There’s a good reason for the family atmosphere at Happy Days Pancake House. It is family-owned by wife-husband Laura and Tim Ballinger, above. They are with sons Parker, 9, and Colton, 11, at the lobby of the restaurant. Several family members work there, too.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Soon after Southsiders Tim and Laura Ballinger had purchased the former Edwards Drive-in about a year ago, they sat down at their Southside home and thought about renaming the iconic site that was founded in 1957.

“We wanted to keep it with a ‘50s and ‘60s theme and were disappointed that the wall decorations on the inside of the building weren’t included in the sale, but the cars on the outside of the building (south wall) would remain; that sealed the deal (because) it would be a ‘50s joint,” Tim said. “But we didn’t have a name for it.”

That’s when their 10-year-old son Colton, a student at Edgewood Elementary School in Franklin Township, entered the picture.

There were several names kicked around on the table, including Cruisers, Rock ‘n Roll, Happy Days, Big Bopper, all ‘50s themed. Colton looked over the list and pointed to Happy Days. Not only did it stick, but Colton went to the computer and designed a new colorful logo.

Laura’s only stipulation was that it also be identified as a “pancake house” to attract morning patrons - a big transition from Edwards Drive-In’s reputation for serving lunch and dinner sandwiches, including tenderloins and coney dogs.

That’s how Happy Days Pancake House at the corner of Sherman Drive and Raymond Street was named.
With its new varied menu, the restaurant is all family, too. Laura and Tim are co-owners. Laura’s mom, Norma, prepares the meat loaf and various soups daily, including a tasty chili on Thursdays and Saturdays. Daughters Andrea and Erica also work there.

The Ballingers split their workday, making sure one of them is on site, while one picks up Colton, now 11, and younger brother Parker, 9, from school.

Happy Days Pancake House has been open for nine months, daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays until 8 p.m., closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They have 18 loyal and enthusiastic employees.

“There aren’t many restaurants left that serve breakfast and sit-down dining; my wife has always been involved with breakfast places,” Tim said. “So this worked out perfect for us, especially to close at four o’clock so we would have time with the kids.”

Laura has extensive restaurant experience that began as a student at Beech Grove High School (Class of 1999) as a busser, waitress, manager and eventually co-owner. She worked at popular restaurants on the eastside - the Sunshine Café, Lincoln Square, and Blueberry Hill where she was co-owner there and later at a gyro shop on the westside.

Tim is a retired 17-year Marion County Sheriff’s deputy and served three years security at Eskenazi Hospital. He is a Howe High School alumnus where he played baseball. He has coached baseball, basketball, and football at Christian Park. He is a former carpenter who worked in Indiana, California, and Texas for several years.

“My main goal was to make this a pancake house because that’s what I’m used to,” Laura said. “This transition was real easy. We knew the business and just had to change the kitchen here. You stick to what you know best.”

On a recent Saturday around noon, Laura greeted diners and guided them to their tables. The restaurant was at capacity with plenty of conversation and good food, including their daily specials. They offer a big variety of breakfast items plus reasonably priced entrees, sandwiches, and burgers plus a $5.99 kids’ menu. Their Manhattan (beef, turkey, pork tenderloin, or country fried steak) covers the plate and is served on Texas toast. All served any time of day.

“We are blessed to have the best cooks; I’ve got one who is known as the ‘egg man,’” Tim said. “When the cooks found out we were opening a restaurant, they came to us. Some had worked with Laura before. She had all the connections.”

Tim and Laura and the wait staff take pleasure in meeting the diners.

“I’m used to talking to people; it doesn’t hurt a thing to talk to people,” Tim said. “People who come here like to talk with our servers, too. Obviously, I get to meet a lot of people here. This is a lot of work, but it is very enjoyable.”
​
Laura added, “They (diners) say it feels like home here. Everybody is so sociable, likeable, and nice; you don’t get that at a lot of places.”

Happy Days Pancake House is a busy place as waitresses take cooked meals to diners. Special items of the day are posted above the opening. The restaurant is in the former Edwards Drive-In building at the corner of Sherman and Raymond on the Southside.

​Co-owner Tim Ballinger is with employee Ashley Weaver with the whiteboard that shows daily specials to diners when they walk into Happy Days Pancake House. The restaurant employs 18 people and is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays until 8 p.m.

