It’s been over two years ago since I’ve done a stomach-turning and awkward edition of the ever-popular MBIP post: Can I Eat My Lunch In Here?
The last one we did was in May of 2019 when we were kicked out of Tada. But to their credit, they did invite us back after the fact and we had a nice lunch there.
The pandemic kind of knocked this post on its head for the last year, but I’ve decided to mask-up and revive this always unsettling idea for a post today.
So let’s go get lunch and see where we can eat it here in Peoria!
Our destination for today is on Main Street, so I thought I’d pick up a chicken lunch at Jr’s Kitchen, but the place was closed.
I should’ve taken this as a bad sign and just gone back home, but I soldiered on and went a couple doors down to…
Haddad’s Restaurant! There’s the pretty owner of Haddad’s, Nadil and she’s going to make me a luncheon sandwich.
And through the miracle of these here interwebs, there it is in my car and we can take off for this luncheon adventure!
Now we’ll cruise on down Main Street to Peoria Township, the destination of this post’s Can I Eat My Lunch In Here?
I pass by this place every day on my way to work and I’ve always been curious as to what it is they do in here.
They say that they “serve Peoria” on their sign, so I’m guessing they’ll be happy to let me eat my lunch in here and maybe even take some photos and explain to me what goes on in here.
The sign says to go to the parking lot entrance and so away we go!
Well, that ended up being a trio of awkward Can I Eat My Lunch In Here moments.
I went through my Can I Eat My Lunch In Here spiel to a woman behind the front desk who just looked confused at my request and she pawned me off to another woman.
I then asked the second woman about eating my lunch in there and after more awkward and uncomfortable moments, she said she’d have to call another woman for me to talk to.
And so I explained to a third confused looking woman that I just wanted to eat my lunch in their place of business and I handed her my business card.
After listening to me, she looked at the card and said, “I’ve never heard of you.”
Well, that hurt, but I continued on explaining that I just wanted to eat my lunch in there and take a few photos.
She told me that she’d have to research me and once again she told me that she had never heard of me.
At this point the awkward meter had kind of blown up and I said that I had better leave and she looked relieved.
I always have a back-up plan when I do these and so it’s on to stop number two!
My back up plan was this used car place on Main Street, Benedict’s Auto Sales.
They’re right across the street and I figured that they’d be happy to get some free publicity, so I took my lunch and walked over to their sales lot.
This is the owner of Benedict’s Auto Sales, Carl.
He never did fully understand about me wanting to eat lunch there and told me that Peoria laughs behind his back. I didn’t understand what that meant and told him that he didn’t have to worry about me, I’d laugh right in front of his face.
That kind of went over his head.
There was a gentlemen sitting in a chair in the lot drinking a Pepsi and I said hi to him and asked if he worked there.
He said no, but Carl said he was the General Manager.
There was a chair next to him and I asked if I could sit in it and eat my lunch and he laughed and said I was more than welcome to.
Finally it looked like the tide was turning and I was going to be able to eat this stupid lunch and get this goddamned post over with!
So I sat down and then asked him if I could take his picture and he got pretty upset over this.
“Why on earth would you want to take my picture?” He asked while standing up out of his chair in a most annoying manner.
“It’s just for my blog,” I answered. “Look, if you don’t want your picture taken, how about if you take one of me?” I asked while extending the MBIP Camera in his reach.
Well this really set him off for some unknown reason.
“I’m about ready to haul your ass out of here,” he replied in angry tones.
“Why?” I shot back.
“Because you’re acting weird. I’m about ten seconds from hauling your ass out of here,” he continued and now he seemed very angry.
The whole situation was very weird and I stood up and said, “Hey if you don’t want me here, I’ll just leave.”
He told me that that was a good idea and so I left before things escalated further.
Wow, this is the most awkward and uncomfortable Can I Eat My Lunch In Here Episode ever!
If you’re ever on Main Street and you feel like you have nowhere to go, there’s only one thing to do…
Head on over to the Costume Trunk!
You’re always welcome here and owner Steve Spain is one of the nicest guys in town!
After I told him about my two failed luncheon attempts on Main Street he kindly brought out a chair and told me that he’d be happy to let me eat my lunch in The Costume Trunk.
Whew, what a relief!
Here’s my lunch, I got a pork chop sandwich from Haddad’s.
And of course since we’re in the middle of a pandemic I ate it with a mask on.
The sandwich was delicious. The pork chop was juicy and flavorful and the bun was bakery fresh.
It always feels like a holiday in The Costume Trunk and Halloween will be here before you know it and this is a definite stop for all your Halloween needs.
Steve also has a space next door packed with costumes and other paraphernalia and you can see photos of that space by clicking here.
Steve is also an expert when it comes to The Wonderful World Of Disney. He’s written this book and The Peoria Riverfront Museum had a special curation of his Disney collection.
Thanks to Steve Spain and The Costume Trunk for saving the day after two failed attempts in this latest episode of Can I Eat My Lunch In Here?
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The Costume Trunk
710 West Main Street
Peoria
309-637-4234
facecrack page
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