When we started Eddie Papa’s American Hangout we were getting commercial ground beef from our meat supplier.  It was very good quality, but there was something missing.  We like our burgers medium or mediumrare— Juicy and tasty.

We’d been on the road all day. What should’ve been a five hour trip from Louisville to Memphis ended up being a nightmarish 10+ hour trip.

“The greatest generation was formed first by the Great Depression. They shared everything - meals, jobs, clothing.” Tom Brokaw!

WTH? Pyrophosphate? Blue 1? Corn syrup, Dextrose, Modified Cornstarch? 

These are ingredients for commercial marshmallows. Doesn't sound too appetizing does it?

New Englanders are different!

When we opened Eddie Papa’s American Hangout we knew that our menu was going to be all about American specialties and regional food.

There’s a fast food chain that insists that their “colonel” went to Nashville on a reconnaissance mission to find the best Nashville Hot Chicken.

When Ed Westmoreland, owner-proprietor of Eddie Papa’s American Hangout, was just a young man, he was a student at Cal— UC Berkeley.  And like all college students everywhere, less than efficient time management led to all night cramming sessions.

Then there's John Krause owner/ operator of Big House Beans in Antioch California. John's first act was not successful. Abandoned by his mother and losing his father by the age of four - John eventually found himself homeless, in the grips of addiction, leading a destructive life, and finally ending up in San Quentin prison as an inmate.

Once upon a time when an airline sold you a ticket to a destination it made sure you got there. Not anymore.

This is a story of a seven hour layover. It's also about giving customers what they want.