Burger Chef: This was directly across the street from Northeast High. Never ate in there, but I do remember it's neon sign. (No, that's not same Burger Chef in the picture, but has a pretty good likeness of it).Polar Cub: A soft serve ice cream store, similar to Dairy Queen.
Horn & Hardart (at Large St.): Don't remember much about it, but I think it had been there in the 1950's.
Kresge's (at Large St.): A small department store similar to Woolworth's.
Cottman Lanes (at Horrocks St.): I used to bowl occasional
ly back in the good old days. I remember that Cottman Lanes used to award a free game for every "A" on your report card. I also remember spending a New Year's Eve there with a friend bowling the entire night while "Hey Jude" played on the radio again and again. That must have been Dec 31, 1968.Record Museum (one block from the Northeast Library, between Oakland St. and Bustleton Ave.): A great place to buy 45's. I believe this is where I bought my first ever 45rpm record in 1967. I believe it was owned by Jerry Blavat, not sure.
S. Klein "on the square": A department store where John Wanamaker (?) is now. Was this also a Korvette's back in the 60's before it was Klein's?
I do remember that Bill Deal & the Rhondells gave a free concert at the Roosevelt Mall once. It must have been around 1969.
Hey, if anyone out there is reading this, please leave a comment. I'd like to hear about memories that you had of that time period. Photos also welcome!
89 comments:
Yes I remember Cottman avenue. There was the Jardel Palyground where I learned to swim in the pool. Then the new car dealer down the street where I almost bought an old Ford when I was leaning to drive. Then there was Wilson Jr High School the Flying A station and the coin dealer. How I wish I bought more coins from them back then.
Come to think of it, I remember there used to be dances for teenagers at the Jardel playground. Maybe they took place on Friday nights? Anyway, I think I went there on several occasions... great fun and great 50's/60's music at that time.
I'm not sure if I'm remembering that retro burger sign or the Burger King that was in Takoma Park Md (we moved in 1972). My folks used to take us to Geno's a lot, and the Hot Shoppes Jr. There was still a boarded-up one of the latter in the Erdman Shopping Center in Baltimore as late as the 1990s.
I remember the Flying A gas station, we lived down the block from it (1400 blk Sterling St). I used to like the smell of gasoline because of it. I wonder how much lead I inhaled?
I also remember the Horn and Hardart and Kresge's (although that was a widespread chain at the time, there was one in Wheaton Plaza Md iirc). Anyway, we just called them the five-and-dime, pretty interchangeably.
What was the name of the sit-down restaurant on Castor Avenue that had a flight of steps leading up to the dining room once you entered the front door, and steps leading down to "the lavatory"? (I always wondered why they had a laboratory in the basement). Whenever we would go there for lunch, I would always get a tuna sandwich on white toast with Ruffles chips and crinkle-cut pickle slices. I don't know if I ordered that or my mom ordered it for me, but it was the best tuna sammich evar.
@Bushrod Boy: Not sure I remember what Castor restaurant had their lavatory down a flight of steps. But I can think of two others in the neighborhood: The Country Club diner (across Summerdale from NEHS) and New England Pizza on Bustleton Ave. I'm pretty sure both of those restaurant are still in business. Do you remember where on Castor that restaurant you're thinking of was located?
It was on the Dante's / Flying A side of the street a few blocks from Stirling St, in the direction of Pep Boys I think.
Castor Ave was an awesome place. Not much of the original business left. Singers is there.
Circle Florist (Castor & Levick) became a Brazilian gift shop.
Its bascially North Philly now.
I don't think Klein's was ever a Korvette's. Korvette's was up the Blvd, near Welsh.
And although Klein's did become a Wanamaker's, it's now a Strawbridge's.
Thx for bringing up all the old memories :)
Just thought I would tell you that the deli that you talked about always had fresh bread and rolls. My husband and I had a Jewish bread business and that store was one of our customers.
Thanks for the memories
Klein's became Wanamakers and then Strawbridges, but now it's a Macy's. It used to be such a nice shopping center. Now it's very run down looking.
Country Club is still there. They still make the best chicken soup and cheesecake. New England Pizza is still on Bustleton, but there's another one way up in the ne as well.
Lintons was the restaurant...they had the conveyor belt that brought food out ( brown betty #35)...and also brought the dirty dishes back to the kitchen....great hot roast beef sandwiches...it was one door in from hellerman , on castor av..either next to, or acr. the street from Sun Ray drugs....
Before it was New England Pizza, it was Sunny Hunny - on Bustleton Avenue between Unruh & Knorr. Great pinball machines in the back, too!
BTW, Fisher's Restaurant - on Castor, between Cottman & Bleigh - had steps customers had to walk down in order to go to the bathroom.
How about before the Northeast Library was built, the only one in the area was the Bushrod Library - just down the street from Dave Shusterman's Sporting Goods store
(how's THAT for a memory?)
