hate liver, but the Liver Pate at the "64 Club" was so, so delicious. Miss that fine dining, but it lives on in memories.

Brooks said...

our family ate at the 64 Club several times in the 70's (we called it the 64 Club, not Club 64 ... oddities), loved that you always went into the lounge even if you had a reservation - very classy place, my brother would always have a Roy Rogers, and I had a Shirley Temple. Dining there was always a special occasion, and I specifically remember the FABULOUS relish/cracker tray - pretty sure the 'pate' was just Liverwurst and cream cheese mixed together, but it was still fabulous. I remember dining there fondly, and I'm pretty sure that those were some of the ways my parents taught us how to act like good ladies and gentlemen in public. Sure miss those kinds of things.

Jody Ewing said...

Several years back when I first wrote about the Club 64 double homicide for the Iowa Cold Cases website, I didn't have this post (or the wonderful comments) for reference, and can't tell you how pleased I was to run across it tonight while doing some page updates. (CB Police Officer John L. Stephens, 32, and club manager Paul J. Rayer, 51, were the ones who were killed Dec. 5, 1967.)

I felt this post and some excerpts from the comments would add a layer to the victims' story to help readers understand what a very special place Club 64 (or the "64 Club") was to so many. I've used just brief snippets from some of the comments and provided attribution to this blog page, and also included links back to this post where readers can learn more about the history behind the infamous supper club.

Strangely enough, I happen to live less than one hour north of Council Bluffs, and am trying to recall if my family (7 of us, counting Mom and Dad) ever came down to eat at Club 64. (Though I do recall a place called "Mr. C's" my late father used to take us -- I believe it was located in Omaha.)

If anyone here knew Officer John Stephens or John Rayer and would like to offer some insights about either of them, I'd be more than happy to include the information in the case summary. I went to school during the '60s and '70s, and remember vividly how much these "special outings" meant to families back then.

A very special thank you goes out to Omababe for initiating such a from-the-heart conversation about a beloved restaurant. Family members of John Stephens (as well as CB police) are still open to tips and/or answers to many unanswered questions. There's no statute of limitations on murder, and it's not too late to still close this case. For those interested, their page is at: http://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-stephens-and-paul-rayer/

Thanks again, and all best to everyone.

Jody Ewing
Iowa Cold Cases Founder and Administrator

Anonymous said...

Mr. C's was on north 30th st. in Omaha, owned/hosted by Yano Canniglia. Concerning another poster who used liverwurst and George Elias' liver pate' in the same breath, she either didn't taste the club's pate', or it was totally wasted on her. :(

Anonymous said...

The Menu Mentioned In This Blog Is Not From The Original 64 Club, Note That On The Front It States Glasfords 64 Club. That Menu Would Be From The 80'S. George Elias Owned The Place From The 50'S Thru The Early 80'S. Also Note The Pate Did Not Contain Liver. It Was A Beef Pate. My Father Was A Chef There And I Have His Recipe, That I Won't Share Here.

Anonymous said...

If you mix together liverwurst, creme cheese, and lipton onion dry soup mix it will come close to what it was.

Anonymous said...

One of duty police officer And the manager were killed in 1967. It thrived for several years after the murders. It's demise was Dick Glasford. From changing menu to being opened on Sundays for brunch in the late 1990's.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't liver pate'. My father was a chef there for years while Mr. Elias owned the club. The pate on the relish tray was his recipe. IT WAS BEEF PATE'

Anonymous said...

NOT CLOSE!!!!#

Diana said...

Have you been successful in getting the pate recipe?

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have any old photos of the 64 Club to post?

Jody Ewing said...

I just found a photo of the 64 Club on Pinterest. Not sure how to add the actual photo here but the link is here:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/92534967321064404/

Jane Dough said...

Do you have his receipe?

Jane Dough said...

Thank you for sharing that information. I've been right all these years. It's beef pate.

Jane Dough said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
macevanscb said...

It's wonderful to see all these memories of Club 64. I grew up in the place. My mother was head bookkeeper and cashier there for 15yrs until she and George retired and moved to Vegas in 1980. They got married and George ended up being my stepfather. I worked there for 3yrs around 1970; two years as busboy and one year in the kitchen. I actually made the 'liver' patte although I don't remember the recipe. It was made from a stew of beef and chicken scraps, vegetables and spices. Throughout the 70s, Club 64 was 10 out of 10 rating when comparing other steaks. I have a painting of Club 64 on my living room wall that George owned. I guess I could put a picture of it up on Pinterest.

Diana said...

Yeah, right

Caireann said...

It was mid 70's -1974-75 that that the man I was dating (I was around 21/22 year at the time) would take us to the 64 Club - it was so much fun. The atmosphere was just like you'd want a supper club to bet - white, starch table linens, candles and the rooms were slightly dark just enough to feel like you could have a private conversation with your table partners. The kitchen had two doors with round porthole type windows - one door for entering and the other for existing the kitchen - lots of hustle and bustle and the waiters were dressed in dark jackets and white shirts with a bowtie. Once you'd ordered your drinks, the waiter would bring a round metal pan full of appetizers - mousse pate, gherkins and all sorts of delights on a bed of leafy lettuce. The music from the bar could be heard throughout the restaurant - NY style band with an accordion player and everyone would dance between dinner courses and after dinner. It was a pretty "up-town" classy joint for Council Bluffs - lots of good evenings spent there. Years later I was working on Atlanta and met a woman who was from that area and one of the first things that we brought up was the 64 Club. :-)

Unknown said...

