Childs Restaurant Shenango China Mug via Restaurant Ware Collectors Network
The terra cotta palace on the Boardwalk at 21st Street that was Childs Restaurant is one of Coney Island’s official New York City landmarks. Ornamented with fanciful nautical motifs of sea creatures, seashells, ships and King Neptune, the building remains a favorite of photographers, though it’s now vacant.
Since the restaurant closed more than 60 years ago, we’ve never had the pleasure of dining there. Yesterday we came across this delightful vintage coffee cup on Eater, where Greg Moribito posted “Remembering Childs, a Gem from Coney Island’s Golden Age.” His tribute features an abundance of photos, ephemera and historical info. But it was the 1930s Shenango china cup top marked “Childs” and marked on the inside with “This is ‘Beechnut’ Coffee” in script that caught our eye.
The cup must be a rarity because a web search for “Shenango China” and “Childs Restaurant” turns up mostly children’s china. Just to be clear, we’re talking about the Childs Restaurant, not the Children’s Restaurant. Here’s to a hot steaming cup of joe in a Childs cup! If you have one to spare, let us know.
Related posts on ATZ…
September 9, 2010: Thor’s Coney Island: Faber’s Fascination Goes Dark After 50 Years
February 25, 2010: Happy Belated Birthday to Coney Island’s William F Mangels
November 16, 2009: Rare & Vintage: Coney Island Sideshow Banner by Dan Casola
May 29, 2009: Astroland Star from Coney Island’s Space-Age Theme Park Donated to the Smithsonian
Amusing the Zillion 
my grandmother was a short order cook at Child’s down around Wall St.
Did she leave you any china? just joking…
btw Pattie, I came across a video on YouTube in which you were reading with a group of poets. It was called “The Last Poets of the Village.” You were fierce!
ha ha ha. i was wilder then and had more hair… lol
I have a silver plated coaster or possibly a nut dish from Childs Restaurant late 1800’s 1900’s are there any more out there?
Would love to have this piece on display in the restored Childs Restaurant on Coney Island. Please contact me.