Since the MC eateries thread went so well, how about a thread to remember some of the stores that used to grace our fair City?

I am old enough to remember some of the five and dimes that we used to have, such as Danners at Marquette Mall, and the one that was at Eastgate, which I can't remember the name of anymore.

When I was a little girl, we used to live on the corner of Lake Shore Dr and Lake Ave. We used to take our pennies and nickles and walk down to Les's Garage to buy candy. You could get a little bag FULL of stuff for ten cents. He was a block down Lake Ave just past LaCuisine. (which eventually became Swingbellies, and now I'm not sure what is there) He also used to have inner tubes we could rent and take to the beach.

The old Swingbellies got torn down. There is nothing there as of yet, but I imagine that plot is to valuable to stay empty for long.

Harvey's was in Eastgate Plaza. My mother still has a little ceramic cardinal I bought for her some forty years ago.

Joe's, by Marsh School, where Charlie's is.

I remember Harvey's Five & Dime. My grandma used take me there. I know this isn't a store, but do any of you remember The Lido on Franklin Square?

Here is something else to consider: There were a bunch of little stores People ran out of their houses that catered to the neighborhood kids. By Gardena Park there was one, and they sold penny candy for a penny.

Another one to remember is the two Al's grocery store locales that are now gone to history, both the one on Michigan Blvd by the 5th ward offices, and the one on Franklin by Hirsch Ford.

The Al's by Hirsch started out in the Park N' Shop where King Richard's is now and King Richards was next door to Lindo's where they built the Taco Hell-I mean Bell.

I also remember when Franklin St was two lane south of 20 and there was nothing but houses and woods. My Uncle used to live in a house just about where Auto Zone is now.

I remember those houses. I also remember the airport across the street where the Meijer, Lowes and company sit now.

King Richards has also recently moved, to the old Payless Shoes locale down the street and they have remodled that part of the plaza there.

Yeah, I remember the airport. Speaking of which, do you remember the 212 Drive-in where the airport is now? My grandparents used to live on Warnke Rd and my cousins and I would walk over there and sneak in to watch shows.

That was called The Little Store! Heck - we probably ran into each other there!

I saw the first Star Wars movie at that drive through if my memory serves me correctly.

Those were called drive-INS, not drive THROUGHS.

lol

I remember seeing the movie Phantasm at that place with my parents. I think that might have been the last movie I saw there. Wow!! That movie scared me to death. I watch it now and I think, "How corny!" Isn't funny how things work like that? Like MacGyver. When that show was on, it was so cool how he did all that stuff and now you watch it and you're thinking, "Yeah, right."

The Lido was next to our playground at St. Paul's - we used to throw smowballs at it in the winter. The Lido showed religious movies every spring - like King Of Kings, Ben Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told - and it was also infamous for briefly showing Deep Throat, which was not a religious movie.

Boy, I don't think Al's was ever in Park N Shop. I remember that grocery store - but I don't think it was Al's. Not sure, though....but I think that store was called National. Maybe Al's came later?

Tim, you're partly right. That store was National Foods first, then it became Al's. A few years later Al's moved into the A&P which was across the street from Jewel that is now MCAS Plant Planning. I called my mom, she knew.

Moms ALWAYS know! But Al's was on South Frankin next to the Purple Martin station back in the 60's - right?

Purple Martin. Man, I haven't heard that name in a long time! Yeah, I believe that was an Al's before it became Frank's Nursery & Crafts. If I remember correctly, that one moved down by Wal-Mart and was the first Al's Valueland and the Al's across from Ames Field added "Valueland" after that. Eventually, they both dropped the Al's and became just Valueland. As far as I know, the one in LaPorte is still just Al's and there are two there, also. I could be wrong on that one thought as it's been a few years since I was in LaPorte.

What was the grocery store on Mich Blvd at the end of Jackson St? I'm wondering if that wasn't an Al's too? Does anybody remember that one? I heard that building burned down not too long ago.

The Valueland is now Al's again after a remodel.

Dang!!! So many changes. Am I going to even recognize MC when I come home for an extended visit?

