Massillon - Volume 1
HOME is where the heart is.
This is a collection of locations that fall squarely under the "if you know, you know" category. These places are certainly a part of myself, not to mention the history of Tigertown. Near & dear pieces of home that I happen to be quite fond of. Let's take a look shall we? Visit the bottom of this page for links and info please!
Howard's Tiger Rags. This establishment has been around since before I was even born, and is a core piece of Massillon's very history, hands-down. They are the home of Massillon pride, a store that makes all of our Massillon Tigers merch, let alone a lot of other hometown activities they are involved in. We absolutely love them, and it's certainly a 2nd home for our Obie.
Smiley's Italian Ristorante. This restaurant has contributed greatly to my big, round belly over the years, and it's extremely unlikely (unless you don't like Italian food of course) that you live here and haven't had this food. Papa Smiley, Sicilian born, opened the business in 1996. He isn't there anymore as he retired, but it's still well in business. Proper, freshly hand made, real Italian food. I couldn't tell you lifetime total how much money I've spent here.
Kozmo's. Another place I personally love very much, a true "if you know, you know" situation! Kozmo's opened around 2005, and from the outside you get that hole in the wall vibe, but this bar & grille has an undeniable atmosphere, and just so much good food. I include it on this list because it's probably one of my favorite food places in town for such a long time, and it is strictly a Massillon thing.
John George's. This a convenience store, drive-thru, and fresh-food deli market all in one. One of the standouts is a local-only legend, one which has even made the papers a few times over the years. The Double Trouble. I apologize to keep repeating this phrase, but again, "if you know, you know." Another place that is core Massillon history, believe it or not, opened in 1957. This is another one that only locals really know about, it is simply a piece of home!
Top Of The Viaduct. Do you notice a theme here? I mention lots of food places because, well, I LOVE food, and yes ur town has some of the best of the best. Top Of The Viaduct, founded in 1977 and named precisely for its location, really is your small, classic hole in the wall place that has that has a cozy atmosphere, and delicious food. This staple of everyday life in Massillon is exactly where you need to go for a home cooked breakfast for sure. It's doubtful there are too many who have lived here for any length of time that DON'T know all about Top Of The Viaduct.
Bier Banc. Just a quick drive-thru convenience store and check-cashing spot. Why would I include such a place in my list? Other than being around for a long time in the heart of downtown Massillon, they have never shied away from rocking their Massillon Tiger pride. They always rock Obie all over the place, and have a lit graphic display sign below their own always promoting hometown events. Usually where I go if I need to pick up some cold beverages on the way home. I list them here because they are a place that locals probably pass by at some point every single day.
Drifterz. This is one of our smaller, local bars that has been around for a long time, founded in 2006 and still kickin'. Approaching two decades in business, this was a bit of a staple of my younger years. I used to hang out here with friends and co-workers to shoot pool and unwind with a beverage or two. My best friend's parents happen to live directly across the street, so that helped. This was never the sort of place you should expect problems, just a very chill place with, I swear, the coolest carpet. I always loved that!
Your Pizza Shop. Ok, this one I took a couple quick shots of for my own gratification. Unlike the other restaurants I mentioned, this one is not exclusive to just Massillon, but I included the Massillon location just because this is one of my favorite pizza places ever, though our local "Pizza Oven" is a second, and of course, Smiley's makes wildly delicious pizza too. Still, the Your Pizza Shop in Massillon is just so damn delicious, I couldn't resist. This location is just outside of downtown Massillon but still on Lincoln Way.
The Cameo Grill. I admit, 20-something years ago, while working midnights, it was a regular stop for me on my way home for the ol' "beer & eggs" kind of breakfast, but as I grew away from that, Cameo became an occasional stop for one particular treat: The Cameo Burger. Nobody, anywhere I have ever travelled in my life, can beat that monster of a burger, ridiculously delicious. The Cameo Grill has been around since 1944, so they are certainly a historic piece of Massillon, and there is truly not a bad option anywhere on their menu for delicious food.
