Chappy's Authentic English Fish & Chips, 2911 Two Notch Road / 1306 Charleston Highway / 1936 Broad River Road / 7007 Parklane Road: 1990s 61 comments
1306 Charleston Highway:
7007 Parklane Road:
Chappy's Fish & Chips was a constant media presence on the radio (and in The State as in the coupon from 10 November 1987 above), though I think the most common image I had of the whole "fish & chips" concept came from that English N'er-do-well Andy Capp.
The 2911 Two Notch location referred to in this ad is now the McDonald's at the intersection of Beltline and Two Notch, though I believe the original Chappy's building was demolished. I never ate at Chappy's because I don't like fish (or the smell of fish), and have never been to England, so I can comment neither on how good nor on how authentic the fish and chips were.
Though it's not mentioned in this ad, Chappy's was connected with a very similar (identical except for the name perhaps?) operation called Cedric's. At this remove, it seems like an odd strategy to dilute your concept into two brands, especially since as far as I can recall, the restaurants were a purely Columbia phenomenon. The Chappy's radio commercials used to end with an exhortation to Be sure and visit my friend Cedric too!. I think the stores had at least one English "double decker" bus that they used for promotions. Wonder what happened to that?
At any rate, I'm pretty sure the stores didn't make it through the 90s. I don't think "fish & chips" was ever going to be "big" (though the coupon suggests they were moving in a more Southern direction as well -- "hushpuppies"), perhaps it wasn't big enough to support that many stores, perhaps the owners wanted to retire -- whatever the reason I don't think you can get fish & chips at all in Columbia now. And "Andy Capp" has long since left The State as well.
UPDATE 18 November 2009: Added pix of the Charleston Highway location, made minor edits to the text and added the Charleston Highway and Broad River locations to the post title.
UPDATE 27 May 2010: Added newspaper ad from The State 19 Feb 1979
UPDATE 27 June 2010: Added pictures of the Parklane location.
UPDATE 18 August 2017 -- The Charleston Highway location is now a Cricket phone store:
61 Responses to 'Chappy's Authentic English Fish & Chips, 2911 Two Notch Road / 1306 Charleston Highway / 1936 Broad River Road / 7007 Parklane Road: 1990s'
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ChiefDanGeorge
21 Mar 09 at 6:12 am
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I remember when Chappy's moved. They sold McDonald's their old location and moved into the old McDonald's location next door. I do not believe they lasted more than a year or two after they moved from their old corner location.
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There was also an Arthur Treachers Fish and Chips at one time. I believe on the corner of Sunset and North Main. Now it's a title loan place.
Prpl
21 Mar 09 at 3:31 pm
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Looking for people who used to frequent the Carolina Skating Rink on Fort Jackson Blvd. next to the Starlite Drive-In.
Sandy
21 Mar 09 at 9:55 pm
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If you or someone you know used to frequent the now extinct...Carolina Skating Rink on Ft. Jackson Blvd, that was located next to the Star-lite drive-in movie...please contact me
at veralynq@sc.rr.com. I am also looking for pictures that anyone may have taken during those times at the skating rink.Sandy
21 Mar 09 at 10:05 pm
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They also had a sister chain called Cedric's Fish and Chips that was identical to Chappy's in eveyway except the name.
Tom
22 Mar 09 at 9:50 am
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I remember there being on on Knox Abbot, not sure if it was cedrics or chappys. The building is still there. It's now a title loan place next to the Arby's. I remember going to another location somewhere in Columbia also. Maybe Broad River?
Mr. Bill
23 Mar 09 at 9:13 am
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I remember there being one on Knox Abbot, not sure if it was cedrics or chappys. The building is still there. It's now a title loan place next to the Arby's. I remember going to another location somewhere in Columbia also. Maybe Broad River?
Mr. Bill
23 Mar 09 at 9:13 am
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sorry it posted twice. also meant to say one not on.
