10.09.2022
Vagabond Village | The End of an Era
Historic Truck Stop Diner Closing on Old US Route 24
Originally posted Oct. 8, 2022:
Visit the historic Vagabond Village before it’s too late! They are closing Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, after 72 years of service. Get there early tomorrow, as food is expected to run out. Today, it’s packed with locals sharing stories over coffee all day long. We ordered the biscuits and gravy and western omelet with Texas toast.
Vagabond Village history from the 1900s
This old-time eatery and truck stop dinner on Old Route 24 is a Northwest Ohio icon. Originally owned by burlesque dancer Flo Benson and her husband Herb in the early 1900’s, the Vagabond Village as it’s known today was started by Irwin and Margaret Rush in 1950. At one time, there were even pinball and slot machines because Irwin loved to gamble!
Thanks to an avid fan on our YouTube channel, we learned the pinball machines were mainly to entertain truck drivers, and they paid out money for certain scores. There were also 8-10 hotel rooms above the restaurant for them to stay overnight. (The staircase was in the hall by the restrooms.)
Back when Vagabond Village was a popular truck stop location along 24, it was so full of semis, you could hardly park there! The old gas pumps and station are still there today.
Conveniently nestled between Sherwood and Paulding, Ohio, it was left behind when the new Route 24 was built. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served, always at affordable prices and with homestyle service. Canned meats, Amish noodles, and other goods were sold there.
"The Vag" from the 1960s onward
In the late 1950s to early 1960s, there was a little gift shop to the right of the main entrance along the front wall. By the late 1960s, they had eliminated the gift shop and put a row of booths along the wall. By the 1970s, the hotel rooms were being used as supply rooms for the restaurant and gas station outside.
It’s a favorite among the locals… we hope the daily die-hard fans will find a new breakfast nook to share the daily gossip over! Note the old-style jut-out counters, designed for conversation and easy access for the wait staff.
It’s a popular destination today for shops and vendors during the “World’s Longest” 127 Yard Sales.
It’s for sale: Here’s to hoping the Vagabond Village Hobo continues his storied journey! Located at: 18187 US-127 Cecil, Ohio 45821.
When was the last time you ate here? Share your memories of the Vagabond Village in the comments below!
UPDATE: It has re-opened as The Paulding Pancake House, huge menu, good portions and food was great!
Very clean and great service! We will be going there often!!
Candice, thanks for sharing. We did see that and have actually tried out the Paulding Pancake House’s food. We went for Father’s Day and loved their breakfast. Huge portions and good prices with friendly service. We are so glad to see they re-opened with new ownership!
I used to work there, one of my first jobs back in 1975 – 1976. Boy does this brings back a lot of memories.
Denice Bailey Lawrence
Denice, it’s been amazing to see the comments between all our channels from so many people (hundreds!) with memories from the Vagabond… thanks for sharing yours and contributing to the story! The end of an era is sad, but the unity that comes from it is inspiring. We are proud to live in small town NW Ohio!
Wow we will miss this place. My cousins were waitresses, my husband worked at he gas station and his mom and sisters worked for the Vag it is an end to an era
Agreed! Wow, your family really has been quite involved. Thanks for their hard work! We were just there yesterday and went back today… it’s nice to see it so packed with locals telling stories and sharing memories! Makes us proud to live in a small town community. The end of an era we can all unite over. ♥️
Why isn’t anyone stepping up to keep the restaurant open?
That’s a good question. The owners want to retire and are ready to move on to the next stage of life. Running a restaurant comes with its own challenges (and expenses)… maybe someone will purchase it at auction and give it a second life!
Josh, in case you hadn’t heard, the Paulding Pancake House purchased it. So it’s now open and running. We went for Father’s Day and enjoyed their breakfast. Large portion sizes, good prices, and friendly service!
I ate at Vagabond several times. I really enjoyed working at 18 Wheeler Truck Stop across the road. Many good memories, lots of great people, and wonderful food. That’s where I met the love of my life.
Wow, Debbie! What a story! Thanks so much for sharing. We were just there yesterday and went back today… it’s nice to see it so packed with locals telling stories and sharing memories! Makes us proud to live in a small town community. The end of an era we can all unite over. ♥️