>> CHARLENE, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S SHOW.

DO YOU KNOW WHY?

>> I CAN PROBABLY GUESS, BUT WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND TELL THEM.

>> CERTAINLY.

WE'RE VISITING SOME COOL PLACES AND CENTRAL OHIO, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO ON "COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS," BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING ON A FOOD ADVENTURE, TWO OF MY FAVORITE PAST TIMES.

>> IT'S THE PERFECT TWO-FER.

>> RIGHT.

WHERE ARE WE HEADED FIRST?

>> FIRST WE'RE HEADED TO THE HAMBURGER INN DINER IN DELAWARE, WHICH IS A COOL TOWN TO BEGIN WITH, PRODUCER GEORGE LEVERT HEADS OVER THERE NOW TO SEE, OR TASTE, FOR HIMSELF.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ROB, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HAMBURGER INN.

>> OF COURSE.

>> DIVE IN AND TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY FIRST.

I SAW ON ONE OF THE WEBSITES THAT SAID OUR HISTORY MAKES US PROUD.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HAMBURGER INN.

>> WELL, THE HISTORY JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I HAVE RECENTLY TAKE OVER HERE, BUT THE HISTORY RUNS DEEP, ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1932 IS WHEN IT BECAME A CONTINUOUS RESTAURANT.

BEFORE THEN IT WAS A RESTAURANT CALLED THE SENATE THAT OFFERED 25 CENT MEALS.

AT THAT BEGINNING STAGE IT STARTED TO BECOME A STAPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS ABOUT 1918, THEY STARTED A COUPLE STORES WHERE THERE'S TUNNELS IN THE BASEMENT, THERE WERE THREE TUNNELS THAT LED FROM ONE AND THAT WAS TO HELP THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FOR PEOPLE COMING UP TO FREE THEM AND MOVE THEM SAFELY AT NIGHT.

AT THE VERY BEGINNING THIS BUILDING WAS A LITTLE NARROW, THEY JUST HAD ONE COUNTER WHERE THERE WAS 12 SEATS.

THE STORY WAS AS YOU CAME IN YOU WOULD SIT AND WAIT FOR THE LAST SEAT AND THEN AS SOMEONE LEFT, EVERYBODY WOULD PICK THEIR PLATE UP AND MOVE IT DOWN.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> AND THEY HAD TO ROTATE TO ALLOW THE NEW CUSTOMER TO COME IN.

>> OKAY.

>> IT WAS KIND OF LIKE AN ASSEMBLY MOVING LINE.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU DON'T SEE THAT ANY MORE.

>> YOU DON'T.

>> YOU DON'T SEE THAT ANYWHERE.

BEING A NEW OWNER TO THE HAMBURGER INN I WAS ADVISED A COUPLE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, I CANNOT TOUCH OR REPLACE THIS COUNTERTOP.

IF THIS COUNTERTOP CAN TELL STORIES, WE WOULD BE ALL SITTING HERE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

THE SECOND THING EVERYBODY LIKES IS THE STOOLS.

THE STOOLS THAT STILL HAVE THAT DINER FEEL THAT PEOPLE REALLY GRASP ON TO.

>> WHEN YOU COME IN HERE, YOU GO TO MAKE FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SIT CLOSE AND TIGHT IN HERE.

>> YES.

>> WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE TICK?

WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THE HAMBURGER INN?

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF RESTAURANT AROUND, BUT WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL.

>> >> THE HISTORY OF THE HAMBURGER INN IS SOMEPLACE WHERE EVEN TODAY THEY REMEMBER COMING IN WHEN THEY WERE A KID, THEY REMEMBER COMING IN WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS, THEY REMEMBER EVEN WHEN THEY COULD BARELY EVEN READ OR WRITE THAT THEY SOMEHOW REMEMBER THIS COUNTERTOP.

IT WAS A GOOD MEETING PLACE BACK THEN.

SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED WHERE THEY STARTED A COFFEE CLUB HERE AT THE HAMBURGER INN.

ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS, HE'S 89 YEARS OLD AND HE STILL COMES IN EVERY MORNING FOR COFFEE.