And, what about the great Dunkin' Donuts on Cottman, just off of Bustleton? Everybody smoked cigarettes in there and coffee was served in ceramic cups - NOT styrofoam!
Can anyone believe that "Artifax" -the head shop on Cottman is still there after all these years??
For more memories like these, tune into "Remember When" on The Big Talker 1210 (1210-AM), Saturday nights between 10-midnight!
Also, with regard to the Bill Deal & The Rhondells appearance at the Roosevelt Mall, that was part of WFIL's Helping Hand Marathons that took place every year, near Cue & Cushion. Another act that played there, in 1969, was The Peppermint Rainbow, who had one big hit, "Will You Be Staying After Sunday."
How 'bout The Cavalier Restaurant in the Roosevelty Mall?
Ok< i know this is about Oxford Circle, but when you start moving up to Cottman, you've changed the rules. Remember The Nosherei in
Bell's Corner? I went to Farrell Elem and we'd go there after school for cheese steaks and cherry cokes. then it burned down...
@Anonymous 8/21/09 4:09pm: Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised someone else remembered that Bill Deal & Rhondells concert! I'm sorry I missed the Peppermint Rainbow concert. I wonder if there were any other performances there.
I do remember "Cue & Cushion" -- hadn't thought about that place in years. Think I was in there one time.
I don't remember the Cavalier Restaurant, however.
@Anonymous 8/21/09 8:35pm: I do remember the Nosherei... vaguely. I'm more familiar with Jack's delicatessen in Bells Corner. Not sure, but I think Jack's is still there.
I would help old ladies with their bags at Dales so I could earn some money to buy a slice at the Cavilier or to ride the bumper cars on the Blvd.
Anonymous wrote:
BTW, Fisher's Restaurant - on Castor, between Cottman & Bleigh - had steps customers had to walk down in order to go to the bathroom.
The place I'm thinking of wasn't Fisher's, we would go there for dinner (and drive). This restaurant was a short(er) walk from Stirling St and we would stop in for lunch while doing errands.
How about before the Northeast Library was built, the only one in the area was the Bushrod Library - just down the street from Dave Shusterman's Sporting Goods store
So the Bushrod Library was called that because it wasn't originally part of the public system?
I so remember cutting 3rd period English (Mr Rottenberg -- a real loony) at Country Club Diner and the crazy Dean of Students, Mr. Allen busting all of us and threatening that we would never graduate. Anyone remember POLAR CUB on Cottman across from H&H -- where they actually grilled the hot dogs and had that fabulous soft ice cream??
It's been awhile, but I believe that the H&H was an automat. I LOVED putting in nickels that unlocked the little doors to the food. Also remember a luncheonette in a drug store in the shopping area next to H&H.
Great Blog, I am from Oxford Cr, born in '74 but really enjoying the stories.
Living in Cali since '94 it's nice to look back on the memories.
Keep it up!
Country Club Diner, now Country Club Restaurant has their restrooms down stairs also. Though the food is still good the menu changed when the son took over and is not nearly as good as it was.
There was Wall to Wall Sound in the
Shopping Center. H&H was an automat. The bowling ally was fantastic. I thought cue and cushion was on the Roosevelt Blvd.
There was putt putt miniature golf.
Bakers ladies shoe shop, Sam Goody.
OI think EJ Korvettes became Two Guys, Robbins jewelry and everthing else. My you could go on forever.
When the Roosevelt Mall was built in the early 60's S. Klein (or Kleins) as we called it) was the original department store. Korvets was north on the Roosevelt Blvd. in the same strip with "Cinema 1 & 2" (which I believe to be the first "mulitplex" movie theatre in Philly if not beyond. When the "Orleans" movie theater was built on Bustleton Avenue is started out as one huge room, the divided up in later years. Getting back to "the mall" there was "Spains" a cool store for its time that pushed the "smile face" craze into pop culture. There was "Sam Goody" records which later became "Peaches" oh, also I saw somce mentioned the "Cavalier" restaurant, which in its first name change became "The Saveren" Stuff to think about.
do you remember Doctor's pet shop on Cottman Avenue? They had a large animal atop their sign (a lion? bear?)
I bought my first parakeet there!
Doctor's Pet Shop had a little gorilla (like a little King Kong) on top of the sign from the time it opened. There was an incident once (I believe new years eve) where it was take but later found and returned.
Lets see what I can remember. There was Ronnie's Hamburgers. They were 15 cents and were there before Mcdonalds. My wife still laughs at me everytime I want honey with my chicken. In Cleveland where I live, no one eats chicken with honey. Obviously that is from Sunny Hunny Chicken. Oh, then when the gas stations had grand openings, there were always free hot dogs. Chickies Dress shop with Leonard Studio's on top, Lipton Bakery by the Caster Theatre, Western Savings bank with the expression, "Wishing won't do it, Savings will." Wasn't
there amd S&H hardware store? John's Bagain Store, I worked at Singers and Rubins Furniture as a kid
I worked at Burger Chef (across from NEHS) in the early 70's. ANd I remember Ronnies... serving only the FINEST Hamburgers (LOL!) for 15 cents.