Mr. Bill
23 Mar 09 at 9:14 am
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For those of who like fish... I remember the one at Broad River rd. fondly. Sandy's Hot Dogs is there now. I think it was the advent of Capt. D's that eventually ran them out business. What kept me going back was their trademark condiments... malt vinegar & some kind of "special seasoning" (which seemed to be a variation of Mrs. Dash with sea-salt added) along with the usual tartar sauce, lemon, etc. To be truthful, the fish wasn't that good and the chips were medallion shaped tater-tots. However, after adding the vinegar & seasoning, it was (to me anyway) made very palatable.
John R
28 Mar 09 at 9:55 am
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I loved Chappy's! I have fond memories of going there with my mom at the Broad River location, where Sandy's is now. That was a great treat! Miss those simple times.
R Harris
5 Aug 09 at 8:34 pm
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Wasn't there one inside Dutch Square?
Lou B
1 Oct 09 at 9:31 pm
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The Quick cash on Charleston HWY is closed now. Looks like that may be a jinx spot.
jamie
12 Jul 10 at 6:46 am
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I also have memories from there. It had good food at good prices. I remember we went there on the way home from the hospital with the new baby, i remember getting"family specials" for like $10.00. It had very friendly people there too. (Charleston Hwy.) Like Zesto's "guys" they had "the girls" haha
Judy
30 Aug 10 at 1:56 am
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I remember frequenting the Chappys on Main Street down the hill from Coca-cola, and across from Earlewood Park, most of my childhood. There was a driveway that went to the back of all those stores, the hardware store, Chappys, the grocery store, that opened out to Two Notch Rd next to the railroad tracks.
This was in the 1960's and 1970's. I would cut grass or rake leaves and go there for fish and chips. I lived in the North Marion Street neighborhood.
Daniel Wheeler
1 Jan 11 at 2:02 pm
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I remember the Chappys on Two Notch and the double decker bus, the bus was blown over due to a violent wind storm that came through that way in 1977 or so. I was working as a Manager at the Burger King next to Dutch Square at the time and drove past there every day from the east side of town. I then started a business in the old gas station across the street from Chappys in 1983 and remember when McDonalds bought the property. I got to know the people that worked at Chappys pretty good, they got their fish in big squares, about 1 foot by 6 inches and would cut the fish into strips. I was watching the Mgr. cut fish one time and saw what looked like worms, he said all fish that comes in has them, WHAT! Anyway they closed shortly after moving into the old McDonalds building. I Guess that was sometime around 86 or 87.
Rick
16 Jan 11 at 12:02 pm
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We had a Cedricks here in Wilmington, Nc. I loved that place but mostly because of the vinegar and seasoning. Anyone know what was in the seasoning? And perhaps the batter? I've longed for that taste and the vinegar is great but still missing something. Help!!!!!
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Chappy's was great. We use to go there when I was a kid. That's where I fell in love with the pairing of malt vinegar and potatoes.
It does eem like they all changed to Cedrick's Fish and Chips at some point.palmettopanic
26 May 11 at 1:22 pm
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Chappy's was great. We use to go there when I was a kid. That's where I fell in love with the pairing of malt vinegar and potatoes.
It does seem like they all changed to Cedrick's Fish and Chips at some point.palmettopanic
26 May 11 at 1:22 pm
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I worked at the one in Lexington, Sc. I learned a lot there, like how to cut massive amounts of onions for our salad bar. how some people it raw oysters, right out of the fridge. YUK!
I worked and saved for my first car, a 1964 Vw beetle.
I really enjoyed working there, I really liked the lemon seasoning, and it was really good on the Chicken as well.
I live in Missouri now.
At the state fair in Columbia, do they still serve the French Fries with salt and malt vinegar? YUM!
Blessings to all.
And if anyone does know how to get the seasoning salt, please do share. : ))wendy
29 May 11 at 12:50 pm
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Wendy,
They do indeed still have French Fries with salt & malt vinegar at the fair (Fiske is my favorite). You can see them here, here, and here.
ted
29 May 11 at 1:36 pm
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I thought the Fiske fries were served w/ white vinegar instead of malt vinegar? It's been so long though I can't remember.
