Alan Crawford

Another oasis in our community was Van’s Buttonwood Inn over on Route 52, just a little bit west of the intersection with Route 300. In the days of my youth this was one of the “go to” places for dining out with the family, or that someone special.

So, why was it named “Van’s”? It was for the family’s surname, Van Benthuysen. Joseph and William Van Benthuysen were the proprietors. They offered up scrumptious family meals while also hosting festive parties like those lasting all night long on New Year’s Eve!

They had a great run, but after a little over a decade, the decision was made to move on and the business changed hands, becoming the Route 52 Steak Inn, hosted by Ed Cummings, with Joe Doupona preparing some of the best meals in the area. Some of you may remember him for the La Stop, which was one of my favorite hangouts in the day. In fact, the summer I turned 18, myself and a buddy set out on a quest which was to sample every drink in the Boston Bartender’s Guide. We began at “A” and tried two of every cocktail, in alphabetic order until we reach the last page. No, this wasn’t a one weekend endeavor and lasted into the winter of that year.

The Route 52 Steak Inn also featured music, including what might be considered one of the early forms of karaoke where everyone could sing along. Sundays were centered on those individuals who had worked Friday and Saturday nights serving everyone else.

By the late 1970’s, the venue changed again, becoming Whiskey River. I remember it was a hopping place with the coldest beer in the area. Well, at least to me and a few friends, the Michelob couldn’t get any colder, especially on a hot summer night. Louie and Silvio made this all possible.

Next, in the early 1980’s, the venue transformed into Mickey’s, or Mickey’s Place, with Mickey Ruggerio hosting. Again, many fond memories from employees and customers can be heard on the Mahogany Ridge trail.

And then, in 1988, Il Cena’colo was established by Sali Hadzibrahimi from New York City. Great food with a stellar interior. Rita provides a warm welcome to everyone who walks down the steps into an elegant dining experience. I love the artwork by Cricket Carin!

I hope I didn’t miss any of the establishments which have graced this location, as well as those who provided our community with an oasis to rest our weary bodies and souls.