This Is Framingham

This Is Framingham
Life in the ‘ham

Philbrooke’s Steakhouse

December 16th, 2007


As I do sometimes, I’ll be browsing on Ebay and do a search for Framingham to see if there is anything interesting.  I found a couple of things but I have to day this was an image that I actually thought “Woah” when I saw it.
All the info on the listing for this postcard is just that it was of a place called Philbrooke’s Steakhouse, Framingham MA, from the 60’s.  I would guess it was on route 9 but I guess it could have been be anywhere.

I find the photo interesting because, of course, the shape of the building  but also it makes me curious about the management.  I think it’s kind of funny how they chose this somewhat unflattering angle, exposing the basement door and utility pole almost in the middle of the picture.  Also noted is the unappealing wall of dirty snow in the foreground.  It’s an interesting composition and makes me wonder why they didn’t take a straight-on photo of the front door.  Was there something even uglier directly behind the steakhouse?  Or maybe Ken’s was in the background? Was there a reason why they didn’t wait until spring or pay someone to get rid of the blackened snow for this photoshoot?

Anyway, if anyone ever ate or worked at this place, I’m curious to hear what the inside and overall experience was like at Philbrooke’s Steakhouse.

Posted in What the Framingham?, Flashback |

11 Comments »

  1. M~

    It was great remeeting you last night! It was fun taking a trip down memory lane.

    Love the site! Lots of great memories here too.

    :)
    K

    Comment by Gruppie Girl — December 16, 2007 @ 9:51 pm

  2. Just spoke to my brother in New Hampshire on the phone while visiting your site. He tells me that Philbrook’s was on Rt 9 somewhere near Farley’s Meadows at the time. He could not remember the exact spot.

    Comment by Michael — December 16, 2007 @ 11:26 pm

  3. If my memory serves me correctly, it is Downtown, on 135, across from the empty stretch between the old and new train stations. The building behind it is now Republic Building Supply, at the time of the picture Republic would have been a Supermarket. In the early 80’s it was a bar called The Dome, I remember it being a used car dealer after that. I am not Downtown a lot any more, but I believe it is the Magic Oven now.
    http://thisisframingham.com/?p=217

    Comment by JSM — December 17, 2007 @ 12:56 am

  4. JSM is correct. The “Dome” was where the brazilian bakery is located across from the train station. I never knew it to be a steakhouse, however, it was a divey bar.

    Comment by AnnMarie — December 19, 2007 @ 3:28 pm

  5. Hello to all you Framinghamites The gentleman above is correct with his location and the fact that it was a dive bar, but the name of it was …”The Bubble”.
    Dave Byer and Mike Sholock …..Framingham NORTH class of “1980″

    Comment by Dave — December 20, 2007 @ 4:08 pm

  6. It was the Bubble

    Ihave a bumper sticker that says

    “forget your trouble at the bubble”

    Comment by Kevin O'Rourke — December 22, 2007 @ 10:41 am

  7. Kevin, that is awesome!

    Comment by michelle — December 22, 2007 @ 1:42 pm

  8. I remember that place very well, it was called the bubble and the cocktail napkins also had the saying “forget your troubles at the bubble” It was there in the early seventies and then it was a used car place, and then it was torn down and John and son bakery was put there, and then a take out place for home made? foods was in there, but after that I’m a little foggy. Great site. Thanx … Jimmy

    Comment by Jimmy Kelley — January 30, 2008 @ 7:45 pm

  9. It was still The Bubble Lounge in the early 80s … I was there.

    - Dave … FSC class of ‘83

    Comment by Dave — February 17, 2008 @ 10:38 pm

  10. I’m not disputing that it was there in the early 80s, I’m just giving a time frame of when I discovered the place in the early to mid 70s, it then became a used car lot and then was torn down to become John and sons bakery, and then if memory serves me it became a place where commuters could pick up ready made dinners, after that I’m a little foggy. Another note to long - time Framinghamites, that site is also within a few feet of the old Dixie Lee Diner, run by the Scagnelli Family.

    Comment by Jimmy Kelley — February 20, 2008 @ 9:16 pm

  11. The dome was on 135 across from the tracks just west of the old train station. I thought it was KANSAS CITY BEEF co!

    Comment by David J DeCenzo — June 13, 2008 @ 6:55 am

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