Dave
29 May 11 at 3:14 pm
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Rick mentioned back in Jan that he remembers the Two Notch Chappys pre-'83 having wormy fish. If you've ever been deep sea fishing and caught amberjack, the mature ones almost always have worms in the meat. You have to know what you are doing to clean them and avoid the worms. We do not, and not trusting the deck hands to care too much for the little they got paid to clean them for you, we always gave them away (but we sure kept those yummy snapper and grouper and sea bass). Maybe Chappys just used the whole amberjack, maybe that was the "special flavor" lol!
JBL
29 May 11 at 3:41 pm
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@Dave. Hmm, could be. It's never in the original bottles, so maybe I'm just assuming malt when it's white.
ted
29 May 11 at 5:47 pm
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In the early days(60's/70's) the fish at Chappys was excellent.It's now impossible to find decent 'fast-food' fish...
wem
22 Jul 11 at 10:45 am
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I echo Wem. I loved Chappys on Parklane.
Miz T
11 Aug 11 at 3:16 pm
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What was the fish batter ingrediants and seasonings sure do miss that taste
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mmmm chappys was soooo good.God I wish I could get a "barge" right now!
JG
6 Jan 12 at 4:42 pm
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~~~
For the record, Chappy's Fish & Chips had a location at E. Colfax and Grape Street in Denver, Colorado many many years ago. Looks and sounds like the very same outfit.Big Thompson
13 Mar 12 at 8:33 pm
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Interesting. I would not have picked Denver of all places for other Chappy's locations..
(Equally, I suspect Denverites would not have picked Columbia SC for other Chappy's locations..)
ted
14 Mar 12 at 1:18 am
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Ahh, the good ole days of Chappy's Fish and Chips. Actually I worked there all through high school during the 1970's. Mr. Ray Bass was the original owner. He purchased the double decker bus and opened Chappy's after eating fish and chips from a corner stand in London. They served it piping hot, wrapped in actual newspaper, Mr. Bass found a paper bag company to reproduce British newspaper print onto the bags for his establishment, since health law prohibited the use of newspaper here in the states.
Add a splash of malt vinegar and a sprinkle of seasoner, and as Mr. Food says, " It's soooo good" ! I liked the fish because I don't like the taste of fish, or most sea food for that matter. It was frozen norwegian cod fish, sliced daily, dipped in batter, deep fried in peanut oil until a blondish golden brown color. Fresh out of the fry vat dressed in all its seasonings, left flavor dancing all over your mouth.
There was a store in Martinez, GA, Wilmington, NC, as well as others, I just don't remember the other locations. Changes became apparent with the name change, as to the reason for that, I am not sure, things just seemed to go down hill from there. I frequent captain D's too, but sorry, they don't hold a candle to the original Chappy's.
The menu sported other items unique in flavor such as their coleslaw, which was hand made fresh, from his garden, by an elderly gentleman, who delivered the plastic tubs, via his late model station wagon. My how things have changed, couldn't do that today without a refrigerated truck. The fish submarine was to die for, and oh yes, the hot dogs and camel rider sandwiches were delicious and cutting edge for the times. Few knew hot dogs to be anything other than, mustard, ketchup, chili and onions. The camel rider was an inquisitive item. Few knew what Pita bread was then. Once they discovered the variety of meats, cheese's, and crunchy veggies stuffed inside the curious pouch, instant hit! The chips were just that, thinly sliced potatoes which were great fresh out of the oil, however once they sat under the heat lamp and began to cool, they became dry and brittle, therefore we to switched to the round, flat tater tots, an injustice to the term fish and chips.
Wow, I could go on and on. Thank you for the pieces you have written about the old place. Sure would like to get my hands on some of the seasoner, dream on.
Oh no, Chappy's was anything but mundane.
