The Grill
The Grill
In 1930 Charles Hinkle opened a family fast food restaurant known as Hinkle’s Hamburgers at 60 Northeast A Street in downtown Linton, Indiana. The most popular food on the menu was the "Hinkle Burger" that was prepared on a grill and smothered in cooked onions. People from all over the area would come to Linton to eat at the restaurant.
Charles and his wife ran the eatery for about forty-two years. In that time the restaurant was expanded by lengthening the counter and adding four booths to a row of already existing tables. The success of the business was due mostly to Charles himself--the fact that he had good food, kept the place looking nice, and talked to the customers, even as he was cooking. He also instituted a carry-out service. Customers could purchase "5 Hinkle Burgers to Go" at a reduced price.
When the Hinkles retired in 1972, Mike Smith and Raymond Graham bought the business. Smith and Graham decided to select a new name and expand the facilities. The owners named the business The Grill. Since the hamburgers were cooked on a grill, the name seemed to be a logical choice. The additional space, which almost doubled the capacity, came from the old Padgett’s Bakery, which had been located next door on the west side. Over the years The Grill became a gathering spot for the business persons in town for coffee and gossip.
Smith and Graham owned The Grill for several years. Then Graham sold his interest in the business to Smith and pursued a career in coal mining. Smith started Friday night specials with a slogan "till the grill freezes over," cooking steaks outdoors on a gas grill in front of the building. It became popular from early spring through late fall. However winter won, and the grill "froze over" (or perhaps it was the cook).
In 1987, Smith decided to hang up his chef’s hat, burger flipper, apron, and turn off the outdoor grill. He purchased Rollison Printing on Vincennes Street and later renamed it Smith Printing. He sold the restaurant to Jim Cary.
Cary added a new twist and stayed open fifty-two weeks out of the year. (The previous owners had closed for two weeks for vacations.) Steak night on the outdoor grill grew more popular and only froze up one or two times over the years. In fact, the demand has been so high during the past few years that Cary (or another employee) can be seen cooking on the grill in front of the restaurant every Friday and Saturday night.
Cary also renamed the restaurant Jim Cary’s The Grill. One may wonder why the name change. Perhaps Jim had foresight of another Jim Carey becoming such a famous actor. Cary admitted that while traveling and distributing business cards, it has brought many laughs and struck up many conversations.
Driving along State Highway 54 in Linton, one can see two antique-styled light poles with frosted glass domes that were erected in 1992. Cary decided that the lights give a nostalgic look to the restaurant.
Over the years, ownership, names, prices, employees, and the interior and exterior have all changed. Many things, however, have remained the same. Friends still gather to talk; good food is still served. The success of the business is reflected on Cary’s business card: "Linton’s Oldest Restaurant in Continuous Operation Since 1930."
This information was used with permission from the Linton-Stockton School Corporation.