And I remember another concert at Roosevelt mall (the only one I was at) in the late 60's... but I can't recall what group it was.
Wow! I still live here at Cottman and Castor.
Anonymous, if you're still out there, I think you're the only person in Philly besides me that remembers Cavalier's! I was beginning to think I imagined that part of my childhood!
They had pinball machines and a photo booth and I spent a lot of dimes there. No one ever knows what I'm talking about. It took up a lot of space so you'd think people would remember seeing it!
Great memories on here.
Western Savings Bank was my first bank, and it was robbed once. I went over and withdrew all my money and closed my account. I think I was 8 or 9! Then I had to get my mom to "cross me" across the big street..Cottman Ave to start a new account at PSFS.
Thanks for the memories, everyone.
I've forgooten so many of these great memories. Thanks for starting this Post. BTW, not to get off the subject but does anyone realize that since I left Philly. 30 years ago,(moved west) that no one has ever heard of the Mummers Parade!!!! Why has it never been on National television? It's the BEST Parade with such a unique history!!!
THe drug store with the luncheonette was called People's Drug Store - they had the best corn muffins sliced and placed on the grill with melted butter!
Korvettes was at Welsh and the Blvd. S. Klein was in the roosevelt Mall. Gimbels was at c\Cottman and Bustleton and Lit Brothers was at Castor and Cottman.
Hey "Bob in Phoenix": I worked at Burger Chef in the summer of ''73. It was the worst job I ever had. I got paid $1.65/hr. It was so hot I used to eat my lunch in the walk in freezer. Got loads of zits from drinking all the free coke. I think the manager's name was Mr Pipe. I remember working with a thin blond girl with long hair who was Johnny Rosetti's girl friend, and a heavy set girl who was very " world wise" bitnI can remember her name.
I have always remembered & often repeated that saying: "wishing won't do it, saving will".....and you are the 1st person since way back then that i've heard say it 'sides me......except one thing....and maybe i'm wrong, tho i feel the memory very strongly to be correct....that THAT ditty used to scroll way up high, downtown (i think) atop the "PSFS" bank....least thats what i always thought all these yrs since leaving area.
Jeff
Rhawnhurstgal....i not only remember cavaliers, (i think i seen quite a few ppl mention it in various places on this blog) but it was one of my most favorite places. I remember when it 1st opened & i had never seen any kind of place like it before. I cant remember for sure, but im guessing musta been 65 or 66 maybe 67? In any event i went to the mall almost daily w/my best friend john. For yrs he & i daily walked up to jardel & to roosv mall. Later, approx 67 or 68 he got a beautiful 65 2+2 shelby gt500 fastback, 289 4bbl, 4 on the floor, black mustang, which of course was THE 1ST & ORIG fasback (the retro ones been around last few yrs, i sometimez ask the owners if they know what they're modeled after & they have no clue!) & i used to ride around w/him everyday for a long time. Then 1 day (maybe someone remembers this?....) we came around the corner at the high school (ne) too fast, lost control & sideswiped a bunch of cars parked on cottman in front of school. The car was soo cool...it was so light, esp in rear end but so much pwr & if u "got on it" comin out of a turn, it would just fishtail. Anyway, he had it all fixed good as new in short order. I loved riding shotgun in that car! Whoops...4got about cavaliers... All i can remember is it seemed big & flashy & new modern stylie & pizza & a bunch of pinball & maybe other games & maybe alot of chrome?? appointments?? I went there many times & thought it was the cats meow. I REALLY REALLY would LOVE to get some any pics of it.....have never seen any....but THERE MUST BE!...THE PLACE WAS TOO COOL! (and while im at it, what about "the scene" (on blvd??), & excuse me for mentioning on oxc blog...[its all related..] but sure wish i could find 1 person on this earth who remembers "the trip" around chelsea beach on boardwalk (have a great story about it..) & nobody even has mentioned the orig electric factory...damn, i saw janis there for $3..... Oh hell.....i have so many unreal stories....
I am certain that the mummers parade was shown, at least in part, many times on nat'l tv on new years day. Since i grew up in philly & my granparents (& later my parents) had a store on....get this....SOUTH ST.!!!...right where the parade went by!...haha! (at least sometimz, as im not sure if the route was always the same) but i do remember 1 time, i think a few yrs later, after the "society hill" refurbishing & when the shops on south st started to become all exclusive & hippy & freaky, etc....& i remember seein the mummers & all the freakies at same time & the guys on stilts WAY HIGH!...."....oh dem golden slippers, oh dem golden slippers..." da da DAH DAH DAH....da da DAH DAH DAH....da da DAH DAH DAAAAH DAH DAH da da da......om man....i hope this blogs comes back alive....the memories are so rich & so great!
