When John took over in 1963, he elevated this eccentricity into a national phenomenon:
: Due to its massive popularity, reservations often had to be booked one to two years in advance . The Dining Experience
in Redkey, Indiana, was a legendary dining destination that defied every convention of the restaurant industry from the 1960s through the early 1980s. Led by the eccentric John Shambarger , it transformed a humble, rundown building beside a railroad track into a "fun house" of gourmet food and vaudeville-style performance that attracted celebrities and dignitaries from across the globe. A Legacy of Eccentricity
A meal at Shambarger’s was an all-night marathon, often consisting of 7 to 13 courses and lasting . Restaurant as fun house: Shambarger's
: From the outside, the building looked abandoned or like a "junk shop". Inside, it was packed with antiques, mirrors, and lamps—all of which were for sale, including the dishes diners ate from.