WHAT THE COFFEE CLUB DOES IS THEY COME IN, THEY DON'T PAY FOR THEIR COFFEE EVERY DAY, THEY PAY FOR IT ONCE A WEEK, AND KIND OF CHAT ABOUT THE DAY'S NEWS AND THEN ONCE A YEAR THEY COME TOGETHER AND BRING TOGETHER A COLLECTION AND THEY GIVE ALL THE SERVERS A NICE LITTLE TIP THAT'S, YOU KNOW, QUITE LARGE IN ORDER TO HELP THEM OUT THROUGH CHRISTMASTIME.

>> SURE.

>> THEY'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 10 TO 15 PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP EVERY MORNING, EVEN THOUGH WE OPEN AT 7:00 THEY ARE HERE AT 6:30, BUT THEY'RE READY FOR COFFEE AND MOST OF THEM ARE RETIRED AND STILL JUST LIKE COMING IN.

I THINK THE CAMARADERIE OF SEEING PEOPLE YOU GO TO SCHOOL WITH, PEOPLE YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH, I THINK COMING IN AND SITTING DOWN, PEOPLE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE SITTING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

I THINK JUST THE LEGACY OF THE FAMILY STORIES IS WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO MET IN COLLEGE AT OWU, PEOPLE WHO MET AT CHURCH, THEY SOMETIMES SPLIT WAYS, BUT THE HAMBURGER INN BRINGS THEM BACK WHEN THEY COME BACK TO VISIT DELAWARE.

>> WHAT MADE YOU TAKE ON THIS ENDEAVOR?

WHAT MADE YOU COME IN AND TAKE ON THE HAMBURGER INN?

>> I GOT INTO IT BECAUSE I LOVE THE PASSION OF TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.

I LOVE TO FEED PEOPLE.

ALTHOUGH THE MENU IS THE SAME, I HAVE MY OWN LITTLE SECRETS THAT I TRY TO DO TO IMPRESS PEOPLE, TO INVITE THEM BACK.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ENAMORED WITH DINERS, I'VE ALWAYS ON VACATIONS YOU LIKE TO FIND THAT GREASY SPOON, THAT ONE WHERE THAT ONE GUY IS WORKING HIS BUTT OFF ON THE FLAT TOP TO FEED EVERYBODY.

THE FACT THAT WE DO ALL OF OUR OWN BAKING, I THINK, IS TREMENDOUS.

>> WE CAME IN THIS MORNING WE WERE GREETED WITH ONE OF THESE CINNAMON ROLLS.

>> YES.

>> MAN, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CINNAMON ROLL LIKE THAT.

HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO -- THIS PLACE DOES HAMBURGERS, A CINNAMON ROLL IS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE THINK OF.

HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE A CINNAMON ROLL?

>> I THINK THEY DID ORIGINALLY BECAUSE THEY REALLY GOT INTO -- NOT ONLY WAS THIS PLACE A RESTAURANT BUT IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERED A BAKERY SO THEY DID PIES AND CAKES AND THE CINNAMON ROLLS AND THEY WOULD HAVE GRAVIES FOR SALE.

I THINK THAT IT INCORPORATED THE CINNAMON ROLL BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU THE SECRET.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT IT THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE'S.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT PUTS THAT TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU DON'T FORGET AND IT DRIVES YOU TO COME BACK.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

I'VE HEARD THAT YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN HISTORY HERE, A SPECIAL DISTINCTION ABOUT THIS RESTAURANT.

>> WE DO.

WE DO.

FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD, FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THAT LONG, WE VERY MUCH COULD BE THE OLDEST DINER IN OHIO.

IF ANYBODY HAS EVIDENCE TO THAT, I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO SEE IT.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE TEN YEARS DOWN THE LINE?

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF HERE?

DO YOU SEE IT STILL THE SAME WAY?

>> I DEFINITELY SEE MYSELF HERE.

I DEFINITELY SEE US REACHING OUT AND BEING JUST AS LARGE AS BEFORE, INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY, INVOLVED WITH THE PUBLIC.

I HAVE A COUPLE NEAT IDEAS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INVOLVED WITH NEXT YEAR, THINGS THAT HOPEFULLY JUST MIMICS WHAT THE REPUTATION OF THIS DINER HAS BEEN TO THE LOCALS.

