LITTLE ROCK — BOXING IT ALL UP: For those who missed this news, The Box burger joint (established as the Band Box in 1948 and later dubbed the Burger Box), a local institution at 17th and Main in Little Rock for more than half a century, cooled its grill at the longtime locale for the last time Friday.
The small, worn cinder block building will soon be razed to make way for a USA Drug store. Paper Trails first reported the Box’s nearing demise back in 2004, when a pending Walgreen’s (which was never built) loomed.
The good news? Those craving The Box’s burgers can find them (and even the grill) beginning in August at its future location at Seventh and Ringo.
The even better news?
Current owner Kelly Joiner tells Paper Trails he plans to keep the place’s ambiance. That includes the multitude of signs and posters: “To hell with the dog - beware of the owner” and the even more colorful “This is not Burger King, you don’t get it your way ...”
This columnist bid a solemn adieu (as a native New Orleanian, greasy spoons, dark dives and the like hold a special place in my heart) to the original locale during the final hour it was open.
By 1:25, the Coke and Diet Coke had run dry.
At 1:30, the small, hot, busy kitchen crammed with workers ran out of fries.
Minutes later, all the cheddar cheese was gone. By 1:45, crispy, juicy burgers were still sizzling on the grill, but the end was near. Only five pounds of meat were left.
WHERE’S THE BEEF?
Speaking of burger joints, exactly what did Paula Deen, the queen of Southern cuisine, order from Wendy’s on her way out of North Little Rock after her recent appearance at this paper’s Arkansas Women’s Show at Verizon Arena? A baked potato.
BY THE BOOK:
University of Arkansas at Monticello history professor Bill Shea’s book Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign was recently honored by the Civil War Round Table of New York’s Fletcher Pratt Literary Award for 2009.
It also won the Arkansas Historical Association’s 2009 J.G. Ragsdale Award.
Shea, whose latest book was published by the University of North Carolina Press, is the author or co-author of several books on American military history, specifically the Civil War west of the Mississippi River.
ON A MISSION:
Look for the cable network Animal Planet to launch a pilot of an animal-rescue show this fall featuring an Arkansas case.
In the episode, the humane societies of Pulaski and Saline counties and Feline Urban Rescue and Rehome assisted in rescuing 25 dogs, nine cats and kittens, four chickens, a horse, and a pet Razorback named Wilbur from El Paso. Paper Trails appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Contact Linda Caillouet at (501) 399-3636 or at lcaillouet @arkansasonline.com.
Arkansas, Pages 7 on 06/21/2010