You know when you live here it seems so gradual. But when you pick a moment in time and go back to it, it all seems so different. A thread like this where you start thinking back 20-25 years, or more in some cases, really gives you a perspective on how different things really are.

Just take 421 south of 20, there was NOTHING there except the airport and a couple of houses 25 years ago (until you got 400N). Now it is completely commericialized all of the way to 94

I don't remember which street it was, but are you talking about Petti's Grocery? That was a little, family owned grocery store on Michigan across the street from the old Genes Restaurant, I think.

And I know the place next to Purple Martin was Al's, because I used to shop there AND I went there and saw the James Bond Anston Martin car when it was "on tour".

I saw this name in the user list, but how about Mattie McComb's?

Petti's is closer to the lake. Jackson St is where Eastside Liquors is. There is a Family Dollar across the street and behind that is the grocery store I mentioned. I really do think that building burned down, I just don't know for sure. I know the place was a church for a while.

The building sat back off of the street farther, and also had the curved arch in the frame, right? That was indeed an Al's at least when I remember it being there. I grew up on Holiday street not too far from up until about 1981.

Regarding Al's: I recall the building on Michigan Blvd, and it was on the north side of the street at Jackson. It was built with two very large arches, just like the one by Hirsch, which came later. The one on Mich Blvd was originally on the SE corner of Mich & Jackson, where East Side Liq's parking lot is now. When Al's moved to the then-new bldg across Mich Blvd, Wonderland took this old space, and it was a litte store like the family dollar stores--but with a great candy selection, if I recall.

How about some MC store trivia!

Finish this billboard-type slogan -

"If You Can't Stop...."

And name the business that featured it, and its location.

"Wave when you drive by" but I can't remember whose it was. Hirsch Ford maybe? or some other car dealership? And I don't remember where it was. I'm thinking on east 20?

Close! You don't have the slogan quite right - and you're WAY off on the locations. Keep thinking! You're on the right track -

Is it "Then honk when you drive by"? I'm at a loss for whose it was. Obviously no one else here knows either or they would have said something by now (I would think). Give me a hint as to what kind of business it is. Retail, food, Auto, computers? I think it had a picture of two guys done in characature (big heads, little bodies) and waving. Am I getting warmer?

Here is a hint: Go to Greenwood & Woodland, and look around!

Roger, that would be no problem for me if I lived in Michigan City. As it stands right now, it would take me two days to get to that spot by car. Sorry, you'll have to do better than that with the hints.

Roger - the place in my original question was not at Woodland and Greenwood - has someone STOLEN that slogan?

No. It had something to do with cars, but wasn't a dealership - and wasn't at Greenwood and Woodland...though half of that and another well-known street would be going in the right direction.... And, sadly, it's not "Then honk when you drive by". Let's see what Roger says, and then I'll tell you - okay?

Right on. I'm anxiously waiting.

It was Harvey's Dime Store. I worked there while in High School. It was an Ace hardware distributor. It also had clothing and small pets.
Angie

Of all things to remember, I do remember going there with my mom and my grandma so that they could buy their yarn. I also remember really liking their toy section as a little guy

No clue! And the sign at Woodland and Greenwood is at Peggy's, but I do not recall the place in question.

"If You Can't Stop, Smile As You Go By"

At SID'S service station - NE corner of Franklin and Greenwood.

Did it have two characature guys like I thought? Or am I just grabbing at straws trying to remember something that I have no clue about?

Um - no. Are you on some kind of medication?

No, but maybe I should be. I guess it's all this fresh mountain air that effecting my synapses.

Okay - here's an easy one - quote the Flanigan the Tire Man slogan.

That kinda sounds like the Harbor ads they do now.

More gas station trivia!

There was a gas station south of The Spaulding Hotel on the same side of the street. What was the company name, and what animal was its mascot?

"Your alignment specialists", is all that is up there now.

This was the slogan Mr. Flanigan would say and the end of his radio commercials on WIMS.

Anybody?

Sorry Tim, I never listened to WIMS, I was a loyal Looper! WIMS never had any appeal to me.

Perhaps my questions are too obscure - nobody's gotten one yet! Hmmmmm....