♪♪ >> I DON'T PLAN ON CHANGING ANYTHING DRAMATICALLY.

I JUST WANT TO GET IN AND GIVE BACK TO WHAT EVERYBODY HAS GIVEN TO THIS PLACE OVER THE YEARS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO REINVENT THE RESTAURANT, I'M TRYING TO JUST CARRY ON SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY CAREFULLY PUT TOGETHER OVER MANY DECADES.

AND I JUST WANT TO PRESERVE THAT.

I WANT PEOPLE TO REMAIN CONTAINED AND HOLD THOSE MEMORIES THEY HAVE KNOWING THAT THEY CAN COME BACK HERE.

>> ROB, I HOPE YOU'RE STILL DOING WELL AND DOING THE SAME THING YOU'RE DOING NOW FOR ANOTHER 90 YEARS.

>> I PLAN ON IT.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> OKAY.

THAT MADE ME REALLY HUNGRY.

AND IT'S SO INTERESTING THAT THE HAMBURGER INN CLAIMS TO BE THE OLDEST DINER IN OHIO.

>> WELL, CHARLENE, WE WANTED TO FIND OUT IF THAT COULD BE PROVEN SO OUR PRODUCERS ASKED THE FOLKS OVER AT THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY TO LOOK INTO IT.

>> SO IS IT?

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO REVEAL THAT YET, BEFORE WE DO WE WANTED TO TAKE ANOTHER QUICK FOOD ADVENTURE OVER TO A FOOD TRUCK ON THE WEST SIDE OF COLUMBUS.

>> OKAY.

SO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ANSWER?

OKAY.

WELL, I DO LOVE A GOOD FOOD TRUCK, SO I GUESS THAT'S OKAY FOR NOW.

>> I PROMISE WE WILL HAVE AN ANSWER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CAN'T WAIT.

>> HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WILL LOVE ALL THE SMELLS THAT ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS GRILL.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> AMAZING.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR MEETING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

OKAY.

SO WE ARE HERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF COLUMBUS, OFF OF BROAD STREET IN FRONT OF THE WESTLAND MALL AND WE ARE AT THE TACO SHOP.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU ARE?

>> I'M ANGEL CRUZ.

>> YES.

ANGEL, WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU TODAY.

I WANT YOU TO TELL US ABOUT THIS BUSINESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS BUSINESS WAS STARTED IN 2009 BY MY MOM.

WE STARTED OFF WITH THE CORNER OF THE FOOD TRUCK OR THIS FLEA MARKET IN A SMALL LITTLE HOT DOG STAND.

WE STARTED OFF BASICALLY SELLING SMALL TACOS.

WE DIDN'T GET INTRODUCED TO THE BIG TACOS WE SELL NOW THAT ARE REALLY POPULAR UNTIL MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO.

>> SO YOUR MOM IS FROM OAXACAN.

>> MY MOM IS FROM OAXACAN.

[ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> BASICALLY OAXACAN IS A BIG CITY, THERE'S OUTSTANDING TOWNS BASICALLY AROUND.

WHERE WE COME FROM IS BASICALLY LIKE A CENTRAL AREA OF OAXACAN.

>> WHEN I WENT TO OAXACA, AT AGE 15 WE WENT BACK TO OAXACA.

I HAD MORE OF AN INSPIRING MOMENT THERE WHEN I REALIZED WHAT PEOPLE HAVE THERE COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT INGREDIENTS?

>> INGREDIENTS, THE FRESH, THE LOCAL.

IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T REALLY EASILY GET HERE AND IF WE DO GET IT IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE WHEN I WANT BACK THERE MY GRANDMA SHOWED ME, THEY HAVE THIS THERE, THIS, THIS, AND WE BEGAN TO MAKE A LITTLE GARDEN AT HOME.

SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE ABLE TO PRODUCE OUR FRESH STUFF THAT WE USE IN THE FOOD TRUCK.

>> THESE ARE GOING TO BE EMPANADAS, I WILL MAKE TWO, ONE WILL BE MUSHROOM AND ONE PUMPKIN SQUASH.

>> EMPANADAS, SOME THINK OF THE ENCLOSED.

>> WE'VE BEEN EXPANDING OUT MORE THAN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WE HAVE VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA AND THE OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY ARE SEALED.

