Times 3 Family Restaurant in Quartzsite

Along I-10 in Arizona

This green building caught my eye, when we stopped for gas in Quartzite. It was about 5 years ago, when Don and I were traveling from Texas to California, on I-10. 

I love a family restaurant in a curious town, but we'd already eaten. I snapped a photo and hoped to return.

Quartzite, AZ in January

It was January 2021 the next time we traveled the same route. (I-10 cuts right through Quartzite) Our travel dining adventures were still on hold due to the pandemic, so we didn't exit for lunch. Instead we drove right on through... feeling confused by the view on both sides of the freeway. 

A sea of trailers covered the desert terrain on both sides! It looked insane!  A little internet search told us that each January, Quartzite hosts the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous. "Snowbirds" and gem collectors flock yearly to the desert community, to camp (RVs and trailers) and enjoy the month-long gem and mineral show. 

March 2021

3 months later, Don and I once again hit Quartzite. During our winter stay in Oregon, we'd made a point to watch the movie Nomadland, which features the quirky community. This time we drove down Main Street and wondered if we'd see some of the locals who played small parts in the Academy Award winning movie. I guess we didn't, but I did purchase a cheap-y quartzite bracelet. It came with a complimentary masked camel pin.

The snowbird season was nearly over but we still spotted plenty of trailers. Maybe all 2,000+ permanent residents, live in homes with wheels.

​Times 3 Family Restaurant 

After getting gas, I spotted the restaurant. I was amused by the green sign and the cartoon characters peering over the top.

What was with the double quotation marks surrounding the words, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner? What did "Times 3" even mean?

Open

I made Don pull in so I could take a look at the colorful building. I was craving a Road Trip Dining Adventure, ​after a year of pandemic caution.

But Don and I weren't vaccinated yet. I sort of wanted to save that big return to indoor dining, at a slightly different kind of restaurant. 

​Stuckey's?

So I compromised. I threw on my mask before heading inside to get a quick peek and a coffee to-go.

I recognized the building's shape as I walked towards the door. Was this an old Stuckey's? I laughed as I recalled road stops during childhood trips. Stuckey's Pecan Rolls! I can still picture them.

Empty Seats

I stepped inside and ordered a coffee. I took in the homey decor while I waited.   

The dining counter seats were empty.  

A few spacious booths were empty.

The walls were not empty.

Out of all the shelf collections, the trailer display was my favorite. 

Diners

It was odd to be back inside a restaurant, in March 2021. There were quite a few guests dining in. I spotted a few masks.

The spacious dining room had a welcoming feel, but I left with my coffee. Next time, we'll dine in for lunch! I told myself.

A Lunch Stop in 2024
 
So this past winter, Don and I stopped in the dusty little town once again. It was late January and the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous was nearly over. 

There was lots of traffic on Main Street and lots of good people watching. (no photo evidence) Some of the characters looked a little windblown and dusty, but there was a friendly, upbeat vibe to the people we saw.

At a stop sign, a young couple sat on the corner smiling up at us. The woman held a puppy and the man held a cardboard sign. "2 Hungry Vagabonds!" I rolled the window down and handed over 2 apples. The man responded with enthusiasm, "Thanks!"  The woman beamed! "We love apples!"  They waved with Hang Loose gestures, before biting into the fruit. We drove off happy.
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​Lunchtime!

We headed to the green restaurant, excited to finally eat at the funny little place. Our encounter with the Happy Vagabonds, gave me a boost of confidence that we might meet more friendly people. 

The parking lot was jammed but there were no lines out the door. That was lucky, since nearly a couple million gem and trailer enthusiasts flock to Quartzsite each January. 
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We parked near the mural and I grinned at the camel as we passed.

There are a lot of camel images in Quartzsite. More later on that...

Hungry Crowd

The Family Restaurant was hopping. A sign scribbled on paper warned, "Expect a 45 minute wait for orders." 

Luckily we weren't in a hurry. 

Even luckier, there were available seats at the counter.

2 cushy red stools on the corner, just waiting for us.

