Vigo County Historical Society

Martin goes from apprentice baker to owner

The Goodie Shop remains a Terre Haute icon for many years.

Many people enjoy going to a restaurant for a meal. Terre Haute has many fine restaurants, but one will always stand out in the minds of many people--the Goodie Shop cafeteria.

The restaurant at 666 Ohio St. was owned by George E. Martin and Edna Ethel Martin.

Martin, born in Terre Haute on September 11, 1901, was the son of George Edward Martin and Ella Wood Martin. Edna Martin was born in Muncie on Aug. 10. 1903, to Carl C. and Ethel E. Guthrie. Her family moved to Terre Haute when she was very young.

Martin became an apprentice baker at the age of 17, working in the Bob Hick’s Bakery at 114 N. Seventh St. It was at the bakery that George met Edna, who was also working at the bakery. They married in 1922.

The couple went into partnership with Fred Paitson in 1922 and a delicatessen was added to the bakery. Several students from Indiana State Teachers College ate lunch there, since the college did not have adequate eating facilities at the time.

The business grew and George Martin bought out his partner. In 1929 the business moved to 110 N. Seventh St. Even though the restaurant could not seat 70 people, more room was needed. The next move was to Sixth and Wabash.

In 1934 a cafeteria was opened at 24 S. Sixth St. The restaurant could now seat 98 people. In an article George Martin read in a restaurant magazine in 1935 he learned techniques that he followed in running a restaurant efficiently with cost control in mind.

Ever increasing crowds made the move in 1950 to 666 Ohio St. necessary. During the 1950s and 1960s the restaurant was open six days a week, Monday though Saturday. Open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again for dinner from 4:30 to 8 p.m., it served an average daily crowd of 1,600 to 2,000 people.

In the early ‘60s the cafeteria was nicely decorated. It could seat 208 to 255 comfortably. The three dining areas were done in soft shades of turquoise, yellow, date, green and sand-tones. A 40-foot handpainted mural was on one wall. Throughout the restaurant one could see ceremonial masks and brightly colored totem poles.

Separating the dining rooms were dividers of molded Plexiglas containing fishnet and pictures of colorful fish. Standing in the waiting line, one was separated from the dining area by planting boxes. Flowers and plants were always kept fresh and in season.

The lounge was spacious and luxurious. Soft music could be heard throughout the restaurant. From coat racks to the water cooler in the main dining room, the Martins kept the customer’s comfort and needs in mind.

The kitchen was well equipped and planned, also. Several sanitary measures were put into practice and it was laid out in such a way as to minimize steps to serve a large amount of people in a short time.

George Martin could be seen at the end of the serving line almost daily with a large smile on his face talking to the people in his restaurant. The couple not only gave a lot of their time to the restaurant but also to community activities.

Martin died in 1986 and his wife died in 1987. The Goodie Show was renamed the Martin House. Due to increased competition from other restaurants the restaurant closed in 1998.