THEY ARE DEEP FRIED BUT NOT OURS.

IN OAXACA WE CALL THEM EMPANADAS FROM THE CORN ONES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT'S EMPANADAS OR QUESADILLA.

QUESADILLA ARE USUALLY FLOUR.

>> THESE ARE BIG EMPANADAS.

>> USUALLY I RECOMMEND ONE, IF YOU ARE REALLY HUNGRY TWO FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DRY.

USUALLY THE MOST POPULAR ONES ARE THE PUMPKIN SQUASH AVAILABLE IN SEASON.

♪♪ >> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANTS IN THIS PART OF COLUMBUS.

PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.

>> AT LEAST ON THE WEST SIDE THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS VERY STRONG OUT HERE.

SO BEING OUT HERE ON THE WEST SIDE IT REALLY HAS IMPACTED A LOT OF HOW WE MANAGE OUR FOOD TRUCK AND THE DIVERSITY WE TRY TO OFFER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A LOT MORE AMERICAN PEOPLE COME OUT TO US AND THE HISPANICS ARE COMING OUT MORE AS WELL KNOWING WE OFFER THEM SOMETHING THAT BRINGS THEM BACK HOME.

THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS GO WITH, SOMETHING THAT WILL BRING YOU CLOSER TO HOME IS WHAT I GO FOR.

WITH THE FOOD TRUCK I TRY TO KEEP IT AUTHENTIC AND AS ROUTE TO OAXACA AS POSSIBLE BASICALLY.

>> WHEN PEOPLE COME TO YOUR TRUCK IS THERE A MOST POPULAR SORT OF DISH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT WE STARTED OFF BACK IN LIKE 2018 WAS THE BIG TACO.

IT'S ABOUT MAYBE 6 INCHES LIKE LONG, IT'S ROLLED UP AND COMES WITH REFRIED BEANS, CHEESE AND MEAT.

WHAT STANDS OUT IS THE HANDMADE TORTILLA.

IT'S REALLY THIN, MAYBE 2 MILLIMETERS THICK OF THE TORTILLA.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY, THE HIGHS AND LOWS, YOU KNOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD I WASN'T INTRODUCED INTO THE FOOD TRUCK SO I HATED BEING HERE, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO LIE, I HATED BEING HERE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE THAT WOULD JUST PLAY AROUND.

WHILE MY MOM WAS BUSY AT THE FOOD TRUCK AND OLD TRAILER I WOULD SNATCH $1 OR $2 FROM THE TIP JAR AND PLAY GAMES.

THERE WAS A BIG INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WHERE MY MOM GOT A SHOULDER INJURY AND IT KIND OF LIKE PUSHED ME INTO I HAVE TO GET INTO THE FOOD TRUCK, I HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR MY MOM AND HELP HER OUT.

THAT PUSHED ME INTO THE FOOD TRUCK AND I BEGAN TO DO THE TORTILLA ON MY OWN.

I STARTED TO MAKE THEM.

FIRST TIME IT WASN'T THE BEST, NOR THE SECOND ONE, BUT WITH MY MOM'S GUIDE, SHE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE ME THROUGH AND HOW TO MAKE EVERYTHING.

ONCE I STARTED TO REALIZE, HEY, THIS COULD BE IMPROVED, THIS COULD BE IMPROVED, I SLOWLY STARTED TO TAKE OVER THE BUSINESS BASICALLY.

SHE IS STILL HERE ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS BUT NOT AS MUCH AS SHE USED TO.

SHE LET ME GO ON MY OWN BASICALLY.

I PUT MY OWN SPIN ON TO THE FOOD.

IT'S BEEN AMAZING.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I IMPROVE BASICALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST FOR THE BEANS BASICALLY THAT WE USE HERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST USE -- PUT THEM ON THE FIRE AND CALL IT A DAY, BUT WE HAVE TO ADD A LOT MORE OTHER THINGS, MORE INGREDIENTS THAT GIVES IT THAT POP.

I CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW?

IT'S DEFINITELY LITTLE ASPECTS OF WORKING WITH MY MOM AND MY MARIA THAT DEFINITELY HELPS A LOT.