PS: I also used to skate at the old Carolina Skating Rink on Jackson Blvd. If I am not mistaken, I believe the owners or Managers were the Briggs Family. Can't forget Pop, the elderly gentleman who used to fix our flats and keep us rolling, so to speak.
My daughters Fiance and family, own Julia's Stammtisch, German restaurant, which I think may sit on the old site where the rink was. I've tried to figure it out, still not sure.
I spent some good years there growing up. That rink had the best wood floors that I ever skated on. I couldn't find a replacement so I gave up skating.
Sadly, I don't think that I have any photographs. If you remember the Saturday night Sock Hops, after skating, you may remember Ronnie Blizzard, the lead singer of the frequent band that played for them. Maybe you could contact him if he,s still around. I lost contact with my skate and sock hop buds long ago.
Good luck, I'd love to see what are able to gather up.
MARY RAINEY
2 Mar 13 at 5:27 am
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Thanks for the great comment Mary.
I'm pretty sure that where "Julia's Stammtisch" is was a motel back in the days the skating rink was in operation..
ted
2 Mar 13 at 2:03 pm
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I lived right off Knox Abbott and if I wasn't going to Maurice Bessinger's Piggie Park I was going to Chappy's Fish & Chips. I loved the batter, the fish the shrimp and the coleslaw. All during high school while the place remained open I was a frequent flyer there as I could eat seafood 4 to 5 times a week no problem. Now living in Miami where I enjoy good seafood often. But Chappy's was a Cayce tresure!!
Timothy Lee Cromer
14 Jun 13 at 2:16 pm
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Please come back to Charleston,sc its been to long. I sure miss your fish ms malpass
Edna
12 Aug 13 at 9:32 pm
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Originally, Cedric’s was a franchise, part of a chain of more than 60 restaurants headquartered in Columbia, S.C.
http://www.myreporter.com/?p=8340Tom
26 Feb 14 at 12:27 am
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I really miss several of the restaurants that lined that area of Broad River Rd. during the heyday of Dutch Square. The mall was the place for cruising back then. And after a hard night of cruising, talking trash, comparing cars and imbibing upon a few adult beverages that everyone seemed to have stashed in their vehicles, it was like where to go to eat?
Sure you had Burger King, Hardee's and Mickey D's but the places I always gravitated toward were Arby's, Chappy's and Taco Cid.
These were the days when you could see them slicing the roast beef in the kitchen at Arby's. I'd always get a super and potato cakes (still my favorite).
Taco Cid, man, I miss the sancho and the Big Red. One each of those with a couple of tacos and a bunch of quarters to load up the juke box and play the video games. Up until recently, Taco Bell had something similar until they did away with them to move to something more 'upscale'. Yeah, you know what the quotes mean.
And like just about everyone has said about Chappy's, just give me the large order of fish and chips with the secret seasoning and some malt vinegar and it was heaven!
When I worked night shift on Greystone Blvd. my favorite breakfast stop was Sambo's where the original Hooter's was located. They had the best breakfast for the money that you could get in town. Then the whole stereotyping/racial issues came up an that was the beginning of the end for them.
Good memories!!
Homer
27 Feb 14 at 12:23 am
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I remember Chappy's off sunset blvd. Where sonics is located was where Chappy's use to be. This was when I was 5 yrs old. The whole family use to always go right after church service, and grub down. Even til this day my brother and I would still talk about them. They should come back..
Thomas
28 Feb 14 at 11:40 pm
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In Atlanta, the franchisee for Chappy's opened at least four of those locations, and they were converted after about two years into Cedric's Fish & Chips. Some of the Cedric's buildings are still standing. An Atlanta chain called Oga's moved into at least two of them.
Chappy's / Cedric's seems to be the South Carolina equivalent of Georgia's Shrimp Boats from the same period. I know there was a Shrimp Boats in Greenville - was there ever one in Columbia?
Anderson W.
