Alabama’s lost landmarks: 7 Tuscaloosa hangouts we wish we had back

Bama-Bino Pizza
The Chukker
The Corner Store
Vinyl Solution
Kwik Snak
Tut’s Place
Bachelor’s III/Joe Namath’s Restaurant

Bama-Bino Pizza, The Chukker, The Corner Store, Vinyl Solution, Kwik Snak, Tut’s Place, Bachelor’s III/Joe Namath’s Restaurant

Tut's Place, a Tuscaloosa staple since opening in 1985, closed its doors in March 2017. It was located at 1306 University Boulevard.

Every generation of University of Alabama students has its favorite hangouts, those iconic places like the Corner Store and Vinyl Solutions that bring back fond memories.

Because Tuscaloosa is a larger city than Auburn or other college towns, it has seen numerous downtown businesses come and go.

While we couldn’t possibly mention them all, we gathered photos to represent seven Tuscaloosa landmarks lost to time. These places are from different eras of the university’s history. If you have photos or information to add, email [email protected].

The Corner Store on Bryant Drive was demolished in 2013.

Bama-Bino Pizza

This popular hangout was opened by Fran Viselli in 1980 on University Boulevard. He went on to open four other locations of the restaurant, which was known for giving out plastic cups with its logo and an elephant mascot. Bama-Bino closed in 1991 after the business was boycotted by UA’s well-known “Machine” when Viselli’s son ran for SGA president in 1988.

The Corner Store was a grocery and convenience mart located on Bryant Drive. It opened in 1946 and was demolished in 2013.

The Chukker

The Chukker was opened as a small dive bar and pool hall in 1956 by Bill Thompson, aka “Chukker Bill,” according to AL.com’s Ben Flanagan.

The bar, named for a polo term, was located at 2121 Sixth Street. In 1974, it was expanded to include a stage under the ownership of Bob Callahan and Lewis Fitts. It was known for a colorful mural on an interior wall lovingly named the Sistine Chukker.

When Bruce Hopper bought the bar in 1980, he began booking live bands regularly. The bar’s ownership changed hands several more times before it closed in 2002. The bar reopened briefly in 2003. The building was demolished in 2007.

Each year, a Chukker Meetup is held for people who worked or played music at the club, or simply enjoyed spending time there.

The Corner Store

Vinyl Solution

This filled-to-the-brim, hole-in-the-wall record store was opened in 1980 by George Hadjidakis at 502 13th Avenue, according to AL.com’s Matt Wake. Hadjidakis used “his personal collection of about 400 records as the store’s first stock,” Wake said. The store was relocated in 1986 to 1207 University Boulevard. It was a popular hangout for music buffs until 2004, when it closed.

Kwik Snak

This diner-style restaurant with a counter and tables served sandwiches and soup, according to AL.com’s Ben Flanagan. The popular eatery was located on University Boulevard next to Solomon’s. This go-to spot for students was run by Sam McGee. It closed in the early 1990s.

Tut’s Place

Tut’s Place, a Tuscaloosa staple since opening in 1985, closed its doors in March 2017. It was located at 1306 University Boulevard, which has seen plenty of redevelopment over the years. “Longtime customers would rave about the calzones, pizzas and sandwiches,” Flanagan wrote. Tut’s was established by Abdul Albaradei. It was later purchased by Matt Tanner, who called it Philly Boyz.

Bachelor’s III/Joe Namath’s Restaurant

Joe Namath, one of the Crimson Tide’s most iconic football players, was also a restaurateur with businesses in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, as well as New York, Massachusetts, Florida and other states.

His Tuscaloosa eatery was initially called Bachelor’s III, after Namath’s New York club. Eventually, the name was changed to Joe Namath’s restaurant. It served dishes such as steak and prime rib and was located at 607 15th Street East.