Hopkins Boarding House …
OK … I took these back about thirty years ago for Mrs. Hopkins, so technically they are not my father’s, but I thought that they were more relevant over here than over on my blog. I cannot remember why she had me do these and as you can tell, since the parking lot is practically empty, these were made on the one day that they were closed … Monday. I cannot tell you how many meals that I personally at here or how many meals that I carried out over a span of twenty or so years. For a span of several years back in 1981, 82 and some of 83, I lived only a couple of blocks from here on Spring and Barcelona Streets. This was the only restaurant that cooked and served liver that everyone seemed to enjoy. And everyone knew about the fried chicken! This place was around back in the 1940’s because my father used to tell a story of one of his friend’s that Mrs. Hopkins would not allow to eat there because he ate so much. I cannot attest to that because I used to see some guys eat so much, I do not know how they were able to walk away. Here are a couple of more views …
If these photos do not make your mouth water for some good home-cooked fried chicken, nothing will. I can not remember if the place closed before Ed Hopkins died or it closed soon after it passed away, but I am sure that someone out there knows. If I do not receive a dozen or so comments about these photos, I will be greatly disappointed. If you never ate here, going to Golden Corral and Ryan’s does not even come close these days. The one thing that I always liked was the fact you ate at a ” communal ” table with everyone. I always enjoyed talking to strangers, so it never bothered me, but my wife was never comfortable with it all that much. No, I am not going to run out to KFC or Church’s for a fried -chicken fix when I get through with this post. Thanks for looking and please check back … Frank
PS – I had one more of the north side of the house that I forgot to post earlier that showed the parking lot. It did not hold a lot of cars, so you ended up parking in front of someone’s house several blocks away and walking. The walk back to your car always took longer since you were always so full. Thanks … Frank
Frank Hardy Made My Photographs Two 
We almost lived next door at Ms. Anson’s home at 215 west DeSoto. Just out of the Navy 1969 and Hopkins was a place we could afford. Takeout was enough to feed us for 3 days. Great mouth watering chicken never had any better not to insult my Mom who could fry chicken with the best. Thank you for the pictures, brings back some great memories.
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JakeDonna Meyer
January 16, 2020 at 4:04 pm
Thanks for the memory and dropping by. Have ignored this site for the past several years but plan to get back to posting in a short while. I mostly post to my Instagram account … @frankphardy . I usually post several times a week to it so please check my feed. Thanks again….
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Frank Hardy
January 16, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Miss Hopkins!!!
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floridafirst
May 8, 2016 at 4:43 pm
She was nice …
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Frank Hardy
May 18, 2016 at 6:30 pm
OMG it’s not true. Returning to Pensacola after a 20 year hiatus only to see my favorite eating establishment in the WORLD closed…NOOOOOOO. This one hurt.
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Keith Schaedel
March 16, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Keith … Yes, it’s true and I feel your pain. I want to say that it has been at least ten years that since Hopkins Boarding House has been closed, maybe a few years longer. It was a sad day in Pensacola history. Mrs. Hopkins had died and her son, who was a successful local attorney, had kept it going for as long as he could. But he became sick and just could not keep it going, so he shut the restaurant down. The house was sold and that was it. No place has replaced Hopkins, but Pensacola has a lot of nice places to eat with the resurgence of Downtown Pensacola. So you will not go hungry on your return visit to Pensacola. If you need any advice, please ask. Thanks for taking the time to comment and feel free to share your favorite Hopkins meal with everyone. Please check back … Frank
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Frank Hardy
March 16, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Lived up Spring St (between Lee and Blount) from 51 to 69 so have many fond memories of Hopkins as well – and all of North Hill. Talking about fried chickens makes my mouth water even now. As I recall, the Chicken Box up near Martine’s also had good chicken. Did you ever get there? Love looking at your archives.
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Bob Ray (@tpabob46)
September 19, 2014 at 6:56 am
My wife’s mother lived at 9 West Desoto Street back then. In 1981, I lived at the corner of LLoyd and Barcelona in a two story red brick house for several years. It was convenient to everything and we really liked living there. Those were the good old days … Frank
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Frank Hardy
September 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Tuesday – Chicken & Dumplings, Wednesday – Fried Chicken, Thursday – Roast Beef. When I was in college (1968-1972), I worked downtown part-time and ate their every week. Mrs. Hopkins let me have a ‘meal ticket’. I could eat there Mon-Fri for $50/month. How sweet it was!!
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Charles Bass
July 3, 2014 at 10:13 pm
I do not think that the menu ever changed. It was a sad day when Ed Hopkins closed the business down. I want to say it was 2001 or 2002 when he closed it down. Thanks for looking and the comment. Please check back… Frank
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Frank Hardy
July 7, 2014 at 10:35 am
That was no doubt my parents. We often visited my father’s cousin and family who lived next door to your grandmother and your father.
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Mildred Buzbee
April 10, 2014 at 5:14 pm
I will look in the guest book from my grandmother’s funeral and find the name of the Masburn family that signed the book, but that sounds right. For a time, while my father still worked at the old Sacred Heart Hospital and had a room there when he worked, they shared a house either on Cervantes Street or on Gadsden Street I believe. Even though I had worked with him for thirty years, I did not hear a lot about this time period until later in his life, so it is all interesting to me. I will also find negative envelopes with Mashburn names and let you know who they are. Thanks again for commenting and I will email you at your ” buzbee57 “… Frank
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Frank Hardy
April 11, 2014 at 8:02 am
Frank I always loved “Hopkins House” to me that was THE BEST place to eat or take out! It was strictly a good ole Southern Place to eat. I do so wish they would come back! I miss them so very much! The BEST Fried Chicken in Pensacola, all their food was country soul food!! The atmosphere was so family oriented, everyone that came through those doors was made to feel like family! Their take outs dinners were so delicious and plenty of it. It was a great place and so convenient to call in from work and order your lunch and someone go pick up for everyone, and their prices were so reasonable! Frank it was so nice of you to post these photos, it really made my mouth water for some of that awesome fried chicken and all the southern trimmings that went with it! That was such a loss to Pensacola when they had to close down!!! They had some born and bred Southern cooks in there that could outcook so many Chefs. I do not think anyone can ever take their place!!!
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Glenda Marble Newsom
April 9, 2014 at 3:35 pm
Thanks for writing Glenda … I agree with everything you said! From what I have heard from several people that had worked at Hopkin’s for many years, the staff in the kitchen that did most of the cooking from frying the chicken and everything else, had all worked there for thirty years or so. The one thing about Hopkin’s that you could always depend on was that you knew exactly what you would be getting every time you went in to eat. Thanks again for commenting and please check back … Frank
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Frank Hardy
April 10, 2014 at 9:18 am
Thanks for renewing a sweet memory. I had not thought of this in a long time. I recall the delicious meals there and they were always a treat! Even though you may not receive a lot of comments on your posts, they bring back great memories for many. Thank you very much!! Best Wishes, Mildred Mashburn Buzbee
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Mildred Buzbee
April 9, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Thanks for writing … My father was friends with some Mashburn family that lived in Pensacola. I was looking in my grandmother’s guest book from her funeral in 1948 and some Mashburn husband and wife had signed her book. I also have come across some negative envelopes that have the name Mashburn on them. It is a name that you do not see very often and I do not think that I have ever known any. Thanks again for taking the time to comment … Frank
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Frank Hardy
April 9, 2014 at 2:12 pm