Every now and again I think about going to Bit of Sweden with my dad and
Grandmother (Margaret Fister Hartley) as a child. Grandmother's parents
Ben and
Mary were from Norway, and Grandmother's mysterious maternal grandfather,
Gustav Andersson Bergehoin, was from Sweden.
As a kid I never thought to ask Grandmother if this was like the food her mom cooked, although I always assumed it was.
 |
| Bit of Sweden featured in a 1953 Food Basket ad (talk about blast from the past). "Another Food Basket "Super Service" Mary Morgan reveals first of Famous-Restaurant Recipes; This Week: "Bit of Sweden," advertisement, San Diego Union, 22 Jan 1953; Genealogybank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 8 Aug 2015). |
 |
| They sold shoes beginning about 1965! "Shoe Sales in a Restaurant?," advertisement, San Diego Union, 6 Feb 1970, p. 23; Genealogybank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 8 Aug 2015). |
 |
| I likely ate his cooking when I went to Bit of Sweden. "Harry Prather Succumbs at 87," obituary, 18 Feb 1980, page 24; Genealogybank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 8 Aug 2015). |
I wonder if this Chicago Bit of Sweden was from the same people? So now I wonder, did Grandmother eat there in Chicago? She did work in Chicago in the 1930's as a secretary, where she met and married my grandfather George Hartley, Jr (1907-1977):
 |
| "Favorite Swedish Dishes Provide Changes," San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram, 15 Apr 1936, page 9; Genealogybank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 8 Aug 2015). |
 |
| Image of the Bit of Sweden's entrance from Dan Soderberg's 2007 blog post Little Sweden, where he commented: "I remember when Bit Of Sweden at 2850 El Cajon Blvd. was open for business. I probably ate there. It is now a banquet facility for rent. And sometimes it is also referred to as Vasa Hall or Club." |
 |
| A shadow of its former self. On the corner of El Cajon and Utah. From Google Maps Street View, March 2015. |
You can get a similar food experience now at Ikea. I love this kind of food, and I suspect you can go to Illinois and Minnesota and find places like this now. Scandinavian smorgasbords are hard to find here in San Diego.
Now I'm really hungry.
© 2015 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.
Rays real name was Ragmar, I remember him very fondly when I trained a couple doors down at College Karate at 60th & El Cajon Blvd in '67, very nice people and very underrated food selection.
ReplyDeleteI trained at College Karate too and would go in afterwards for a slice of cheesecake with a cherry on top and some sauce. Good memories.
DeleteThere was no financial connection to House of Sweden at El Cajon & Utah Street, just the food, always wondered if Rays Tennis in North Park belonged to Ragmar as he wa very into tennis, I miss him.
ReplyDeleteMom and I loved this place when I was growing up. Many wonderful meals and memories in that building. :)
ReplyDeleteRemember most Holliday's and when we would have company. It was either Bit of Sweden, Nordic Inn or Chuck Wagon..
ReplyDeleteRemember most Holliday's and when we would have company. It was either Bit of Sweden, Nordic Inn or Chuck Wagon..
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Highland, California. I had a great aunt who lived in San Diego. When I was a kid, we would drive down and visit her once or twice a year. And these trips often included a visit to the Bit of Sweden restaurant. BTW, that was in the 70s and very early 80s. I'm currently visiting San Diego and wondered if this was still open. Sadly, apparently it isn't. But I still have my fond memories of the place! RIP!
ReplyDeleteMy parents, Bengt and Kerstin, owned Bit of Sweden for over 35 years until it was closed due to my father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. So fun to see some of this and learn more of its history.
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Rodger Chris Gade, I believe my uncle Chris Gade was a chef at your restaurant my father's name was Herman gade, Chris's younger brother, our real last name is Nielsen supposedly Chris changes name to Gade because someone in the same name in army. Those photos in the paper with a food consultant is my Uncle Chris
DeleteWe loved getting a hearty lunch at Bit of Sweden as construction workers in the late seventies. Great food and great memories.
ReplyDeleteMy Navy buddy, John Noonan, dated a lovely girl who worked there (Syn0ve... "Sin-er-va), and we LOVED going there for the excellent food and pretty girls... ha ha.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add my name - Tom Dailey in Sedalia, CO
Delete