Name This Peoria Landmark

Also known as VOP’s, located at 5934 N. Knoxville Ave.

Some history courtesy of Historic Peoria.com:

During a review of the land on which VOPs now stands, researchers discovered that the location was very close to that of Keller Station, the first stop out of Peoria on the Rock Island Line. In 1927, after nearly 45 years in operation, the Station was sold for $20 and torn down soon thereafter. Once called Vonachen’s Junction, VOPs was built by Pete Vonachen and reopened under its new name in 1979. The restaurant is an integral part of Junction City, a shopping center constructed to recreate the feel of old-time Keller Station.

Patrons have the option of dining in either a banquet room, a caboose bar or in the Executive Car, a retired railcar of T.P.&W that had once been used by past presidents of the railroad. The car, which was built in 1890, was refurbished in the old railroad theme and given to the Junction in 1957.

A little more history from commenter John:

The rail cars were placed there in the mid 50’s. Pete moved his office out of the basement into the back car so as to make room for a private dining room in the basement of the main building. I sold him the safe for the office and he had it welded into the car. This would have been about 1959.

Is it just me or does anyone else see the irony in the current owner of Junction City wanting to discontinue rail service on the Kellar Branch it’s track’s ripped out?

(Congrats, Burl, it’s been a while, but you got another one.)

This entry was posted on Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 7:35 am and is filed under Kellar Rail, Peoria, Railroad. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.