Bert's

Wooden
Indian

Reminiscing

A Trip Down Memory Lane



Bert’s Bar·B·Q was started by Bert and Julia Sebastian in 1947. Bert, while in the Navy during World War II, had a dream of starting his own business. He came home after the war and worked at Koppers for a couple of years during which time he never lost sight of his dream. In time, he was able to buy a piece of land on Riverside Drive, across from the Beaver River. He then sold his car to buy cement blocks and a bicycle and proceeded to build the original Bert’s Bar B.Q. Julia decorated it with kerosene lamps, coffee grinders, and she painted everything with a Johnny Appleseed theme. They started out serving just ham and pork bar B.Q.’s, hand cut fries, mugs of root beer, large sundaes, and ice cream floats. A lot of people helped along the way, especially Bert’s sisters, Virginia and Annie, and Julia’s sister, Frances. Their two small sons, Dave and Alex, helped out on weekends, filling the restaurant’s kerosene lamps and washing their globes.

In 1957 a new highway forced them to relocate to the present location. Due to time limitations, they once again had to improvise. Using their new house plans as the format for the new restaurant, they decorated in a country store theme, giving birth to the Wooden Indian name.

In 1968, when Alex returned from a tour of duty in the Navy, he proposed an upscale restaurant to the family. They accepted and began what was to become the Wooden Angel. The name came about because of Julia’s love and collection of angels. In 1985, in keeping with the times, the Casual Cafe was added to the sight, bringing to three the number of Sebastian restaurants at their one location.

Today their two sons, Alex and David, strive to maintain their legacy and succeeding they are. There is something indefinable about the Sebastian family’s restaurants ... something beyond the good food and outstanding wine. The secret seems to be part family, part good business practices, and part genuine care for the customer. It is a quality which predictably leads to success.


The Original Bert's Bar·B·Q
The start of it all.


The founder
"Bert" Sebastian


Inside of the original Bert's Bar·B·Q
Note the Juke Box.
Anyone want to Dance?


Note the Hires rootbeer barrel and mechanical cash register.
Wish we had them today!
If only we had known their future value!


Alex and David Sebastian
Learning the business at an early age.
Talk about future valuables long gone,
how about that Woody Station Wagon.


The then new replacement
to the original Bert's Bar·B·Q,
the Wooden Indian.

 

 

 

Wooden Indian

Tuesday - Thursday
11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 		Friday - Saturday
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 		Sunday
Noon - 9:00 p.m.
308 Leopard Lane - Beaver - PA         Phone 724-774-7992

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