10 Mar 14 at 2:53 pm
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@Anderson W - I do not recall there ever being a Shrimp Boat in Columbia. All we had were Cedric's, Chappy's and a few Long John Silver's
Homer
11 Mar 14 at 1:03 am
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I did eat at the Chappy's on North Main and Sunset in 1996. I was working in Bamberg and was in Columbia for training. A group of us went to Chappy's for lunch. It wasn't the same as from my childhood, but still good.
Joan B. in S. C.
14 May 14 at 6:23 pm
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I was watching the cooking channel the other night and someone cooked fish and chips.
I was hungry and it made me want fish and chips, so tonight I'm going to "Give it a go" as the English would say.
I bought a couple of nice cod fillets and am going to make steak fries to go along with the fish.
I'll be using Alton Browns beer batter recipe as well as a tarter sauce recipe I got off the interweb.
Some steamed green beans A little malt vinegar, and I'll be set.
The only problem is my first attempt at most recipes do not turn out well. We will see how this does, it seems pretty simple.
I sorta miss Chappy's from what I remember, Captain D's just does not appeal to me anymore when it comes to fried fish.
It taste like they have used the oil to long and I don't care for their fries.Rick
13 Nov 15 at 5:58 pm
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@Rick - let us know how it turned out. Several weeks ago I had lunch at Quaker Steak & Lube and they had a fried cod filet that was great. Only problem was that it came with raw fries as a default so I couldn't get the authentic 'feel'. Should have got the french fries instead.
Homer
14 Nov 15 at 1:55 am
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Homer - My first attempt at fish and chips turned out to be "Just okay".
The steak fries were good because I have perfected this recipe to suite what I like, the fish, not so much.
I'm not sure if it was something I did or the batter recipe, but the crust was not as crispy as I would have liked.
I cut the fish thick so I could leave it in the hot oil longer. I figured this would result in a crispy crust. Did not turn out that way.
It's also possible I did not have the oil hot enough, the recipe called for the oil to be 320 degrees which seemed a little low to me for deep frying, but that's what I went with.
I noticed after adding the fish the oil cooled to 225 degrees, which resulted in a mad dash to raise the heat. I either should have cooked the fish in smaller batches or used higher heat to start with. The fish itself was very tasty though.
As mentioned in previous comment, I made my own tarter sauce and it turned out much better than store bought.
I used some "London Pub" malt vinegar and after the meal was over, I was not hungry anymore.
I guess it could be said that was the main goal of my fish and chip exercise to begin with.Rick
14 Nov 15 at 11:11 am
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@Rick - 320 does seem awfully low. I've always heard that the oil should be around 375 when you start frying and not to add more that two or three pieces of whatever you are frying at one time. If it dropped to 225 that was asking for the oil to seep into the batter.
My Mom's church was selling BBQ chicken dinners today. We picked up a couple and they were awesome. They have a 10x12" pit that they slow cook them on over nothing but hardwood. They slathered them in a savory mustard sauce and served with a pile of hash & rice and cole slaw. Now that was some good eating!!
Homer
15 Nov 15 at 12:33 am
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My Fad develoted the concept. He rebuilbed the A& W that he & his twin ( Lee Bass ) had built. There were 4 Chapy's in Colombia. before he brought out his parterners. All the new locations where Cedric's(Milton. Borow' thought). There were over 100 locations. 9 in greater. Atlanta that I operated. The concept failed do to competitive pressures. Onlonly surevived by Yum' s Long John's. I would Lole to still have a bottle of the Lemon sause.
Ray Wallacr Bass
1 Oct 16 at 12:47 am
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Hi Ray,
I am an old friend of your brother Robert. I've been looking for him for a long time to see how he is doing and catch up with our lives. Could you ask him to contact me, please? I would truly appreciate it. You and I have actually met, very long ago, probably 45 years to be exact! We met at your Dad's apartment when Robert and I came by to visit. He and I were in our teens! Geez, such a long time ago. My email address is lyn@lynsae.com Thank you so much!13 Jan 17 at 2:43 pm
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Hi Ray Wallace Bass,
Do you have or remember the recipes for the fish batter and the seasoning salt? If so please share!
