Which Stores That We Used To Have Do You Miss The Most!

I miss the Stage store that was in the Mall. You could find some good quality clothes at a reasonable price.

When kay asks a question like that, all the old coots ring in, don't they? I loved Anton's list and, in the spirit of continuity, add a few of my own favorites. Pearson's Bakery -- need I say more? Over in Germany, they call them Berliners; we called them Bismarcks and they had a half-life of just minutes in my hands. Lucca's had the smell of Italian spices; Nagurski's corner grocery was short-lived, probably due to the overpowering smell of a stopped up toilet in its basement. Park Grocery had the smell of boys licking Eskimo Pies and drinking Shasta strawberry pop. Larry Conners got so wealthy, he would just slosh his Shasta onto the street. Somebody mentioned recenty Tony Rizzo's cigars, and I must admit that as one of the great memento smells of the Falls. Of course, there is that ugly basment smell that sometimes seeps into restaurants on the North Side of Third Street. Only Sheila has managed to provide the overpowering smell of coffee to offset it. Lingering everywhere, especially in places like Ace Hardware was the smell of the Kraft Mill. Nobody ever moved to our little town for the smells, but I suspect that some have moved away due to them. Much is the pity.

There used to be a cafe, Helen's I think was the name, on the same block as Wherley that had some kind of funk. I hated delivering the paper to that place. Same with the bars that used to be on 2nd Street.

A few slices of salami fresh cut by Nick Rausher made a good lunch.

As a kid, I recall making regular trips to Red Owl and National. I saw a Piggly Wiggly truck on the freeway this past week in Wisconsin. And there was a cafe across from Piggly Wiggly that had great shakes.

Ever hit golf balls at Lucca's range? How about a pop at the Brown's or Roger's corner stores.

I think I remember a minnow smell from the Totem Pole before the fire. I still have the last pair of skates that Don Cann sold me.

Also the Parkway Cafe. I know it was on 53 but can't remember exactly where. Anyone remember Mr. Lucky's? I do have to say I miss Kentucky Fried Chicken. The Chicago Cafe was a great place too. I must be hungry tonite.

As usual, I will piggyback on Anton's excellent suggestion and introduce a second sense: visual effects. There were things involved with stores and restaurants that people will remember and that made life interesting for a kid growing up in this remote corner of the world. The fish case out in front of Ace Hardware was a top attraction this time of the year, especially when it held a 60 pound sturgeon on ice. The Iltis Drug Indian always looked better on the corner than in the library entryway. Buck Riley had a shelf full of pictures of sports teams he had sponsored and I always checked it out as it included people like Wayne Haglund, Tom Bergstedt, Aldo DeMarchi, and my father. Who has those pictures now? Of course, the letter jackets hanging up front exercised a great fascination for those of us in sports. A fixture of summer that has nothing to do with stores but with the feel of the place was the marching band out twice a day on our city streets working on their steps, the head majorette leading the way in her white boots. Boes Dairy Bar making real shakes from fresh milk and serving them on the curved bar -- what could've been better? A & W across from the current McD's and the cars beneath its awning with trays hanging from windows.
Kay, you unleashed the worst kind of topic: nostalgia. Thanks.

Tastee Freeze was fast but not necessarily good. Two dogs for a buck.

We couldn't go to the shack without a stop at Eric's Place in Ericksburg.

There was a cafe south of Red Owl.

Here were my favorites. Johnnie's Hamburgers next to the Union Hall; hamburger, fries, chocolate malt for a buck. Leo's Lunch next to the bowling alley; great hamburgers. Arrowhead Pizza, Beef 'n Brew which was Klabunde's Bar before that; great pickles in the glass jar at each table.

Sunnyside Grocery (Paulachiccio's); blue Popsicles, which Lil told us were made from 7-Up. Miller's Market; great penny candy although the kids thought he was grouchy. And Pleimling's Corner Store; great penny candy selection like Double Bubble bubble gum, Smoothie’s, Southie’s, and Squirrelie's plus great meats too. Bement's Store; my folks always bought their meats there.

Dove Clothing; my dad always brought me there to buy Red Wings and speak Finn with Cliff Carlson.

Rex Hotel and Cafe; busy place always where the Greyhound Bus came and went 4 times per day back in those days. Cafe open 24/7. Great broasted chicken, fries, malts. Went there a lot with the family when Fred Scoggin's had it.

Frederick Hotel; used to peek at the racy pictures in the Saga and Argosy magazines in the magazine rack in the lobby when I was in their peddling my Grit Newspapers.

Falls Surplus Store; where we used to buy army and "tanker" jackets.

When I was young the town had numerous corner markets "mom and pop stores" scattered throughout the neighborhoods. And they all had a unique niche, a unique character.

I was born post WWII at the beginning of the baby boom generation.

I used to peddle these Grit Newspapers in the bars, saloons, restaurants and cafes in downtown I. Falls during Junior High School Days. When I entered Senior High I picked up a Daily Journal route and delivered to the same bars, saloons (2nd Street) restaurants and cafes where I used to "hawk the Grits". The Daily Journal was a better deal because all I had to do was deliver and collect at the end of the month.

Before the Journal moved to across from Rauscher's they used to be next to Rizzo's and the Elks Club.

When I picked up my papers Bert Aydt always handed me a few extra because he knew somewhere along the route someone was going to ask me for an "extra". And he was right. I never, ever saw Bert without a "stogie" in his mouth.

I love nostalgia and revisiting the old days back in I. Falls, growing up there; hockey, basketball, baseball, fishing, camping ..... etc.

Video games, cell phones, Internet, PC's, VHS/DVD players - no such thing. There were two movie theaters (Grand and the other?), the Parkway Drive-In and let's not forget when the relatives came to visit and we had to sit through and watch their carousel slide shows after mealtime.

Oh well .... life goes on .....

okay on the corner across from Boder Bargins there used to be a clothing store there in the early 80's does any one remember the name, I can see it I used to buy alot of my clothes there and can't put a name to the store.

What was the restaurant next to the old Red Owl? I remember getting the best ice cream cones at the Einar Johnson's store in Ericsburg and exploring the old depot next to the tracks. The DQ across from the Anderson furniture store was a family stop once in a while. Pavlek's store in Holler had the orange Indian pop the was the coldest ever. I can still see the glass bottles. We had a Pop Shoppe store somewhere but can't remember where. Man sometimes it's hard looking back.

Was it Stevensons. It is amazing that there have been so many different stores that have come and gone. Whatever happened to the Pee Wee Bantam Tournament that brought lots of people and money to town? I also still stop at the stop sign by Lucca's.