Couple of things sparked this idea... the Lowe's thread, the fact that there are some older folks on here, and the feeling that this is a good time to wax nostalgic here on RCC. I'd like y'all to share some stories from your youth... the stores, restaurants, etc that you loved going to... places that no longer exist. Pictures would be great too but no matter.
Here's some of my favorites:
> As a young boy there was something pretty liberating and satisfying about my friend and I riding our bikes up to the local Texaco station and getting a couple shots of free air and a Fanta Orange soda... watching all the cool cars and strange people, before heading back down the road towards home ( couple miles). The train-tracks ran right next to the Texaco station too and that was always exciting to hear one coming.
> In my home town there was a hardware store with an open-air freight elevator to take you to each floor. Regular enclosed elevators were exciting enough so you can imagine how awesome this old time lift was... rattling and creaking as it took you up up and away. One cool thing was that the upper floors were wooden plank and I could always see boots and feel dirt falling thru the cracks as I was looking up. This place was an absolute blast. My dad and I would go there occasionally on Saturday mornings. I'll never forget that place.
> We also had a new TSC that was built in the early 70's. I loved hardware stores anyway but this one was even better because it had toys! Obviously it was mostly ERTL stuff but they had Matchbox's too. I'd save every penny I could in order to get a Matchbox every few weeks. I'd guess they were maybe $.50 at that time. I also remember their "good old days" or something to that effect... Big barrels of peanuts that you could just shell and eat as you shopped. I'll always remember the smell of roasted peanuts, fertilizer, and cigarette smoke when I think of TSC now lol. No pics.
> Another fantastic place that my dad and I would go was to the Delaware Farmer's Exchange. Funny as a poor kid from the sticks, how much fun the most simple and otherwise mundane activities were. I loved being in the truck as my dad drove up onto the scales to be weighed. All the pungent smells and loud sounds and big trucks made this a great place to spend a weekend morning.
> Buns Restaurant & Bakery- Walking into this place was a real treat as a little kid. My sister and I absolutely loved this place although mom didn't allow us to go in very often. Growing up on a farm, we didn't have many "sweet snacks" in the house aside from fresh fruit. But sometimes for good report cards or around the holidays, mom would bring home a couple fresh cookies or cupcakes. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Buns is still operating although no doubt it's completely changed now.
> Bill Knapps- We had one just south of where we lived. My sister and I would go there with our grandparents... usually on Sunday afternoons. Best damn fried clams and fried chicken in the world ( or at least by the standards of a young farm kid lol). We were rarely allowed to get dessert but I do remember watching them making fresh pies and cakes in there and hoping that one day I'd be able to buy one lol. Good memories. <wbr>
> Another place that I loved going to was Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips. I'd go there with my grandpa. I guess maybe he was the only one in my family that liked the place. But I loved it and always had a lotta fun with my grandad no matter what we did or where we'd go. I think Arthur Treacher's is where I picked up a fondness for fried fish, malt vinegar, and hush-puppies. I doubt that Long John Silvers ever came close to this place!
> The Kahiki was a place that our family would go for very special occasions and it was just about the coolest damned restaurant that a kid could go to back in the 70's. It was Polynesian themed... and would be considered as cheesy as anything these days. But back then.. it was just overwhelming.... valet parking, macaws, huge tropical plants, tiki torches, towering stone heads, neon lighting, and strange yet delicious food ( for a country boy lol)... I'll never forget this place. It was truly amazing.
Here's some of my favorites:
> As a young boy there was something pretty liberating and satisfying about my friend and I riding our bikes up to the local Texaco station and getting a couple shots of free air and a Fanta Orange soda... watching all the cool cars and strange people, before heading back down the road towards home ( couple miles). The train-tracks ran right next to the Texaco station too and that was always exciting to hear one coming.
> In my home town there was a hardware store with an open-air freight elevator to take you to each floor. Regular enclosed elevators were exciting enough so you can imagine how awesome this old time lift was... rattling and creaking as it took you up up and away. One cool thing was that the upper floors were wooden plank and I could always see boots and feel dirt falling thru the cracks as I was looking up. This place was an absolute blast. My dad and I would go there occasionally on Saturday mornings. I'll never forget that place.
> We also had a new TSC that was built in the early 70's. I loved hardware stores anyway but this one was even better because it had toys! Obviously it was mostly ERTL stuff but they had Matchbox's too. I'd save every penny I could in order to get a Matchbox every few weeks. I'd guess they were maybe $.50 at that time. I also remember their "good old days" or something to that effect... Big barrels of peanuts that you could just shell and eat as you shopped. I'll always remember the smell of roasted peanuts, fertilizer, and cigarette smoke when I think of TSC now lol. No pics.
> Another fantastic place that my dad and I would go was to the Delaware Farmer's Exchange. Funny as a poor kid from the sticks, how much fun the most simple and otherwise mundane activities were. I loved being in the truck as my dad drove up onto the scales to be weighed. All the pungent smells and loud sounds and big trucks made this a great place to spend a weekend morning.
> Buns Restaurant & Bakery- Walking into this place was a real treat as a little kid. My sister and I absolutely loved this place although mom didn't allow us to go in very often. Growing up on a farm, we didn't have many "sweet snacks" in the house aside from fresh fruit. But sometimes for good report cards or around the holidays, mom would bring home a couple fresh cookies or cupcakes. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Buns is still operating although no doubt it's completely changed now.
> Bill Knapps- We had one just south of where we lived. My sister and I would go there with our grandparents... usually on Sunday afternoons. Best damn fried clams and fried chicken in the world ( or at least by the standards of a young farm kid lol). We were rarely allowed to get dessert but I do remember watching them making fresh pies and cakes in there and hoping that one day I'd be able to buy one lol. Good memories. <wbr>
> Another place that I loved going to was Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips. I'd go there with my grandpa. I guess maybe he was the only one in my family that liked the place. But I loved it and always had a lotta fun with my grandad no matter what we did or where we'd go. I think Arthur Treacher's is where I picked up a fondness for fried fish, malt vinegar, and hush-puppies. I doubt that Long John Silvers ever came close to this place!
> The Kahiki was a place that our family would go for very special occasions and it was just about the coolest damned restaurant that a kid could go to back in the 70's. It was Polynesian themed... and would be considered as cheesy as anything these days. But back then.. it was just overwhelming.... valet parking, macaws, huge tropical plants, tiki torches, towering stone heads, neon lighting, and strange yet delicious food ( for a country boy lol)... I'll never forget this place. It was truly amazing.