Courtney W
16 Mar 17 at 8:42 am
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Hello Ray Bass,
My grandparents and mother used to work at Cedrick's in MB long ago and would tell me stories about this place. I always remember the one where they fed Alabama when they were at the Bowery. Alabama is my favorite group. I met you one time when I was 6 years old and I was just wondering how you are doing? Well if you see this please email me and maybe we can catch up. By the way my grandparents Pat and Les passed away but I was just thinking of old times and came across this. Bev is doing great! Take care and hope to hear from you .
HopeHope
20 Jun 17 at 5:22 am
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Hello Ray Bass,
My email is hope29582@gmail.com.
Take care,
Hope BassHope
20 Jun 17 at 5:23 am
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After losing the A&W restaurants in Columbia to fires, Ray Bass, my dad(Larry Merrell) and several others opened the first Chappy's Fish&Chips in 1968 at the corner or Two Notch and Beltline in Columbia. I was fifteen and a cook there in 1972 making $1.10 an hour. The fish was cod and the chips were steak fries. The English double decker bus there was destroyed by a tornado in 1975. The company franchised stores all over the country(over 300 at the height) with Cedric's as a sister store. I was told the company and its franchises went belly up because of over expansion, lack of overall supervision, along with financial problems. There were six Chappy's and Cedric's here in Columbia and one in Lexington. When the company went defunct each of the locations here in Columbia were sold to individuals who had been with the company when it was a franchise. My dad bought the stores on Charleston Hwy, Broad River Road, and Two Notch and Beltline. I managed the location on Charleston Hwy from 1980 until 1996 when we closed. I still miss the wonderful smell of malt vinegar and seasoning salt on the fish and chips! I want to say hello to the hundreds and hundreds of employees who have told me that was their first job when they were a kid. Many of our customers still tell me how much they still miss the delicious food we served there for so many years!
Gary Merrell
14 Dec 17 at 7:40 pm
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I remember the double decker bus and the tornado!
The food was delicious and as kids we always would read the bags the food came in,some sort of English newspaper.John
14 Dec 17 at 10:06 pm
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We had a Chappy's in Marietta, Georgia in the late 70's.
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In 1970 we had a Chappies in Aurora (Denver) Colorado.
Friends and I drove 50 miles from Greeley (Colo State College) to get that wonderful taste.
No Fish and Chips place has ever come even close.
If anyone has the recipe for the seasoning I'd love to have it. I know it still wouldn't taste the same because no one has that wonderful fish.
After 47 years I can still taste it.
Don't understand why they weren't able to stay in businessBill Chapman
19 Apr 18 at 8:18 pm
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My Dad, Ray C Bass merged his Andy and&W's with an group of other small operates.& developed the Chapies concept. 4 locations later the merged company closed. Dad & Larry Merral came up with the name Cedric's & kept building the chain. I was a cook in the first Chappy's. Later franchise d 9 locations in greater Atlanta. The chain opened it's 100th shop in N. Agusta. Over 400 more were contracted with franched. Market change & cost of Icelandic For killed the concept. Longan Silver's
owned by him food's, Off,Toco Bell,.A&W, was the only survivor.
raywbass53@gmail.com
26 May 18 at 9:54 pm
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Chapies...the best!
Johnny
27 May 18 at 6:57 pm
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The malted vinegar!!!!
palmettoconnection
29 May 18 at 11:30 am
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What is the batter recipe? Please don't let it be lost forever. Best Fish of all time to me.
