Over on Instagram, I saw that my friend modbetty_retroroadmap posted the photos above, saying “Broasted Chicken and fabulous 1973 decor- win-win! Speck’s in Collegeville is my go-to spot when RetroRoadhubs is away and I don’t feel like cooking (I rarely feel like cooking ????).” Hey, we love a dinner out, too — but: Those tabletops! Are they original? Or are they the recent reproduction of Wilsonart Daisy in Apricot Glow? I called up Speck’s to find out, and owner Randy Landis confirmed: They are original! Well… sort of.
“Original. Sort of”?:
Randy said that Speck’s had a fire in 1972. After the fire, his father went to a restaurant auction, and there, he picked up all of that Daisy-topped seating. Writing this up, I realize I am confused whether it was a restaurant-supply auction or a restaurant-going-out-of-business auction. But, I think it was restaurant-going-out-of-business auction. If so, that means the orange Daisy laminate could be several years earlier than 1972. I don’t think that Wilsonart ever gave me an exact date of its marketplace launch.
Above: Wilsonart Daisy laminate in Apricot Glow — does not seem as orange to me at the Speck’s original.
Above: See >> Kristen’s kitchen in progress <<. She used Wilsonart Daisy in “Envy” for her countertops.
Link love:
- Mod Betty’s blog, Retro Roadmap
- Modbetty on Instagram
- Speck’s Broasted Chicken Restaurant, Collegeville, Pa.
- All our Kitchen Countertop research here.
Flowers were the power in the late ’60s and ’70s.
Sitting at the very table in the pic above waiting for my daughter to finish her third(!) drumstick , and I can confirm that the tables are the same color as the “orange glow” spec- I think there might be a filter applied to the Instagram post. There are also super cool orange and yellow globe pendant lites to match!
These — or ones similar — come up on ebay now and then. You need to set up a variety of searches… then wait it out…