Chronology:
1920 - The steamed hamburger is created in Missoula, Montana by Carroll Dietz. *
1924 - Dave Higgin created the tavern sandwich in 1924 at his restaurant, Ye Old Tavern.
1926 - Muscatine resident and founder of the Maid Rite restaurant franchise created his version of the loose meat sandwich.
1927 - The Maid Rite restaurant chain is established.
1934 -
Abraham, or Abe Kaled purchased Ye Old Tavern, renamed it Ye Olde Tavern and
created his own formula for the loose meat sandwich, calling it the Ye
Olde Tavern Tavern.
Abe and his wife, Bertha sold the
sandwiches for a dime each in wax paper without a plate. They originally
bought the buns from a local bakery, the Iowa Baking Company, which was
later acquired by and renamed as Old Home Bakery. The buns were from
then on dual-sourced depending on bread quality. Because of
the restaurant's success, imitations started appearing, though they
were actually an imitation themselves, based on Dave Higgin's original
creation.
Later on, the restaurant went from just serving sandwiches to serving meals also. Abe's
sandwich creation was served at fundraisers, churches, restaurants, and
bars in and around the greater tri-state and Sioux City area.
Bertha sold the taverns at an event called Tavern Days, Ye Olde Tavern
Day which served 875 people in less than two hours. Their children
helped at the restaurant when Bertha became ill. The restaurant closed
in 1974 because of Bertha's failing health; none of their children were
interested in operating it.
At some point during its history Ye Olde Tavern sold the recipe for their famous tavern sandwich to the owner of Coney Island. Coney Island has been using it ever since. They currently use it for their tavern or loose meat sandwiches at the Hamilton Blvd location.
1974 - Ye Olde Tavern closed. Some time after 1974 Gus's Family restaurant opened in the building at 14th and Jackson Streets in Sioux City, Iowa Ye Olde Tavern occupied. Gus's had their own recipe of the tavern sandwich.
April 2012 - Gus's Family Restaurant closed. Ending another era of tavern sandwiches. a new restaurant will open in the same location. It is unknown as to whether or not they will serve tavern or loose meat sandwiches.
* There is no document proof the loose meat, or steamed hamburger sandwich was created in Missoula, Montana in 1920, predating when it was first created in Sioux City, Iowa by Dave Higgin. There is documented proof it was first created in Sioux City in 1924. Inquiries have been made, to historical organizations, asking for proof showing it was first created in Montana in 1920. Such proof has yet to surface. Until then 1924 will stand as the year the loose meat or tavern was first invented in Sioux City, Iowa by Dave Higgin.
Definition of a tavern or loose meat sandwich:
The term loose meat is generic and encompasses pretty much all forms and
styles of the sandwich. It is more commonly known as the tavern, a
tavern has to be made a certain way for it to be defined as a tavern.
Here is Wikipedia's definition: Wikipedia:
Tavern Sandwich
Here is another more accurate definition: ground beef prepared loose, not formed into a pattie, scooped onto a
bun, typically with an ice cream scoop and topped with, but not limited
to: mustard, ketchup, onion, pickle, even cheese and bacon. Tavern meat,
when cooked right, should have 2 distinct tastes: 1. seasoned, steamed
beef. 2. a light greasy taste. A true tavern
NEVER has any sort
of sauce or gravy added to it, whether tomato based or otherwise. Once a
sauce is added the sandwich is no longer a tavern and
CANNOT be called such. One other thing a true tavern or loose meat
NEVER has mixed in with the meat is rice. Once rice is added, it stops being a tavern or loose meat is becomes something else entirely.