Wow great memories of the 64 club. I have enjoyed reading everybody's comments. I had been to the 64 club many times with my family. Norma James hired me for a Busby position in the mid to late 70's The relish tray was always a treat.There will be no other restaurant like the 64 club.

Unknown said...

What was the name of the business that was there after 64 Club closed?

Unknown said...

Would you please share the recipe for the beef pate from Club 64? I'm in my sixties now, and still remember how wonderful it was. I promise to never share it.

287.5-kV said...

I knew Bill Tait, who was hired by George Elias as a bartender in the late 50s and worked in the early 1960s, before his glass repair shop took off financially. He mentioned to me that George was an invertebrate gambler. Went to Las Vegas regularly. The Vegas' people would put him up at the best hotels and wine and dine him because he gambled so much. At one time, George actually lost Club 64 in a game and had to win it back at another time. For all the money George Elias possessed, he lived on East Graham Avenue in a non-descript house with a separate garage near Fairmount Park Road Entrance.

I recall going to Club 64 and it was (in the early 1960s) being a very fancy place. We usually went out to eat on Monday nights and this was also a venue when I had a birthday or a family member celebrated a birthday. Rosie was one of the waitresses and was extremely capable at her duties. The relish tray was their tour de force as I learned to like black olives there. Always loved the green giant olives--with the pits intact--and loved them. They also had a variety of onions, duck liver pate as well as pickled herring. This is where pickled herring became my favorite fish. Never had heard of it before Club 64.

Our Toastmasters Club, Greater Communicators 2114 met there from 1974 (probably before that) until 1990 or so. We had a meeting room closed off in the far northwest corner of the restaurant on Wednesday nights between 6:00 and 8:00 pm each Wednesday. I believe the Council Bluffs Rotary also met there, but not too sure when. We also had a host of District Meetings there and Speech Contests also at the Club. George Alias never failed to speak when spoken to and was pleasant.

287.5-kV said...

I wish I could add more about the 1967 shootings at the Club, but it was a major mystery at the time and is still an unsolved crime. The Terry Motel killing was unsolved, but do know what happened there.

287.5-kV said...

I remember the Virginia Restaurant in Omaha. Was a good place to go downtown, not far from the Omaha World-Herald (old) building to the east. Burned down in the 1970s, I believe. Loved their Lasagna! Had a Redwood tree slice as you entered the front entrance. It was marked by historic events on various rings of the tree. I believe the fire was caused by an electrical short. You might do a story on that famous old cafe.

Anonymous said...

I worked there in 1976-77 as a dishwasher. Quite a lot of exposure for a 15 year old kid. The entire experience was so cool!
Lots of hard and dirty work, LONG shifts on Saturdays...we would go in at noon and wrap potatoes, then bread onion rings for a couple of hours in an assembly line set up. The restaurant opened at 5:00pm and at about 5:30 IT WAS ON! We would rock until closing and then it would be another couple of hours to finish and clean everything. It was easily a 14-15 hour shift. Tough, but I would not trade the experience, the lobster tails were huge(haven't seen anything like it since), the meat was cut fresh by butchers that came in specifically for that reason. They would cut steaks for 4-6 hours and they were gone. As mentioned the onion rings were from scratch and served in mass.

The relish trays were huge and very popular, and yes I believe the recipe was liverwurst and cream cheese.

From the other side, before working there, my family used to take us kids there for very special occasions(graduations, special birthdays, etc....) The lounge was a smokey, classy place with quite the dark mystique. Food was great and of course, we polished up our best table manners there or else!

There were always rumors of Gambling by the owners and Las Vegas connections, who knows what was really true. I can say that the place was very popular with the after Aksarben crowd. Often times the bus tubs would have lots and lots of presumably losing wager tickets in them. LOTS!

Thanks for the memories!

Unknown said...

I have enjoyed reading about all the memories acquired from the one and only 64 club. My parents would take us there for special occasions. In 1978 or 79 Norma James highered me for bussing tables in the back party rooms. The supper club was classy and the one thing I loved was that to die for relish tray. I was lucky enough to find an old 64 club menu on ebay. 22oz T-bone $4.35 Broiled South African lobster tail $4.45 WOW!! Days gone by

Bobbie said...

Recipe for Liver Pate gotten from 64 Club:
1 1/2 lbs beef liver
Boiled in water till done. Grind fine.
Stir in:
1 small chopped onion
3 T butter melted
2 T salad dressing
1 T worchestershire sauce
1 tsp mustard
2 T ketchup
Salt and pepper to taste.
After mixing well, cover and set in refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.

Anonymous said...

THE BEST!!! My sister and I were talking about just last week.

Anonymous said...

My Mom was the Hostess at The Other Place for just a couple years. I there one night when the owner asked me about my dance lessons. He picked me up and put me on the bar to show him what I had learned. I was 5 or 6. 😊

Anonymous said...

Yes please ! The pate recipe !!!

Anonymous said...

Yep our family went to those places too. Did you ever go to Casio’s in Omaha on South 10th St.? I still go there when I come back to CB.

Anonymous said...

Would share the pate recipe if I give you a private email address?? I would LOVE to surprise my sister for her 60th Bday. We live in FL now and I would not share the recipe publicly.

Anonymous said...

Are you still looking for the recipe

Anonymous said...

I worked there too back in the 90's as a 'salad technician' lol. So many fond memories and late nights in the kitchen doing clean up. Kevin at the grill was so grouchy...Roger did dishes...Jason made some killer onion rings. And Robert was the best at doing laundry.

Anonymous said...

yes 4029608341

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Anonymous said...

Wow, I always thought it was liver pate! Now I know why I liked it so much. Do you have a recipe that you can share?