Ken Murray
1 Jul 18 at 12:09 am
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HEY ALL YOU “CHAPPY’S LOVERS”!!! I just googled Chappys to see any still existed ANYWHERE in the US and up came your site (whomever’s it is). I worked at the ONLY Chappy’s there was in Illinois back in 1971. The owners, Bill DuBois and family owned an A&W (car hop) burger & hot dog place at about 7200 S Harlem Ave in Bridgeview IL, just SW of Chicago. Chappys was a white brick building with the double bay windows on the front, one bay on each side of the front entrance. After seeing some of the pics posted on this site of the buildings, they were identical to the one I worked in. I can tell you a couple of things I knew for sure. The fish we sold came from a fish market in Chicago which was frozen Icelandic Cod. We’d get them in a box with about 6-8” long and a good inch thick. We would cut them on a slant from side to side and then put them on trays into a very cold refrigerator. THE BATTER, was purchased in big sacks from GENERAL MILLS. Brown’s Chicken up here still uses the same batter on their Cod. Not sure if anyone has a Brown’s by them. Also I can tell you that the seasoning that came in
The small bottle that you could shake on the fish, was bottled and labeled by the Chappys franchise company. However, I have found a close second to their seasoning... Distributed by GORDON FOOD SERVICE in Grand Rapids Mich. The label says TRADE EAST and immendiately under that title is SPICES & SEASONINGS. The name of the seasoning is LIME PEPPER SEASONING. I got my HUGE bottle of it at a GORDONS FOOD SUPPLY STORE near my house. It contains 1.25# and cost me about $8. It lasts a long time. We started out with regular
French Fries but people wanted steak frys so the owners bought
a machine that created them. What a pain that was! Not only my family and friends but strangers I run into from time to time looking for another Chappys, proclaim their love for the cod and shrimp like no other, some 35 yrs later. Chappys was open for a good 5 yrs but then closed around 1977.If anyone ever finds out if a Chappys franchise still exists ANYWHERE, PLEASE let me know. I’d so much appreciate it. Now that I am retired and have the time to spend, I am going to try to search down the history of Chappys here in the US and see if I can find out if any exist anywhere in the US anymore. I will update you if I do find out anything.
By the way, whomever added the postings of what appears to be a Chappys flyer with prices was actually paper placemats that we put on the trays for those eating in. Same type of print and coupons were always printed on them. It was a great “throw back” for me to see them! Thanks for your time and hope I can find out more. If I do I certainly will share on this site.
Suzanne Studnicka, @ SuzanneStudnicka@gmail.comSuzanne
8 Apr 19 at 3:26 am
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Chappys....
John
8 Apr 19 at 7:03 pm
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Hi there. I came across Chappy's while researching a building for my Winnipeg-based history blog.
Turns out, it was a chain created in Winnipeg, Canada in 1969 and the first test stores were in Winnipeg for the Canadian operations and Columbia for south of the border.
The Canadian stores, which ended up being around 26 in number, closed around 1972. It's interesting to see that they carried on so much later in the U.S.. (My guess is that the company sold off the U.S. operations maybe to the Cedrics people as that chain was also based in Columbia.)
If you want to read what I dug up about its origins: http://westenddumplings.blogspot.com/2022/11/chappys-fish-and-chips-and-winnipegs.html
Thanks for your post about the chain. It was very informative.
Christian
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Comment 2 of 2!
I’m reading all the comments here and note the one by Gary Merrell above about his father opening the first Chappy’s in 1968 in Columbia. Obviously, there’s a pre-history to the Controlled Foods Int’l start-up of the chain in 1969 that I couldn’t find in any stories here.
Presumably, Bolte and your father met at one point and the idea for a North American-wide chain was born? That would explain why the U.S. test market was Columbia rather than somewhere that would make more sense for a Winnipeg company to set up, such as Minneapolis Chicago where there have been direct flights to for many decades.
I guess that is what happened to the U.S. side of the operations after the Canadian wing folded in 1971-72 – the U.S. partners ditched CFI and carried on on their own?
I’d love to hear more about the genesis of the pre-chain days of Chappy’s. I can be contacted at Cassidy at mts.net the post I am referring to is at http://westenddumplings.blogspot.com/2022/11/chappys-fish-and-chips-and-winnipegs.html
They used to have an authentic London double decker bus outfront my dad would take me to play on. Never ate there since I don't like fish either.