On south st (between 2nd & 3rd) does any remember in the 70's/80's, the "candyman" & the "bagelry" (in 50's & part 60's just an oldschool family grocery store).
...wait... Rosetti?.... Is that the name of the folks who owned the gas station at dungan & rhawn (that i spoke of a coupl days ago?)....or was it roselli or something along those lines. Wow, u mentioned getting $1.65 in 73?.....well then assuming u rcvd min wage, that must mean (but hard to believe) that min wage stayed same going all the way back to like 67, 68....cuz i had obtained a very good job as an apprentice in optical instrument repair & sales & was getting same rate ($1.60 or $1.65) way back then. I left philly in 69 but came back for awhile in 73 but dont remember burger chef still being there (maybe i just didnt go up that way for some strange reason), but my question is: how long did burger chef last til?
Jeff
I was struggling, trying to remember the name of the Cavalier where I spent many an hour (and dimes on pinball). It was a huge place which was cafeteria style with different sections for different foods. The grand opening was a phenomenon, crowded with thousands of people. I also remember it's later years with empty chairs and no customers.
Ronnie's was on Castor Avenue and burgers were 15 cents, as was Burger Chef. The Horn and Hardart was cafeteria style, not automat.
Ah, the memories.
Doctor's Pet Shop did have a gorilla on top of the sign. The "incident" if I remember happened after Flyers won one of their two cups. The Gorilla was finally located at McCullough's bar on Castor Ave before being returned. There was a picture in the Daily News.
Klein's was first since the shopping center was built at Cottman and the Blvd.. Across from it was Tom McAn shoe store and a Lafayette Electronics. Gimbel's was at Cottman and Busleton, and Lit Brothers was at Cottman and Castor. I ate many a time at the Burger Chef that used to be across the street on Cottman from Northeast High. I swear, they made the best hamburgers and shakes. There's now a McDonald's there, yuck. As for Korvette's, someone else posted they were further north on the Blvd., around Welsh Road, and they are correct. It was located in the shopping center on the east side of the Blvd.. Korvette's was actually 2 levels, although it looked like one from the parking lot. It had a lower level, that you walked down a wide open staircase to get to. Jardel did have a pool and a recreation hall where teen dances were held on the weekend. Henry Faulkner Oldsmobile used to be located right across the street from it on the same side of Cottman, and then became Sloane Chevrolet when Faulkner moved to a new and larger location on Busleton Ave.. Many of you may not realize that the first Cottman Transmission started in the early '60's on Cottman Ave. where Township Line Road ends. It was right across the street from Burholme Park. When automatic transmissions in new cars really took off in the '60's, so did Cottman Transmission, which began to expand. I now live in Arizona, and they have them here. I was born in Philly and grew up in Abington, Elkins Park, Perry St., right off Township Line Road, just down the street from Cottman Transmissions and the former Acme Markets store. Been back a number of times over the years. Abington still pretty much looks the same, but Philly along Cottman Ave. between Busleton and the Blvd. is showing signs of deterioration. It needs some big department stores back in the area and Philly needs to run off the crappy sidewalk vendors. The area lost a lot of its former luster, sorry to say. Oh yeah, got to mention the Country Club and Mayfair Diners. Spend many a time in both, especially the Mayfair, usually after going to movies at the Mayfair, Merben and Orleans Movie Theatres. Ah, the good old days, when you only had one movie to pick from at each location. lol Signed me, Tim L.
I worked at S Klein in the Roosevelt Mall. Klein's was the anchor the mall was built with 63-64. My job was in the nursery tending to plants, sod, peat-moss, and all things living in the garden center, including customers. We loved the tips on those spring Sundays, loading Cadillac trunks about til they dragged with sod. Danny Maltese was my manager, and Pat Moran was store manager. I was 16 during 69. We did the dances at Jardel - about over by 69 though... which was named after my friends Andy, Billy, Patrick, Marie Jardel - well there were 14, the rec named after their uncle, from the neighborhood, who died in WWII. The Oxford Theater, the Burholme Bowl, and peaking in the door at the dancing girls at the Esquire bar... then a cherry Coke at the Quaker Diner, or better yet, Nolan's Ice Cream in the middle of the block on Rising Sun. All, old familiar, freindly, haunts.
(BJS)
We moved to Oxford Circle in '51. The row home off of Castor cost my folks 10K. Most of the area was farmland. The homes immediately west of Castor, up to Loretta Ave, and those south of Tyson, were older, as was Wilson Jr. HS. Most of the stores on Cottman came after the homes, but Polar Cub, at Cottman and Lynford was always there. You always smelled the relish with the grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. The wooden counter and tables were sticky from it. The food was expensive for that neighborhood. That's why the owner could afford one of the first 1953 Corvettes that he kept in full view in the parking lot.
