Munch's Restaurant a Staple in Big Bayou Since 1952

ST. PETERSBURG - One step into Munch's Restaurant on 6^th Street in the Big Bayou section of St. Petersburg is a step into neighborhood history.

The unassuming exterior leads into a small entrance area and gift counter with candy, mugs, T-shirts, spices and novelties in front of a sign welcoming patrons to seat themselves because the “hostess has been fired.”

One side of the restaurant is filled with old wooden booths, with hundreds of photos and artifacts on the walls, old and new. The other side is a long, classic counter top seating area with another row of booths and even more memorabilia, all tastefully arranged amidst a spotless, casual setting.

Owner Larry Munch is usually seen at the front of the house, behind the cash register, and represents the family name as the son of founders Dean and Clariece Munch, who started the business in the same spot in 1952.

Larry created most of the recipes, except for the fried chicken, meatloaf and other old classics developed long ago by his father. The restaurant also makes homemade creamed chipped beef and its own brand of sausages from scratch. It offers catering and goes on the road with its own rolling smoker to nearby barbecues and festivals.

Still very popular with locals, town leaders, TV news people and workers from downtown, Munch's is also featured on an upcoming episode of the hit Food Network TV show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, with host Guy Fieri. It has also provided the setting for several successful independent films, including Prime of Your Life, last year.

Munch sat down the other day for a chat about the family business and gave a mini-tour ,with some fascinating insight into its history.

Q. How did your family arrive in St. Petersburg?

A. My mother, she's 93, lived here since she was two years old. Her father was the fire chief in Meridian, Mississippi, and (St. Pete Fire Chief JT) McNulty was friends with my grandfather and wrote him a letter to come to St. Pete to work as a fireman. That was in the 1920s. Then my father was in the service (WWII) and that's how he and my mom met.

Q. How did your parents establish the restaurant?

A. It was originally a sundry. Back in '52, there was no Eckerds and no 7-Elevens and this was past the end of the trolley stop several blocks to the north. They sold hot dogs and hamburgers and also toiletries, model cars and toys. My mother used to take in sewing at the time and they would take in laundry, rent vacuum cleaners and things like that. There was also a post office substation here in the back of the building.

Q: What is the signature item at Munch's?

A. There really isn't one but "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" featured our Texas Hash. We take fresh chickens and smoke them, then add garlic, peppers, onions, potatoes, and make a hash, and serve it for breakfast. We do fried green tomatoes and were just written up a couple weeks ago for some of the best burgers in the area and we were voted best fried chicken in the tri-county area two years in a row.

Q. How did the episode with Guy Fieri go?

A. He was very funny and he got along with my chef, Eric (Harvey). They gelled. I teased Eric that he was going to owe me some money for a cooking lesson they were back there so long. Guy was in the kitchen with Eric for a solid six hours talking recipes and cooking and all that.

Q. Is there much turnover with your staff?

A. Ruthie, one of my waitresses, has been with me 34 years. My cashier, Edna, just retired and we just had a party for her. She was with me 33 years. Debra has been with me 17 years and my newest waitress, Carmen, has been with me six years. Eric's been with me about six years.

Q. What's with the dollar bill stuck to the floor at the cashier counter?

A. Just a joke. My brother put it down there probably 35 years ago, waxed over. What gets me is I'll have people who've been coming in here 20 years, and they'll bend down and try to pick it up. They'll say 'I've been coming in here for years and I've never seen that.' I have 25 people a day try to pick that thing up.

Munch's is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m., seven days a week. Call 727-896-5972, or go online: www.munchburger.com.