As Mr. Henderson hosed off the concrete picnic tables outside and the small eat-in area, he told a little of The Jug's history. The late Bert Lawler, former publisher of the Middletown Journal, opened the first Jug on Main Street in 1932 and the second one on Central Avenue in 1939. He closed the Main Street site in the mid-1940s, but the Central Avenue location thrived and will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, Mr. Henderson said. On most days, the mid-morning smell of raw onions and frying burgers wafting through the air draws the lunch crowd. That's when the place starts hopping.
Customers come in trucks, vans, luxury cars and jalopies.
And some carry away large bags of food. Some area businesses often order 40-50 burgers at a time. He has stopped in daily for more than 40 years to eat a hamburger and socialize. I worked here for a while when Dick first bought it to help him out. Many have been highly successful and still stay in touch.