This Goody Goody was Tampa landmark since 1929 and the first feature of what would become TampaPix

Stepping into Goody Goody was like stepping into the twilight hamburger zone.  All the walls were jam-packed with a pictorial history of Tampa.  Photographs, post cards, old advertisements, and memorabilia, they all took you back to a time when Tampa was in its heyday and the beginnings of the drive-in burger stand.

The Goody Goody sported a new look in early April 2004 with a refurbished sign, freshly painted exterior and awning.

Read about the "new old" look in the Sunday, April 11th Tampa Tribune.

The Goody Goody first opened in 1925 at Grand Central Ave., when Tampa was in the midst of the Florida land boom.   In 1929, it moved to its new building on Florida Avenue downtown, where it operated until Nov. 30, 2005.

Goody Goody in June, 2003 before the improvements
The first photo featured at what would become TampaPix

Goody Goody parking lot, June 2003

Yvonne Freeman, on the right, was the manager of the Goody Goody since 1984 when she leased it from the owner, Mike Wheeler.

A scene from the 2004 movie "The Punisher" was filmed at the Goody Goody in 2003.  Exterior improvements had just begun by filling in some of the building cracks when producers saw the place, contacted the Mike and asked him to stop; they wanted it to look this way for the movie. A scene was filmed in the parking lot but it was cut from the final version.  The above photo shows the front counter before director Jonathan Hensleigh had it refurbished in stainless steel for the movie scene. 

See scenes from the movie

Yvonne started in 1947 as a "curb girl" about 2 years after she graduated from Hillsborough High, and became the manager, baker and half-day server.  In 1959 she worked as a waitress and once served Col. Harland Sanders.  Photo is from a June 28, 1997 Tampa Tribune article.

 

"When I first came to work, the whole area was full of car dealers; it was an unbelievably busy place," she said recently. In those days, curb service, or dining in one's car was popular, in part because women dressed up in hats and gloves to dine out, and when they weren't dressed up, they wanted to hide in their car.  People ate less during the meal itself, they used to come in and order a hamburger, a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. Now, they order a double hamburger basket, with fries and everything."  --Yvonne

 

In 1984 the Stayer family, which had owned Goody Goody for decades, sold it to local accountant Mike Wheeler.  Mike closed the restaurant for a short time, then leased it to Yvonne until the final closing day.

The walls were covered with Goody Goody history.

The Goody Goody was a popular lunch spot for the downtown crowd.  Business people, attorneys, judges, federal magistrates, political figures--including mayors and congressmen--and everyday folks, enjoyed Goody Goody burger, fries and a slice of Yvonne's homemade butterscotch pie for lunch.

The Goody Goody still had some of its original tables and chairs, and the original green tile floor. These date back to the 1930's.  The original basket weave seat wore out and were replaced long ago with wood.

A reproduction of an original menu circa 1943

Click the menu to see larger images of the complete menu. 

See a current menu selection.  Yvonne bakes eight flavors of pie by hand, including apple, coconut, lemon, banana, butterscotch, pecan, chocolate and pineapple cream.

See more Goody Goody nostalgia and read a detailed history of the Stayer years.            

The Goody Goody secret sauce is resurrected at Pine Grove restaurant

Read article in the March 13, 2002 St. Pete Times.

 
2002 news feature, before renovations

Larry Cotton, food connoisseur Channel 8 News, interviews Yvonne Freeman at the Goody Goody.  (Yvonne comments in quotes)

Stepping into Goody Goody is like stepping into the twilight hamburger zone.  All the walls are jam-packed with a pictorial history of Tampa.  Photographs, post cards, old advertisements, memorabilia, they all take you back to a time when Tampa was in its heyday and the beginnings of the drive-in burger stand.  Although there have been many paint jobs over the years, the decor is basically the same as it was in 1930.  Aluminum chairs, tile floors, and some very unusual and unique tables you won't find anywhere else.  Yvonne:  "The tables were made for this place, I don't know exactly when, but at least 70 years ago."  And customers sat here and ate their meals?  "Right, anytime, very popular."  It seems like everyone I've talked to has had a Goody Goody burger, even the late great Col. Sanders--and you thought he only ate chicken.  "Well, all the judges have been in, Sam Gibbons has been in now and then, even the mayor drops in once in a while."  Everybody loves Goody Goody burgers, huh?  "They seem to; nobody complains."  Now you're not going to find that prepackaged food or fake French fries here.  Now let's talk about your basic burger, and you call it the burger with POS.  "Uh humm, pickles, onions and sauce."  Ok, and what kind of sauce do you use, this secret sauce?  "Well, we don't give out the recipe, but it's a tomato-based sauce; there's things in it like onions and garlic and seasonings."  Now how did that tradition get started?  "Whoever opened the place originally in 1925, that's the recipe they used, and it's always been this."  So you want a shake to go with that burger?  I tell you nothing beats an old-fashioned hand-dipped real ice cream milkshake.  You're not gonna find many in town that tastes this good.  "Well, we hand dip the ice cream just like we always have; we use fresh milk."  And you make your basic milk--look how thick this is.  "We make a good milkshake."   Let me try it--it's the real deal!  Now if you like pies like I like pies, and who doesn't like pies, then you have to try one of the really delicious pies made fresh here every day.  So if you're hankerin' for just a good old-fashioned burger, get on down here to Goody Goody's.  We'll see you next time on Good Eats.

Looking south on Florida Avenue from across the street in front of the Goody Goody

Goody Goody p1   |    Goody Goody p2

The End of an Era:  Last Day P.1    |   Last Day P.2   |   Last Day P.3   |  Last Day P.4    |   Demolition

Scene from the movie "The Punisher" filmed in the Goody Goody

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