The first stores on Cottman were between Castor & Large - Lit Brothers and Food Fair. Boy, that was one busy parking lot. Then Kresge was built with a soda fountain counter where you could have lunch, like a grilled cheese or BLT with a chocolate "egg" cream soda. They sold baby chicks and ducklings there during Easter. The Horn & Hardart's wasn't built on the other side of Large& Cottman until later. Its predecessor - the "Mother" of Horn & Hardart's in the Northeast - was at Bustleton & the Boulevard. At Large St., we went for breakfast to have those great plump sausage and the coffee in the thick ceramic mugs. The other great sausages were sausage patties at Toddle House at Castor & Knorr St. But dinner was at the H&H on the Boulevard. I'd go with my parents for the chopped sirloin, fresh mashed potatoes and baked beans or some "greens." On Sunday evenings, we also ate at Verdi's on Castor Ave, across from Frankford HS, on "the other side" of Oxford Circle. Long waits were spent in the closed hut outside of the restaurant that kept you warm in the winter while you waited for your table.
(BJS)
Sun Ray drugs and the strip shopping center next to H&H came later. I remember the Flagg Brothers shoe store with the shoes you opened and closed with the flap in the front instead of laces. Across Cottman, they built the Cottman Lanes with all-night bowling for, I think, $2.50. The "U.N." was the tough gang that came up from Father Judge to hangout there. They once "jumped" me on Bustleton Ave, across from the Tyson Grille and Rappaport's drug store. Broke my nose, but I didn't tell my folks until the next day, when my Mom saw the blood on my shirt. Nobody got killed then. You got in fights or were beat up and went on with your life. Wilson Jr HS taught us that. There was always a fight after school - behind the firehouse and the candy store on Loretta Ave. JG was the toughest guy at Wilson, but a guy in my class, MW, almost beat the crap out of JG, until a half dozen of G's gang jumped W when G signaled them cause they saw he was losing. The amazing thing about that fight was that MW was an 'A' student. He was just fed up with JG and his gang; so he called him out that day.
(BJS)
The Cottman Library was a late comer. For the longest time, it was an empty lot. Those of us at Castor and Cottman didn't have to schlep up to the Bushrod library at Castor & Hellerman anymore. Although Bushrod had a certain charm, the Cottman library was modern and very comfortable.
Then came Klein's and the Cottman Shopping Center. It was meant to compete with the other discount mall - Korvettes Shopping Center that was up the Boulevard, at Welsh Rd. I don't remember the name of the movie theater at the Korvette's shopping center - only that my girlfriend and I saw The Beatles' movie, Hard Days Night, there on a date.
In the other direction, north of Cottman, on Bustleton, the Orleans theater introduced a new, modern movie theater. Before that, the "big" movie theaters were on Frankford Ave - the Mayfair and the Merben. I sat through 3 consecutive showings of West Side Story at the Merben on the Sunday of the week it "premiered" there. The other movie theaters were the Tyson, Castor, and Benner. Saturday's at the Tyson cost a quarter for the corny movie, like The Blob, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, or the original 13 Ghosts, and a nickel for the box of root beer barrel candies.
A group of stores were built next to the Orleans. One by a couple guys from New York that introduced the Brooklyn water bagel to Northeast Philly. I worked there on the weekends, when we started boiling the dough at 4 in the morning. One of the brothers, Bernie, paid me 75 cents an hour and all the bagels I wanted.
I can go on and on about the neighborhood, Castor Ave, Bustleton Ave, and the Boulevard, but I don't want to hog the blog more than I have already. I would add that we are celebrating our 50th reunion from Northeast HS on April 25, 2015. Where did the years go?
(BJS from NE HS June '65)
There was a pizza restaurant with a Judah store next to it, also it was across from Fogels dress shop, does anyone know he name of the restaurant, it was an Italian restaurant with very good pizza
Anonymous
HEY...I LOVE ALL THE STUFF EVERYONE WROTE HERE...WOW...BRINGS BACK SOME SUPER GREAT MEMORIES....NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE IF YOU ARE NOT JEWISH BUT ON FACEBOOK THERE IS A GROUP THAT YOU CAN JOIN Growing up Jewish in Northeast Philly...IT'S GREAT AND YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE MANY PEOPLE YOU GREW UP WITH...ALL THE BEST!!
Castor ave is a toliet bowl now....trash And apes have ruined it....watta shame.....
Does anyone remember seeing Richie Havens under a big tent in the Gimbel's parking lot? Had to be late '60s.
No, however I met him & his roadie on their motorcycles on the way to Woodstock. You may recall he opened! Wasn't supposed to but was first to the stage.
Anyone remember a gift shop full of kitschy tschotkes (sp?) that was on Bustleton Ave near New England Pizza, same side of the street, in in 60's & perhaps early 70's? Carved antique-white items, gold mirrors, kind of tasteless? (No offense meant if you shopped there!) I keep thinking Henrietta's but am not sure of the name, however I believe the shop was there?