>> SO WHAT DOES YOUR MOM THINK OF HOW FAR THE TRUCK HAS COME?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ACTUALLY LAST MONTH WE SAT DOWN AND HAD LIKE A CONVERSATION AND SHE'S REALLY PROUD OF HOW FAR THIS TRUCK HAS COME OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THE AMERICAN OUTREACH BASICALLY OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR OR THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH SMALL TACOS, THE STREET-STYLE TACOS, CILANTRO AND ONION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE ISN'T THIS MEXICAN FOOD?

IT IS BUT IT'S TRUE TO OAXACA, TRUE TO THE ROOTS OF OAXACA.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I LOVE IT.

IT JUST REPRESENTS -- EVERY TIME I'M OUT HERE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOVE TO DO AND I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS A JOB, IT'S MORE LIKE I'M SERVING MY COMMUNITY BASICALLY.

>> SO YOU ARE NOT TAKING $2 FROM THE TIP JAR AND PLAYING GAMES ANYMORE.

>> NOT ANYMORE.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

PEOPLE SMILE WHEN THEY EAT THE FOOD.

♪♪ >> ANGEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUT HERE WITH ME TODAY ON THE WEST SIDE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> WELL, CHARLENE, I'M STAYING TRUE TO MY WORD.

ARE YOU READY TO FIND OUT IF THE HAMBURGER INN IS THE OLDEST DINER IN OHIO?

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

AARON O'DONOVAN OVER AT THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY HAS THAT ANSWER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S FIND OUT.

♪♪ >> WE ARE ASKED THE QUESTION WHETHER THE HAMBURGER INN IN DELAWARE WAS THE OLDEST DINER IN OHIO AND WHEN I FIRST GOT THE QUESTION I THOUGHT PROBABLY NOT THE OLDEST DINER, IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING OLDER THAN THAT, RIGHT?

I STARTED LOOKING INTO IT TO SEE IF IT, IN FACT, WAS TRUE.

MY FIRST RESEARCH LED ME TO THE OLDEST RESTAURANT IN OHIO, THE GOLDEN LAMB THIS AT LEBANON, OHIO, IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1803, ONE OF THE OLDEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

THEN THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF DINERS, WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THE FIRST DINERS IN OHIO WERE THAT THEY WERE, IN FACT, JUST DINING CARS FROM OLD TRAINS.

THOSE LASTED BASICALLY UNTIL THE DINING CAR RUSTED OUT.

SO WHAT YOU THEN HAVE A CHANGE IN IS YOU START SEEING BRICK AND MORTAR DINERS START EXISTING, THIS IS PLACES LIKE THE HAMBURGER INN COME IN.

RESEARCHING NOT ONLY MAYBE DINING CARS THAT SURVIVED THAT WAS PLACED IN CITIES, CITY BLOCKS, BUT ALSO BRICK AND MORTAR DINERS, WHERE WERE THEY AND HOW LONG DID THEY LAST.

IT WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THE DINER WAS IN THE SAME LOCATION FOR THE ENTIRETY OF ITS RUN AND THAT'S WHAT MY RESEARCH WAS BASED ON.

SEARCHING THE HAMBURGER INN WASN'T THAT EASY BECAUSE THERE ARE 12 HAMBURGER INNS IN OHIO THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

THE FIRST WAS FOUNDED IN 1930 BUT IT MOVED SOMETIME BEFORE 1986 TO ANOTHER ADDRESS.

SO THAT LEFT THE HAMBURGER INN IN DELAWARE TO BE A LITTLE BIT OLDER.

THE ORIGINAL HAMBURGER INN HAD A QUADRUPLE CHEESEBURGER THAT PEOPLE WOULD CHALLENGE, THEY WOULD TRY TO EAT IT.

THERE WAS A HAMBURGER INN IN PLAIN CITY BUILT IN 1940 AND THESE OTHER HAMBURGER INNS BUILT IN COLUMBUS, URBANA, BELL FOUNTAIN THESE WERE 1940s DINERS AND SOME OTHERS IN THE 1950s IN SOUTHERN OHIO.

THE OTHER SPOTS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY OLDER DINERS ARE THE CONEY ISLAND DINER IN MANSFIELD, WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1919, BUT IT DID MOVE IN 1936.