​Menu Time

Our server (I believe, Shel) handed over menus with her left hand, then turned to top off a customer's coffee with the right.

Don and I wondered for a second what to order. A fellow who acted like he dined daily, gave us a quick hint. "It's all good!" He laughed as if he knew that wouldn't help!

Seat with A view

I was happy with our seats, that offered a great view. Lots of teapots and colorful murals, depicting western scenes. 

I also had an entertaining view of Shel as she chatted with some regulars at the end of the counter. She wasn't the only one that gave the couple attention and hugs. Loyal customers no doubt.

Observing

I quickly determined that Shel did an exceptional job of keeping coffee mugs filled. I ordered coffee just for the fun of being included in her coffee route. ​

I was so impressed with how efficiently she worked behind the counter. She was always moving, tidying the collection of creamers, repeatedly refilling the sugar and salt and pepper containers. She seemed to glide as she moved back and forth, delivering plates and scooping up menus, conversing and attending to guests as she did so! 

In and Out

I was amused as I kept an eye on a pair of doors. There was a constant flow of staff, heading IN with dirty dishes and OUT with steaming plates of food. It would have been nerve-wracking to watch if there had been only 1 door.

I tried to count the staff as they entered and disappeared. I gave up when I got to 9. New faces kept appearing from the kitchen. The constant movement was like some kind of video game. All the servers seemed to move with the same quick pace and positive energy. Laughing with each other and carrying on with a few regulars. It was clear that they'd gotten the whole system down to an art, after weeks of serving endless temporary residents.
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Shel's Necklace

When Shel delivered my grilled ham and cheese, I noticed her jewelry. She explained that her quartz necklace was a special one. The gold beads came from her grandfather. "He had lots of beads and gems and such."  There was much more to the story, about the grandfather who passed away a year ago. But it was a personal one and not for me to share. She's happy to live in his trailer now.

I was glad to get a little advice about the "special fry sauce" in the squirt bottle. Shel said some put it on fries, but she thought it was good on sandwiches. I tried and it was. Great fries as well!

Don loves a breakfast for lunch. He ordered 2 eggs sunny side up. It came with hash browns and corn beef hash. 

I had a sandwich, but I still stole some of Don's sourdough toast! Both our meals were good and filling. We could only finish half!

Chatting at the Counter

Our food was a nice treat. Especially since we'd had a couple diner fails in the beginning of our road trip. The dining adventure was suddenly complete, after we ended up chatting with our fellow diners.

The couple nearest me was from Wisconsin. They were wintering in Yuma and made the trip to Quartzite for lunch. We gabbed about horses and travel, until our food came. The woman was pretty excited about the horses on my western shirt. "I'll trade you my green sweatshirt!" She teased. 

Heading Out

We finished up and Shel handed us containers and utensils, for our leftovers. We headed for the door and I heard a server respond to a customer. "We have 2 more weeks of this crazy gem show! I'm about ready for it to be done!" She laughed out loud.

Before I headed out the door, I paused to look at a photo of a man name "Hi Jolly" along with a photo of his grave monument.

When we passed the camel statue outside, I was reminded of something we needed to do before we left town.

In fact there were 2 things we needed to do before leaving Quartzite. Don figured out the first and drove back to the corner, to see if the Vagabonds were still there. (we think alike) They were and they were delighted to take our leftovers. They waved good-bye, saying they'd share with their doggy. 

 Hi Jolly Cemetery

Then we were on to the cemetery. A dining adventure in Quartzsite couldn't be complete without a stop to see Hi Jolly's grave.

Quartzite has some interesting history, from long before the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous began. We stopped to pay respects to Hi Jolly, the Syrian-born camel driver who emigrated  here in the 1850s! 

I'm so glad we finally got to eat at Times 3 Family Restaurant. And I'm glad we met some travelers and some locals and some vagabonds. I'm glad we got to visit the the petrified wood and quartz pyramid, that honors Quartzite's most beloved resident.  

Next time we're in town, I'll ask about the restaurant's name. And we'll come earlier in January, to catch the annual Hi Jolly Parade!
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