My parents owned Wig Bonanza in the Roosevelt Mall directly outside from S. Klein and the Men's store Murrays.
I loved working there. I met my husband there too. He had a vacuum cleaner store on the other side of center.
Spain's gift shop was the best. Marlowe's book store too. Next to us was Crown Jewelry or Jewels.
Living in NJ and commuting to Philly was a real education for me. This was around 71 through 73.
On Bustleton Ave., starting at Magee going north was the JCC, Eleanor Roosevelt was there when it opened, next to Beth Emeth. On the other side of Unruh was a gas station, then Brownies, a discount clothing store, then New England Pizza, the kitschy furniture and accessories store mentioned above, maybe a bridal dress shop, a bakery and a five and dime type store, where Chief Halftown appeared at the opening. Across Knorr St. Was another gas station, where there is now a 7-11, I think a record store was on that block for a while, a card store, bank, women's clothing store, then Famous Deli. Across the next street was Children's Town, next to Don's Bakery. Here I get fuzzy. There was a hardware store, another deli, that's all I can remember for this block except for another five and dime on the corner. Across Longshore was Seltzer's pharmacy, which had a soda fountain. Then the entire Seltzer family died in a car crash and it became Friedmans. Elegance by Edith opened up at some time and eventually took over most of that block. There was a bar on this or the next block. Then a beauty shop, eat-in deli, not as good as the Tyson Grill across the street, maybe a paint store, then Rappaport's pharmacy at Tyson. The next block was Solis Cohen School, after that there were mostly houses on that side of the street. Vitellis was on the other side of the street. That's about all I remember, except for the H & H at Cottman and Large was not an automat, there was a Gimbles department store on the north side of Cottman, and in 1960, JFK rode down Cottman, but I didn't see him.
What great memories. I lived at Princeton & the Blvd. As a young teen my family often ate dinner at H & H at Castor & the Blvd or Littons at Welsh & the Blvd. There was also a Harvest House next to Corvettes at the Welsh Rd center. I remember many of the stores on Bustleton & Castor avenues. A lot of bakery's (like Dons)& several clothing stores
like Fleets, Herb Oritt, Jules Frankel. At the Roosevelt Mall next to the Cavalier restaurant there was a Sporting goods store. It was one that merged with Gold Metal. It anyone knows please post the name. Also, on Bustleton ave across from the Mall there was Abe's Deli, New York Bagel and next to that was an appliance store (family run). Would also like to know the name. I also wanted to mention another icon on Caster ave, that is Lenny's Hotdogs. H & H was mentioned at Cottman & Large, on the strip behind it was IVB Bank, Peoples Drug Store, Florshiem Shoes, William Wanamaker, & Barrs Jewelers.
I remember spending the day at Max Myers, then walking to the Burger Chef on the Blvd. for a "big Chef"...and the Saverin pinball hall on the corner of the Cottman shopping center.
I remember all the places mentioned In this blog. Burger Chef across from NE High School was a favorite along with Ronnie Hamburgers in Castor Ave.My Aunt owned the Debbie shoppe ( A children's clothing store on Castor Ave across from Lott Brothers before Gimbels even opened. We were closer to Cottman & Bustleton so most of my memories are from Cottman to Unruh along Bustleton Ave. The Penn Fruit market, Vitale's Italian restaurant,Rappaport Pharmacy, the Tyson Grille ( my next door neighbor Ruthie Kanas was a server there for years! The Knockbuckle restaurant, Famous & Lou's deli's with numerous butchers along the way. Heyers Bakery & Don's Bakery. Then at Unruh was Beth Emeth Synagogue.and who could forget Edythe's where you got to,buy fancy dresses ( if you could afford it) and Brownies clothing too! Had sample size 41/2 shoes for my sister MaryLou. Spent many an hour at Cottman lanes too! The Polar Cub too! And on special occasions, the Boulevard Amusment Park! Lots of great memories of the great Northeast! A Solis-Cohen Alumni!
So many great memories
I still live near that Flying A gas station...Lucky parking lot and Dunkin Donuts...
I remember swimming on Sundays, family day, and evenings at Max Myers playground. There were girls' swim times and boys' swim times. I remember Gimbals at the corner of Castor and Cottman and S, Klein on the Square. Off of Castor and Unruh was a movie theater, a bakery and a dress shop. On the other side of the street was John's Bargain Store. On the other side of Castor and Unruh was Rosenberg's gift shop and a hairdresser operating out of a house. Dr. House was almost at the corner of Castor and Unruh. There was a Young Israel synagogue nearby (forgot the name of the street, but before Tyson). There was a Tyson movie theater. I remember Edith's dress shop and Brownie's and Beth Emeth at Unruh and Bustleton. All the way down Unruh was another synagogue and B'Nai Jacob was also local - don't remember the cross streets. Great post, great memories
I really hope someone out there can help me. I'm getting to the point where I think I imagined this event. Does anyone remember when The Monkees appeared at the Cottman Mall. It was maybe 1966,or 1967. I was a little kid and I ran up to the mall with my friends and we were right up front when The Monkees took the stage that was set up in the parking lot behind Sam Goody's. I remember so well seeing them and Mike had his green cap with the funny ball on top. The people started pushing and someone on a microphone kept telling people to stop pushing or The Monkees would leave. The crowd kept pushing so The Monkees left. If anyone recalls this memory and can fill in some more of the story that would be great! I've carried this memory for so long. Thanks!