THERE WAS AN OLD RESTAURANT CALLED THE KEWPEE WHICH IS CONSIDERED SORT OF A DINER AND THAT WAS IN LIMA, OHIO, AND THEY ACTUALLY DID HAVE AN OLDER BUILDING, BUT IT DID BURN DOWN AND THEY HAD TO REBUILD.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL KEWPEE THAT WOULD HAVE PREDATED THE HAMBURGER INN BUT IT WAS TORN DOWN FOR A NEWER BUILDING.

SO THIS IS THE 1928 BUILDING AND THIS IS THE 1936 BUILDING FOR KEWPEE.

DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT NEWER THAN THE HAMBURGER INN IN DELAWARE.

WHICH OPENED IN 1932.

AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OTHER DINERS THAT I SAW IN COLUMBUS THROUGH THE YEARS, THERE WAS A PLACE CALLED THE DINNER BELL DINER IN COLUMBUS WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1927 AT 2020 NORTH HIGH STREET.

AGAIN, THAT CLOSED A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.

ONLY EXISTED FOR A FEW YEARS.

WE HAD THE CAMPUS DINER, WHICH MAKES SENSE, DINER FOOD IS POPULAR IN COLLEGE TOWNS.

SO IN 1928 THERE WAS A CAMPUS DINER AT 1842 NORTH HIGH AROUND THE CAMPUS AREA AND THAT CLOSED WITHIN A FEW YEARS.

ALL THE EARLY ONES THAT I SAW WERE IN MARIANNE, SHADY LAWN DINER IN MANSFIELD.

SOME OF THE EARLY DINERS DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG.

DOWN THE STREET FROM THE HAMBURGER INN WAS BUN'S RESTAURANT BUILT IN 1864, WAY OLDER THAN THE HAMBURGER INN WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1932 AND THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY BUN'S BURNED DOWN IN 2002.

ULTIMATELY WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT HAMBURGER INN, THEY MAY, IN FACT, BE THE OLDEST DINER IN OHIO.

I CAN'T SAY 1 NEW HAMPSHIRE% THAT IS TRUE, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY PLAUSIBLE AND IF I WERE TO HEDGE MY BETS I WOULD SAY IT PROBABLY IS THE OLDEST DINER IN OHIO.

THAT WAS IN THE SAME LOCATION AND THE SAME BUILDING SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

>> I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION FIRST, IS IT BOLOGNA OR BOLONY.

>> BOLOGNA.

>> WE AVERAGE 1,000 TO 1,200 POUNDS A WEEK.

>> WHAT MAKES IT SO GOOD?

>> CHEESE, PICKLE AND ONION IN THAT RECORD.

>> IN THAT RECORD.

WHEN DID THIS ALL START?

>> GEORGE AND ROY STARTED IN JUNE OF '62.

MY WIFE AND I AND ANOTHER COUPLE BOUGHT IT NOVEMBER 1st OF 1985.

GEORGE AND ROY THIS WINGS AT THE BEGINNING AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN GEORGE CAME UP WITH THIS BOLOGNA RECIPE AND WENT WITH BOLOGNA.

OHIO IS A BOLOGNA CAPITAL AND IT TOOK OFF AFTER THAT.

>> WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR BOLOGNA.

>> A BIG MEAT PACKING PLACE IN OHIO.

IT'S FALTERS.

YOU CAN'T BUY IT ANYWHERE BUT HERE.

>> THEN I NEED TO COME HERE TO WALDO.

>> NOBODY CAN USE G&R.

>> LOOKS GOOD, SMELLS GOOD, I'D LIKE TO TRY IT.

CAN WE TASTE TEST IT?

>> LET'S GO.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

HERE WE GO.

>> THIS IS IT.

THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE FAMED BOLOGNA SANDWICH.

>> THIS IS IT.

>> I NOTICE BACK THERE YOU HAVE COCONUT CREAM PIE, BANANA CREAM PIE.

WHO MAKES THOSE?

>> MY DAUGHTERS MAKES THOSE.

SHE COMES IN AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING TO PREPARE THOSE.

>> THIS IS FAMILY RUN.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THAT'S THE WAY YOU SET IT UP?

