Early 1980s

Cafe Johnelle Shadowbox Advertisement

During the early 1960s, in part due to the influence of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, French cuisine became an emerging trend. After a trip to France, in 1961 John N. Spillson opened Café Johnell, one of Fort Wayne's premier restaurants, with red velvet upholstery, fine antiques, linen tablecloths, and framed paintings. The European menu was hailed by critics as one of the finest in the Midwest and the Spillsons took home numerous awards. The restaurant's wine cellar was one of the nation's most extensive. Café Johnell was arguably the most elegant restaurant ever located in Fort Wayne, offering diners fine French cuisine in the upscale South Calhoun Street restaurant. For more than twenty-five years, Café Johnell received a four-star rating in national restaurant guides.

This large wooden box with a gold-colored frame and a brass light fixture contains a three-dimensional image of the interior of Café Johnell. To make it even more lifelike, there is a painting of Nike Spillson (John's daughter), wall decorations, flowers and wine on the back wall. In the foreground, there is a table setting complete with food and wine. This montage was part of a project to advertise local businesses and was displayed for ten years at Baer Field airport for advertising in the early 1980s. Nike prepared the food, had it photographed, and a friend created the art; final assembly was by Custom Craft.