From the 1970s to the 1990s, Boodler’s Place was the center of teen and family social life in Coal City.
Featuring homemade food, including the world-famous Boodler’s Pizza Burger, this small, family owned restaurant provided jobs, sustenance and a place to gather where you could always have a great conversation with an old friend or make a new friend.
Opened in 1970 by Wayne and Rosemary Neal, what started as an idea transformed into a Coal City institution that is still fondly remembered in Internet posts and blogs.
An impromptu reunion of Boodler’s boys and girls will take place at Carbon Hill Park from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 31, said Dave Neal, son of Rosemary and Wayne (Boodler himself) Neal.
“For the longest time, we have been encouraged to get people together,” Neal said. “We are planning the second annual Dede Neal Breast Cancer Awareness event for later that day. We have a great location and we have live music and refreshments, so we decided to have an impromptu reunion.
“Dede was a former manager of Boodler’s and would have loved the idea of including this as a part of her special day.”
Since this has been decided only recently, Neal is seeking the public’s help in getting the word out to anyone who worked at Boodler’s or, for that matter, spent enough time there to earn the title of “regular.”
“We will be making Boodler’s Pizza Burgers while they last, and it should be a fun time for all,” Neal said.