What do you get with a cow, a jug of whiskey, and the city’s “Cat?”

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Historic Markers, Uintah County, utah, Vernal

What do you get with a cow, a jug of whiskey, and the city’s “Cat?”

The 7-11 Ranch Restaurant, located directly across from you, is the oldest existing restaurant in Vernal. In 1933, Warren “Fat” Belcher sold a cow and bought a hot dog stand on South Vernal Avenue. Rising to the challenge of getting it moved to East Main Street, he bribed George Ramsey with a jug of whiskey to “borrow” the city’s “Cat,” (bulldozer) and moved the stand in the middle of the night. George took the bribe and the rest is history.

Warren and his wife, Daisy, operated their restaurant as the Grub Box until their new place was built in 1949. The café was named the 7-11 and sported four dice on its marquee, supposedly because Warren liked to gamble and shoot craps. It was also said that the Belchers wanted eleven children, but they only had seven.

One night a couple of men came in and after looking around, asked the waitress where the “Crap Room” was located. She hesitated a minute, then directed them to the men’s restroom. They came out looking very sheepish and left. The 7-11 Café is still owned and operated by one of Warren and Daisy’s daughters, Connie, and her husband, Jerry Pope.