There’s a place in Fairmont WV that is a little quirky, a little flashy and a whole lot good. Lots of memories too. The Pokey Dot Restaurant has been in Fairmont WV for as long as I can remember (as far back as the 60’s and 70’s). It has been in the same location on Fairmont Avenue near 12th St and Country Club Lane and although the way the place looks now is drastically different than when I first went there, one thing remains the same - Great Food.
I suppose my first memory of the Pokey Dot was when our family came back to the U.S. after my dad got orders from Germany to Florida. While he went ahead to arrange housing for our family , my mother and I stayed with my grandfather. One of his traditions was going to the Pokey Dot on the weekend. Back then, around 1971, this diner was what is now called a classic. Red and white tables and booths with individual juke box players at each table and an eating bar with red and chrome barstools. The place wasn’t very big, only about 10 tables and 5 or 6 booths. My standard meal was an Open Faced Roast Beef Sandwich with Brown Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Peas and White Bread. It was all good. Of course I didn’t realize at the time I was eating in what would soon be known as a “landmark” for that town.
Fast forward 38 years to the summer of 2007 and my 30 year high school reunion. After our first reunion night get together some of us decided to check out the ole Pokey Dot and relive some good memories. WOW.. what a shock! It had undergone a complete transformation. Not a bad one mind you………just much much different. The Pokey Dot now had a funky eclectic look and feel about it. I wish I would have taken some photos? Duh. Anyway I decided to have a good old fashioned West Virginia style Italian steak hoagie with hot peppers. Not a wise choice considering it was almost midnight when we went. I paid a price for that sandwich about 4 hours later when I woke up in my hotel thinking OMG what have I done. But you know, it was worth it. In fact it was good enough that I went back the next day and had the same thing again. What can I say. I am weak when it comes to good food.
Anyway, here are a couple photos of the Italian Steak Hoagie and the only shot I have of the interior of the Pokey Dot taken with my cell phone camera. If you have ever been to the Pokey Dot in Fairmont WV and have a story to share or a few photos, please let us know and we will share your story.
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on Jan 12th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I GREW UP EATING AT THE POKEY DOT IN THE 60′S. I HAD AN AUNT THAT WORKED THERE AS A WAITRESS. MY BEST MEMORIES ARE THE FISH AQUARIUM IN THE DINING ROOM AND THE PIZZA.
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 10:40 am
The Pokey Dot sucks and there food is overrated and overpriced. The people who own the Pokey Dot walk around thinking there Sh*t doesn’t stink but are nothing more than common crooks who haven’t paid taxes in 5 years and are being shut down as a result.