​A familiar sight on the southside of Happy Days Pancake House is the two cars of the ‘50s that remained on the building when it was purchased. The popular car theme is revived with the tradition of car shows this spring. Although the juke box is not inside, the rock ‘n roll tunes of the ‘50s and ‘60s still are heard on speakers throughout the restaurant.

These ladies socialize as they work out in the Armstrong Pavilion weight room.

By Steve Page
Correspondent

DECATUR TOWNSHIP – Don Coleman finished his weight-room workout inside Armstrong Pavilion.
He was accompanied by several friends, all senior citizens.

They spent much of their time walking repeated laps of the eighth-mile, rubberized track inside the massive building on the Decatur Central High School campus. They then moved to the weight room, where they worked out on some of the array of machines and stations.
Coleman smiled.

“This is the bar without being a bar.”

That, says Nick Jenkins, is just part of what the pavilion is all about.

“The majority of our members are senior members,” said Jenkins, DC Athletic Supervisor and director of the pavilion who is also a varsity assistant for the baseball team. “It’s a close-knit group that comes in. It’s a family-friendly environment. When school’s out, some bring in their grandkids. They’ll play basketball while the adults walk.”

The pavilion is more than a facility for the community. Much more.

“It’s a community center,” noted Justin Dixson, DC’s Director of Athletics. “It gives people the opportunity to get out of the weather. They maintain their health and can build friendships.

“It’s not only great for the community, but it’s another facility for our athletes.”

The pavilion, with a huge open area in the middle, was erected by the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township in 1989.

It is dedicated to Marvin “Pete” Armstrong (1927-88), who was a student, teacher, coach, counselor and administrator for Decatur Township Schools, a span that lasted 32 years.

It’s quite the facility.

Circumventing the open area that is 215 feet long by 115 feet wide is the rubberized eighth-mile track. Inside the track, which is cordoned off by large curtains, is the multi-purpose floor that has two full-sized basketball courts. Near the entryway is the weight room, full of weights and lifting machines. There are restrooms, locker rooms and a room for trainers. DC has even used the facility for indoor track meets.
And it’s open to the public, Monday through Friday, from 5:30 a.m. to noon. The remainder of the time is devoted to Decatur Township schools.

Memberships are $125 per year for adults, $75 for seniors, $50 for college students and $30 for middle and high school students.

“We offer payment plans,” notes Jenkins.

Area residents are buying into those memberships.

“It’s great for the township to have this here,” said Mike Stoval, one of those senior members. “I drove a forklift for 36 years. I joined this on the month I retired. I gave myself a week. I was sitting down too much.
“I have neuropathy of the feet, so I need to keep moving. Walking does me good. Plus, it’s air-conditioned.”
Coleman echoed those sentiments, saying, “I’ve got COPD, so I’m on oxygen. The doctor told me I needed respiratory rehab. So I’m here. I knew these guys. We go to see car shows together. So I decided to try it.
“I see improvement. It works out. It’s fun to hang out with your buds.”

“They welcome new members,” said Jenkins. “They’re always ready to help. As a new guy coming in, they welcome you, so you’re happy to be there.”

Two of those veteran members, Norma Gaston and Ken Almon, concurred.
“This is a wonderful building,” Almon said.

“It’s very, very generous of the school to let their patrons use it. It was built for this purpose, for school and student uses. The community has gotten a lot of use.”

Gaston started coming to the facility when she was teaching at Decatur.
“When I was teaching, I would get up, come over here, work out, go back home, take a shower and go to work,” she said. “When I retired, they gave me a lifetime membership to the pavilion. I use it as much as my schedule allows.”

And the pavilion’s schedule allows.

“It’s for the athletes when they can’t be out on the field,” said Dixson. “It’s definitely a busy facility. Tennis, track, cross country – they all use it. It’s multi-purpose. It’s a nice floor for them, and we can do softball and baseball stuff in there.”
​
“Everybody gets their own time.”

This plaque, denoting the dedication of the Armstrong Pavilion, greets visitors to the facility.

The main room in Armstrong Pavilion dwarfs Athletic Supervisor Nick Jenkins and Allan Perry as they erect a screen to protect baseball pitchers throwing batting practice.

​Ken Almon and Norma Gaston enjoy their walk on the Armstrong Pavilion rubberized track.