>> YEAH.

>> WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

>> WALDO IS A VILLAGE OF 300, 350 MAX AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE THIS A FAMILY RESTAURANT.

I WANTED TO SEE WOMEN, KIDS, MY WIFE AND I, MY DAUGHTER AND I'VE GOT MY SON-IN-LAW IS THE NIGHT MANAGER AND I'VE GOT GRAD KIDS WORKING IN HERE.

SO IT'S FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY.

WE ALL WORK TO MAKE WALDO A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

>> EVERYBODY COMES IN, GETS THE FRIED BOLOGNA SANDWICH WITH THE PICKLES, SWEET PICKLES AND THE CHEESE.

>> CHEESE, PICKLES AND ONIONS.

>> AND I'M GOING TO TRY IT RIGHT NOW.

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> LET'S SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

IT WILL BE MY FIRST TIME.

THUMBS UP ON THAT.

THAT'S GOOD.

IT'S GREAT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M TASTING IS THE SWEET PICKLES AGAINST THE FRIED BOLOGNA, THE GARLIC FRIED BOLOGNA.

>> THE GARLIC, YEAH.

>> IS THAT BY DESIGN?

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU DO TASTE THE CHEESE ON THERE.

SO THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER.

AND I'M SOUNDING LIKE I'M A FOOD CRITIC, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY GOOD.

IT TASTES VERY, VERY GOOD.

I THINK IT TAKES SWEET PICKLES VERSUS DILL PICKLES.

WHERE DO THE SWEET PICKLES COME FROM?

THEY DON'T TASTE LIKE OUT OF THE JAR.

>> THEY'RE CALLED SECLER'S THAT'S THE BRAND NAME AND THEY MAKE THE SANDWICH.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF DOING ANYTHING ELSE, ANY DIFFERENT?

>> NO.

MY WIFE -- MY WIFE LOVES THIS.

SHE LOVES GREETING PEOPLE, MEETING PEOPLE AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS -- THIS IS HER DREAM AND IF IT'S HER DREAM, IT'S MY DREAM.

AND IT'S OUR KIDS' DREAM.

>> THIS IS IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> I FOUND THIS PHOTO IN THE COLLECTION AND IT WAS SMASHED IN BETWEEN SEVERAL IMAGES OF A PARADE THAT THEY ATTENDED FOR THE KIWANIS IN CHICAGO IN 1920 AND I THOUGHT, OH, THIS IS PROBABLY A PROPERTY IN CHICAGO, AND SO I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, COULDN'T FIND MUCH ON IT AND THEN I CONTACTED THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SAID HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS IMAGE?

AND THEY WERE LIKE NO.

SO I THOUGHT, WELL, LET ME LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER AND THEN I SAW THE WASHINGTON BEER IN THE BACKGROUND AND REMEMBERED THAT THERE WAS A WASHINGTON BREWERY HERE IN COLUMBUS, REALIZED, OH, VERNON GRILL, MOUNT VERNON AVENUE, SO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AND THIS IS AN IMAGE OF MOUNT VERNON AVENUE SOMETIME IN THE '30s.

SO THEN I WAS LOOKING AT ANOTHER IMAGE FROM THE COLLECTION AND HAD NO CLUE WHERE IT WAS OR WHAT IT WAS AND GOT TO LOOKING AND NOTICED IN THE OTHER PHOTO THERE WAS A CAR SITTING THERE WITH A SPARE TIRE.

THERE ARE BUILDING JACKS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, IN BOTH PHOTOGRAPHS AND I LOOKED AT THE PLACEMENT OF THOSE AND THEN I LOOKED AT THE DOOR FRAME AND I WENT, THIS IS A PICTURE OF ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OTHER IMAGE THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT IS FASCINATING ABOUT THIS IS WE RARELY GET VERY GOOD PHOTOS OF COLUMBUS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, LET ALONE AN IMAGE OF ONE ACROSS THE STREET FROM >>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

AND REMEMBER YOU CAN CATCH ALL OF OUR EPISODES ON YOUTUBE OR COLUMBUSNEIGHBORHOODS.ORG.

>> PLUS SEE OUR STORIES ON THE WOSU MOBILE APP.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK ON "COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