Doing this on a phone. It already erased my 1st try to reply. Surprised to see your post is the last one 10 mos ago. It's been a long time since I last visited this blog. I think I discovered it in 2009 or earlier. The last post I noticed from myself says 2010 but I thought I had posted here since then? I noticed your mention of the monkeys. Don't remember what you mean by "Cottman mall" unless you mean Roosevelt mall? You mentioned Sam goodys but I cant remember for sure where that was? It almost seems like it was on Cottman across the street from the mall or maybe down the street? Anyway, I was 15/16 in 66/67 and I dont remember this monkeys appearance. I dont understand how I could possibly not remember something like that? But then again, things were beginning to get kind of weird for me around that time. I attended NEHS class of 69. Made it to 12th grade but didnt graduate. So many fond memories of the northeast and so many of the places mentioned on this blog. I stayed til approx 1969 or 70. How great was going to NEHS with the burger King across the street, country club diner a few doors down, and the 1st 7-11 I ever saw also across the street? My dad bought me my 1st car at age 17 a Reedman's in Langhorne. I used to get gas at that big cheap gas on Cottman I think just past the mall? Gas was 27.9 cents. Went to the orig electric factory several times (68/69)..saw Janis Joplin there for $3. Used to go to a coffee house on Chelten Ave. Went to Jardels alot. Jardels was at Whittaker Ave & if you took Whittaker Ave (I don't know what direction, but away from or opposite from the front face of Jardel's, approx a mile later it ended in a circle street called Anita drive. Thats where I grew up from where they built those houses, duplexes (called "spacesetters") approx 1958 or 59 til I left Philly. It was called Fox Chase & not far from Oxford Circle. I used to go to Burholme Park to drive golf balls & I think that was oxford circle area. I remember a fountain or some kind of statue or memorial at the circle itself. I could go on & on... Cavaliers, Cottman bowling all night, horn & hardarts on Cottman near bustleton somewhere w/my parents, new England pizza, the best ever!, Roosevelt mall, NE library, doctors pet shop, the orleans theater, Tyson theater sat matinees, cruising the boulevard (at one point, in my 60s caddilac hearse), pennypack Park, David Bromberg concert at Fairmount Park, having a band (the nightriders) and getting on the Ed Hurst dance show to perform!, playing a concert at pope Paul Vl high school w/Phillys own Billy Harner, my parents stores "the Candyman" & "the Bagelry" on south street, the Nosheri (sp?) at Bells corner, the ORIGINAL old DOWNINGTOWN FARMERS MARKET, a forerunner to modern malls, where my father worked, Woodrow Wilson Jr high school I attended and got hung up by my belt on the wrought iron gate fence, Atlantic city every summer, fox chase elementary school, WIBG & WFIL AM radio with Jerry blavat (the "geater w/the heater" & Hy Lit), 1967 or 68 when all of a sudden, out of the blue, 99.3 FM became WMMR and played album rock at night on a show called "the Marconi Experiment", selling pretzels at Connie Mack stadium (once), seeing concerts at the Spectrum (pink Floyd), and the Tower theater (deep purple), playing the pinball machine at the Candy store behind Wilson Jr high, the cheesecake at country club diner(best ever), Sally Star, and I am stopping myself now as I know I could go on forever. Sorry. But hell, one post in years & 1st one at all here in almost a year deserves to be a big one. Oh, the mummers parade....geez
Whoops.... "Burger Chef" not King
To the person who was up front at the Roosevelt mall Monkees concert we must have been next to each other cause I remember that incident. I got knocked down with a bunch of other people on top of me. It was so scary my life flashed before my eyes. Don’t remember the year but I believe they were past their peak. I’m pretty sure tommy James and the shondells were there and sung Crimson and Clover. I went to both The Scene and The Trip too.
I too remember how exciting the Cavalier was when they first opened. I think I had my first ice cream cone. Depressing when it became a ghost town.
A couple of places that haven’t been mentioned: on Cottman in the People’s mall was the Marianne Shop where NEHS girls shopped and Caplans where they sold the those horrible blue rompers they made us wear in gym. Hens Den for rich girls next to Fishers. There was one downtown too. I remember the sales girls wore the clothing while they worked tags and all. Then they sold these clothes to customers. Ewwww. There was also a health food store across from Wilson. Way before it’s time and I can’t imagine who went there but I think lasted quite a while.
