Clore's Coffee Club Lives On.

Some small town traditions die hard, and to that I say: thank goodness. Here in Gainesville, some 50 years ago or so, men's coffee clubs provided a major communications system for local businessmen. They provided a place to catch up on the latest news, gossip, obituaries. And they became major battle grounds during political campaigns, Some of the old, traditional coffee clubs have dropped by the wayside. Some have been reinstituted. Then there is the group referred to as Clore's. This group originally met at Clore's Restaurant which was located on Bradford Street, about a halfblock off the main square, right in the heart of old Gainesville. Charles and Dorothy Clore started that restaurant in 1963. The coffee club probably began about 1965, and it met there until Dot decided to hang it up a few years ago. It was a real trauma for the coffee club gang, the idea that Clores might close, but one of the long-timer workers at Clores kept it going. It was, however, moved way down to 857 South Bradford, close to the railroad station, and renamed Geneva's Place. No matter where it was located, or what the sign out front said, the coffee club was still called Clore's, and the same group continued to meet there. The club lost some of its members, regulars like Bub Dunlap and Bob Andrews. But there was still a goodly group holding fort on a regular basis: Carl Lawson, Milon Christman, Sid Smith, Wayne Staton, Jim DeLong, John Burl Hulsey, Ed Nivens, Ed Dunlap, Grady Michaels, Pierce Hancock,, and once in a while John Jacobs. I'm probably the newcomer in the group ... I've only been coming 20 years or so. There was a growing concern lately that Geneva might also hang it up. Then the other day came the good news. Young Tori is taking it over, and in more ways than one, the tradition will live on. You see, Tori is the wife of Johnny Clore, and the ghter-in-law of the original founders. The restaurant is called Tori's, but the coffee club goes by her last name ... Clore's Coffee Club is still in business.

This is Gordon Sawyer from a window on historic Green Street.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/1/97581