Over the last quarter century, Main Street Grill has changed in many ways, although its purpose has stayed remarkably consistent. The restaurant itself started as a tribute to the legacy of Abbott and Costello, and is now more recognized as a love letter to our community. Throughout its history, Main Street Grill has paid homage to more than just a couple of things, and it began with a simple vision in 2000.
Inspired by Hudson’s Hamburgers in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the restaurant opened under the name Who’s On First? on January 12th, 2000. The name was derived from the iconic skit by American comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and the interior design followed that baseball theme. Ken King was the pioneer behind this new Happy Day restaurant, and his wife, Christine King, was the first manager. Overflowing with memorabilia from the LCSC Warriors and championship trophies from the NAIA World Series, you could feel the tribute to our team in every piece of décor. King had old baseball footage running on 3 old televisions, and at the time, seating only consisted of 25 bar stools wrapped around the grill. “The dining area’s design encourages customers to mingle” stated Christine in an interview by the Lewiston Tribune.
The authentic LCSC baseball décor was donated to Happy Day by Ed Cheff, Hall of Fame coach for the Warriors, and the menu contained The Cheff Burger to commemorate him. The original menu was simple, serving hamburgers, hot dogs, pie, milkshakes, chips, and soft drinks. About a year after opening, the name was changed to Main Street Grill after discovering the niche reference wasn’t working the way they had hoped for, and that simple menu was expanded. This change brought breakfast items to the menu, alongside deli sandwiches, fish and chips, and bite-sized steak.
Surprisingly, these drastic changes did not have an immediate effect on the décor and atmosphere. The baseball theme stayed with the new name, but guests slowly watched it fade as it began to come down over the years. In 2011, Bruce Finch and Ken King started Vet’s Lunch. With his military background, King felt personally inclined, so they sat down, invited a few friends, and shared a meal. This grew into the tradition we all know and love now, and sparked some big design changes. The Veteran’s Wall built a home in the main room, and eventually, the Luke Wullenwaber memorial wall appeared adjacent. The tribute paid by Main Street Grill shifted towards our Veterans and honoring their service and memory.
This transformation redefined the unique identity of Main Street Grill. It became a gathering place for veterans and families, any day of the month. The legacy morphed into something new and special. Something seemingly needed in our community. Over the next decade, the restaurant settled into its new identity. Besides an expansion to the other half of the building, which opened up the main dining room and the mezzanine, Main Street Grill stayed a quiet, consistent second home to many. The menu never strayed too far from comfort, and guests appreciated that some things simply don’t need to be changed. It was perfect as it was, until recently.
The beginning of 2026 marked when the diner became desperate for a much-needed remodel. It was difficult to say goodbye to the Vet’s Wall and similar mementos, but the story told by the walls began to once again change. The walls are now adorned with black and white photos of historic downtown Lewiston in celebration of the heritage of the area and to shine a different light on our community’s history. Lewiston’s Main Street is home to over 37 local businesses, but unfortunately, most aren’t able to stay long. The once bustling street has had a progressively hard time maintaining businesses, and Main Street Grill’s message is strong, “We believe in Downtown Lewiston”.
The legacy of Main Street Grill has always been strong and unwavering, even while the message shifts with time. Honoring our local baseball team and the community passion for NAIA turned into honoring our resident veterans and the freedom they’ve given us. The focus has always strongly been on our community and everything that it is and has been, and there’s a good chance this tradition will eventually evolve into something else. Time brings inevitable change and Main Street Grill has adapted and embraced this. Regardless of what time will bring, the grill will stand as a tribute to our community, in every way possible.
