Greg and Tammy’s 1953 Kelvinator Foodarama — before, after & inside — 10 pics
pam kueber - Updated: October 28, 2021
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
The Kelvinator Foodarama “before”:
The Kelvinator Foodarama “after”:
Inside “before:
Inside “after”
Close up of what’s for breakfast:
After seeing Greg and Tammy’s fabulous retro red farm house kitchen remodel, there was call to see more of the Kelvinator Foodarama refrigerator. I had been planning it — already had the “before” shot of the behemoth before Greg repainted it with auto body “safety red.” But then Greg sent more photos and Oh My Gosh, look at this refrigerator. I had no idea. It is gorgeous inside. I waaaaaant that Breakfast Bar. I ask Greg what is the model year and he writes:
Pam I think it’s a 1953 model. It was very complete when we got it, Breakfast bar, juice containers, 4 of 6 original ice trays, banana bin. The only major thing missing was the saran wrap holder. The refrigerator trays roll out, the metal freezer shelves actually have the cooling tubes attached; it will freeze ice cubes in 20 minutes.
The original owner from Altoona, Pa, a lady named Belle, took great care of this classic. We consider ourselves caretakers of this fabulous Kelvinator Foodarama!
Am attaching more interior pics. Please include the one with our 14-year old, Shane. He would be thrilled!
Tks!
Well, tks, to you, Greg!
Patrick C. and Helen S., what do you think?: Is the Foodarama more elusive – hence desirable — than a built-in Revco???
There’s a bacon compartment?! Wow, this refrigerator is awesome. I’ve never seen anything like it! I love the little egg holders and all of the original containers. So cool.
TappanTrailerTamisays
The Food-A-Rama is one of the BEST vintage appliance to own EVER!
Unfortunately, they aren’t real plentiful, and can be pretty expensive unless you buy (and get lucky) from a nice original owner.
antiqueappliances.com had one on their site and I think it was $9,000 restored price – it’s now listed as sold.
I almost bought one from a couple in Oregon and they wanted $3,000 for theirs – great original condition and still worked, but alas I could not create enough space in my kitchen width wise to make it work.
Congrats to Tammy & Greg for saving, restoring, and loving this refrigerator!!!
Elisasays
OMG! A dedicated bacon compartment? They just don’t make them like they used to.
JKayesays
This refrigerator surely is one of the most cool items to be featured on retrorenovation-com-staging.enwf9w61-liquidwebsites.com. Applause to Greg and Tammy for having the vision to see what that fridge could become, and then making it happen.
Speaking of Foodarama — it appears that the very cute Shane is wearing a T-shirt with an outline of West Virginia on it (or that shape could be a bluegill, I can’t say for sure.) Its West Virginia-like appearance gives me the opportunity to ask if Greg and Tammy, or anyone else, remembers a chain of fast-food restaurants back in the 60s called BBF — Burger Boy Food-O-Rama. There were BBF restaurants in the Ohio/WVa/Ky area. As a very special treat, my parents would take us to the Portsmouth Ohio BBF for food that was very much like McDonald’s food.
Here is a link to a little story on BBF, with a photo of a very 60s looking restaurant:
That is just amazing! Especially the breakfast bar part and how it displays the eggs. We have just GOT to get the flash back into manufacturing. I swear, it would perk us up as a nation. Great restoration too. Absolutely perfect.
Teasays
WOW!!
The foodarama looks great! I love that shade of red, just a great job restoring it. I am so impressed that the juice containers are still with the fridge. It was obviously a treasured appliance and i’m so glad to know that it will continue to be. I’m so jealous though, i want a Foodarama!
Jeannesays
Oh, my. Oh, my, my, my.
Melaniesays
Everyone has already said “wow” and “amazing”, but I just have to add another “WOW”. What an incredible find!
Tyson K.says
Thats about the coolest fridge I’ve seen in a long time! Nice job on the resto!!!
Jansays
Thank you SO much for sharing this. I had posted the other day begging you to show the inside – wow wow wow!!!! You all could charge admission to look at that thing.
ChrisH says
Gregg you did a beautiful job. I have a car I’d like you to paint.
Did the lady say 11 cu. ft. ? I’d need two of them.
Casey says
There’s a bacon compartment?! Wow, this refrigerator is awesome. I’ve never seen anything like it! I love the little egg holders and all of the original containers. So cool.
TappanTrailerTami says
The Food-A-Rama is one of the BEST vintage appliance to own EVER!
Unfortunately, they aren’t real plentiful, and can be pretty expensive unless you buy (and get lucky) from a nice original owner.
antiqueappliances.com had one on their site and I think it was $9,000 restored price – it’s now listed as sold.
http://www.antiqueappliances.com/products/kelvinator/1953_kelvinator_food_o_rama.htm
I almost bought one from a couple in Oregon and they wanted $3,000 for theirs – great original condition and still worked, but alas I could not create enough space in my kitchen width wise to make it work.
Congrats to Tammy & Greg for saving, restoring, and loving this refrigerator!!!
Elisa says
OMG! A dedicated bacon compartment? They just don’t make them like they used to.
JKaye says
This refrigerator surely is one of the most cool items to be featured on retrorenovation-com-staging.enwf9w61-liquidwebsites.com. Applause to Greg and Tammy for having the vision to see what that fridge could become, and then making it happen.
Speaking of Foodarama — it appears that the very cute Shane is wearing a T-shirt with an outline of West Virginia on it (or that shape could be a bluegill, I can’t say for sure.) Its West Virginia-like appearance gives me the opportunity to ask if Greg and Tammy, or anyone else, remembers a chain of fast-food restaurants back in the 60s called BBF — Burger Boy Food-O-Rama. There were BBF restaurants in the Ohio/WVa/Ky area. As a very special treat, my parents would take us to the Portsmouth Ohio BBF for food that was very much like McDonald’s food.
Here is a link to a little story on BBF, with a photo of a very 60s looking restaurant:
http://columbusrestauranthistory.com/restaurant/BBF.htm
I just love words like Foodarama and Food-O-Rama.
Eartha Kitsch says
That is just amazing! Especially the breakfast bar part and how it displays the eggs. We have just GOT to get the flash back into manufacturing. I swear, it would perk us up as a nation. Great restoration too. Absolutely perfect.
Tea says
WOW!!
The foodarama looks great! I love that shade of red, just a great job restoring it. I am so impressed that the juice containers are still with the fridge. It was obviously a treasured appliance and i’m so glad to know that it will continue to be. I’m so jealous though, i want a Foodarama!
Jeanne says
Oh, my. Oh, my, my, my.
Melanie says
Everyone has already said “wow” and “amazing”, but I just have to add another “WOW”. What an incredible find!
Tyson K. says
Thats about the coolest fridge I’ve seen in a long time! Nice job on the resto!!!
Jan says
Thank you SO much for sharing this. I had posted the other day begging you to show the inside – wow wow wow!!!! You all could charge admission to look at that thing.
Good looking showman at the bottom, too. 🙂