The Varsity
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The Varsity is a restaurant chain, iconic in the modern culture of Atlanta, Georgia.[1] The main branch of the chain is the largest drive-in fast food restaurant in the world.[2] There are now six branches across metro Atlanta and Athens, Georgia.[3]
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[edit] History
Originally named The Yellow Jacket, The Varsity was established in 1928 at the corner of Luckie Street and Hemphill Avenue.[4] Its founder Frank Gordy had attended The Georgia Institute of Technology, but dropped out in 1925. Then, as now, the restaurant catered heavily to Georgia Tech students. As the business grew, Gordy was eventaully forced to move the restaurant to 61 North Avenue (the corner of North Avenue and Spring Street) to accommodate the crowds; the present structure now covers two city blocks. It was here that the name was changed to "The Varsity," reflecting his desire to expand to other college campuses. During the drive-in era, The Varsity began its curbside service, which continues to this day.
The location at 61 North Avenue in Atlanta is now adjacent to the Downtown Connector's interchange with North Avenue. Directly across the Connector is Georgia Tech. The restaurant is connected to the Tech campus by the North Avenue bridge.
The enterprise has since expanded to Athens, Kennesaw, Gwinnett County, and Alpharetta.[5] The Varsity, Jr., a Midtown Atlanta location, is the only other of the chain to offer curbside service. In addition, it is responsible for more retail sales of Coca-Cola, on an annual basis, than any other single location in the world. A record which has stood for many years.[citation needed] The restaurant also offers catering services to the metro Atlanta region for both corporate and non-corporate functions, going as far east as Conyers and Stone Mountain, Georgia.
There is also a mini-Varsity on the campus of Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga. Frank Gordy met his wife, Evelyn, at Reinhardt in 1924 and then went on to Georgia Tech to finish his education. Their custom-designed home was later moved from Atlanta to the Reinhardt College campus.
Comedian Nipsey Russell began his entertainment career at The Varsity in the 1940s as a car hop. The creative and resourceful Russell would dress in a flamboyant style and pepper his order-taking duities with jokes and amusing songs, thereby earning him extra tips.[6] Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all visited The Varsity during their terms in office. Mad Magazine artist Jack Davis has done advertising for The Varsity.
[edit] Jargon
Over the years The Varsity has become synonymous in Atlanta's folklore with a clever and unorthodox catchphrase. Originated by frazzled cashiers as a way to keep the lines moving the blunt and abbreviated greeting "What'll ya have?" caught on with both staff and public and eventually became the restaurant's unofficial slogan. Today it appears on takeout boxes and cups as well as Varsity memorabilia and is the required greeting to all customers.
Along with 'What'll ya have?" the Varsity staff, like the staff of many restaurants, developed their own jargon when calling out orders. Being a restaurant with an open grill, the customers could overhear the staff's slang and eventually began adopting it as their own when placing orders. Recognizing that the customers enjoyed being 'in on the joke' the Varsity eventually began listing its items with both their conventional and jargon references on both their overhead and printed menus.
| Hot Dog[7] | a hot dog with chili and mustard |
| Chili Dog | same as a hot dog |
| Naked Dog | a plain hot dog in a bun |
| M.K. Dog | a naked dog with mustard and ketchup |
| Regular C Dog | a chili dog with ketchup only |
| Red Dog | a naked dog with ketchup only |
| Yellow Dog | a naked dog with mustard only |
| Yankee Dog | same as a yellow dog |
| Heavy Dog | a hot dog with extra chili |
| Walk a Dog (or Steak) | a hot dog (or hamburger) to go |
| Steak | a hamburger with mustard, ketchup, and pickle |
| Chili Steak | a hamburger with chili |
| Glorified Steak | a hamburger with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato |
| Mary Brown Steak (or Dog) | a plain hamburger (or hot dog) without a bun |
| Naked Steak | a plain steak |
| Sally Rand | a naked steak |
| Sally Rand Through the Garden | a naked steak with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise |
| N.I. Orange | a Varsity Orange without ice |
| F.O. | a frosted orange shake |
| Joe-ree | coffee with cream |
| P.C. | plain chocolate milk (always served with ice) |
| N.I.P.C. | a P.C. without ice |
| All The Way | with onions (on a hot dog, hamburger, etc.) |
| Bag of Rags | a bag of chips |
| Ring One | order of onion rings |
| Strings | French fries |
| Sideways | onions on the side |
| V.O. | Varsity Orange, the original carbonated orange soda drink |
| L.G. | Lazy Gordy, a Naked Dog and a Sprite |
[edit] See also
- Junior's Grill - another Georgia Tech dining tradition.
[edit] References
- ^ Conroy, Pat. "Chili Cheese Dogs, My Father And Me", Parade, 2004-11-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ World's Largest Drive-In. Free Enterprise Land. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ Atlanta Icons: The Varsity. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ Tech Timeline: 1920s. Georgia Tech Alumni Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ "What'll ya have, Alpharetta?", Atlanta Business Chronicle, 2002-06-07. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ Holley, Joe. "Rhyming Funnyman Nipsey Russell Dies", Washington Post, 2005-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ Parker, D.: "What'll Ya Have: A History of the Varsity," page 68. Looking Glass Books, 2003.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Then (1953) / Now (2004) photo of The Varsity
- Then (1963) / Now (2003) photo of The Varsity
- The Varsity is at coordinates Coordinates:
