A thrifter's favorite restaurant!

[valleythriftshopper]

I have been meaning to mention a local restaurant that is a thrifter's dream.  I was there again last night & the place was all decked out for the holidays, so I took a few phone camera pics.  

The place is The Wagon Wheel on rte. 2 in Gill, MA.  If anyone is traveling west from the Boston area along rte 2, coming up 91 North for skiing, or just coming through the upper Pioneer Valley you must stop at this restaurant!!  Like I said it is a thrifter's/vintage lovers nirvanna.  In the small seating area there are three walls covered in paint-by-number artwork.  In the large dining area the walls are covered with vintage souvenir plates and vintage clocks.  The curtains are made from vintage kitchen towels and there are vintage salt and pepper shakers on the tables.  

For the holiday season they have two trees, a white one loaded with vintage elf ornaments and a aluminum tree complete with color wheel and vintage glass ornaments.  There is also a wall decorated with vintage christmas aprons.  As my daughter said, "All the vintage crap gathered into one restaurant".  There are two thrift stores just a few minutes away so I am thinking some of the decor might have been procured form a thrift.

The best part is that the food is great, casual fare but all fresh & homeade, even Emu burgers from locally raised Emu.  Here are my camera pics, not great but you get the idea.

[Good Buddy]

Sounds like a really cool place, thanks for sharing.

[thriftymama]

how fun! what a neat idea for a restaurant. i bet that makes it feel very "homey."

[SplashsMom]

Those pictures bring back memories!
If there was a place like that here in the midwest I would probably be sure to visit several times, for the decor if not the food.
I have tasted Emu and Ostrich, but would not drive out of my way for it.

I wonder how often people try to buy the aluminum tree!
Quite collectible

[valleythriftshopper]

I never though about people offering to buy the tree, I bet they do.  I wondered about people trying to make off with the salt & pepper sets or ornaments on the trees, but hopefully that doesn't happen.

I have never tried the Emu, I am not a strict vegetarian, but don't eat much meat.  I do get the clam chowder when I go because it is homeade and very good.  Even though I live in New England sometimes it is hard to find good chowdah!  I will have to go back before Christmas to enjoy the decorations again too.

[mccoysnina]

Some years ago I worked in a fabric/craft store.  A week or so before Chirstmas we had sold out of just about all out Christmas decor.  Store looked pretty barren.  We had some sad looking Charlie Brown trees, a few spools of gold ribbon that had not sold and some grape cluster ornaments.  That was what we had so I got some out, and began decorating.  The other workers all laughed and said it was a silly combination but I decorated it anyway.  This was about 8 pm on a Friday night.  Next morning about 10 am, just after we opened, a lady came in and asked to buy the Mediterrean Christmas tree.  I had no idea what she meant until she indicated the Charlie Brown tree.  She thought it was Italian inspired.  I had no idea what to charge so had to quickly figure out the cost but a few minutes later the lady left, happy with her Italian tree and my co workers stopped laughing.  There is a market for everyhting I guess.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

Those were the days when people were actually buying stuff, now the stores usually have a ton of leftover Christmas crap on clearance after the holidays.  Good job on the "mediterranean tree" have you ever tried to recreate it?