Younkers Tea Room is Going

Sorry to say that this is the last week in business for the estimable Younkers Tea Room of Des Moines. The home of the rarebit burger, great chicken salad, and sticky buns will be closing August 5. In its farewell article, The Des Moines Register published Younkers' recipe for the "Tea Room Rarebit Sauce" that made such great cheeseburgers:

1/3 cup cooking oil
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
2 cups 2 percent reduced-fat milk
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
1 cup shredded process sharp American cheese

Place oil in a medium saucepan. Stir together flour, paprika, salt and dry mustard. Add flour mixture to oil; cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce. Add cheese and stir until melted. Pour over burger with toasted bun on top. Makes 2 cups.

Sorry to hear another decent roadfood place closing... Yet thanks for sharing the recipe! Luckily they left something behind by sharing the recipe..

Sorry to hear the news.

It was just too good to last in downtown. I ate there many times when I was on a project in Des Moines, but the office workers in nearby financial district seemed to ignore the jewel they had in their midst.

The piano player in the middle of the dining room was a nice touch to make lunch peaceful and more enjoyable. And I did look forward to the hot sticky buns they put on the table.

Dearfolk,
That is sad indeed. I'm sorry to say that I never made it there.
Is the store remaining open, or is it closing as well? In recent years, this was the only place left in the U. S. (that I know of, anyway) with a working wooden escalator with a sign reading "electric stairs." - I think the thing was installed in some time like 1899 and remained in perfect working order with minimal maintenance.
On The Main Level, Mezzanino-Ort. Carlton in Thirteenth Floor Athens, Georgia.
P. S. At least they still make Mrs. Clark's Salad Dressing in Des Moines... or did a year or so ago. A friend brought a case of it back; his 102-year-old grandmother (who still cooks every day) may well be keeping them in business... she won't use ANYTHING else.

"great chicken salad".....

Any possibility of getting a recipe for that chicken salad?