At castor and Kerper was a kids shoe store. Same block was Richards which was a junk store where I got my school suppplies. Mean guy. It became a head shop and then I think a fur salon.
I grew up at Castor and Unruh and haven’t been back for years. Last time was quite depressing. So rundown and dangerous. I hear Tarkin is a drug hangout and Fels where I went to jr high is now a high school where less than 20% read at grade level. Sad.
Does any one know the name of the bagel store(on buselton) in the shopping center in front of the budco Orleans movie
Brooklyn Bagels... went there a lot
The family that owns Artifax come here to Steamboat,Colorado for Ski vacations... I think they own a house here...I grew up in the NE and moved out here 22 yrs ago
I was a busboy at Fisher’s late 80’s
Comic bookstore next to Lee’s Hoagie House across from Solly playground... Dattilo’s Deli... Mario Joe & John the barbers at Hair Perfection Rhawn & Castor
I remember the wagon wheel restaurant and the cottman deli.
I think it was Hermann's Sporting Goods in Roosevelt Mall then.
I grew up at Cottman and the Boulevard, near Kleins, Thom McCann shoe store, Cavaliers. Played a lot of pinball there. Graduated from NEHS in 1971. I remember one of the concerts at the Roosevelt Mall was the Grass Roots. There was a record store in the Mall near the side entrance to Klein's... we used to hang out there all the time as the girls who worked there were cute. While we were hanging with the girls, some of the guys would take some LP's.... not cool. Played basketball at the JCC and attended Hebrew school at Beth Emeth. Went to lots of concerts at the Spectrum. Played touch football on Klein's parking lot on Sunday as blue laws required them to be closed. Also played lots of softball at Max Meyers. I had my first job at Greiner's Diner on the boulevard just below Cottman; washed dishes and bussed tables for like $1.15 per hour. Saw my first X rated movie at the Orleans when I was 12, but passed for older... X ratings were like R today. My mom found out and grounded me for a month.
You're right, I saw Tommy James too at the Roosevelt Mall. What wonderful memories.
Castor and levick Nate's delicatessen
I remember the concert with Tommy James and the band singing Crimson and Clover. Does anyone remember the year or any other groups that played??It was the first concert for me and I was trying to figure out how old I was.
Wow, reading through these blogs brings back crazy memories. Burger Chef turned into Hungry Squire when I was in Wilson JHS. We hung out at Galaxy and Cottman Lanes. Favorite pizza hang out was Pizza Point on Dungan Rd near my home on Anita Drive. Tacos at 3 am at Jack in the Box next to the Orleans after a night of partying. And who can forget Artifax for our smoking needs? Crazy times and the greatest music ever!
Tyson movie on Castor near Tyson!! Saw the Verdict there (awesome)!
My parents met at one of those dances at Jardel playground
I was a busboy at Kelly’s seafood. They were cousins of the Owners of Fishers
I was a busboy at Kelly’s seafood. They were cousins of the Owners of Fishers
I was a busboy at Kelly’s seafood. They were cousins of the Owners of Fishers
I was a busboy at Kelly’s seafood. They were cousins of the Owners of Fishers
Greiners Diner is now a mosque. Welcome to America
Does anyone remember a underage dance club that was on the corner of Cottman Avenue and large Street, I believe? It was only there a few years in the 80s? They had big cages With fake animals in them as decoration. I used to pick my brother-in-law up one Saturday night if he stayed too long.
Yep. And Record Museum was next door... a huge pet shop right next to the best place for records.. Heaven!
I was so happy to find this blog! I’ve been trying to remember the name of that store where my Mom & I shopped….it was Marianne! Also remember Brownies…..an adventure in shopping with great bargains.My Aunt was a hostess at Fishers too,not to mention my first long term boyfriend managed the Record Museum.I now live in Northern California,in Berkeley for 45 years but have such love for Philly and my old stomping grounds.The names of the places I used to shop,eat and hang out bring back very fond memories.
BTW.... I Love You Roslie Winkler....
Are there pictures out there of the Jardel dances? How long has Jardel been open? So amazing dances were held there.
It was a cafeteria style restaurant. Most H&H’s by that time, had gone to the cafeteria format.
I worked at Hens Den and wore the clothing…
My father had a clothing store at 8th and South. Big Hearted Jim's
I was a busboy at Jerry’s Essen House in the Roosevelt mall in the 70’s
I clearly remember a cottman transmission place up closer to the Boulevard at least I think I do. I also now live in Arizona and was pretty surprised to find cottman transmission stores here. Growing up in Philly, if you drove in either direction from the front of my house, and drove approx 1 mile, you came to cottman Ave and Whittaker right where jardel was/is. In other words, if you drove down Whittaker in the opposite direction from jardel, Whittaker ended by turning into Anita drive which was a big loop/circle street. Not sure, that was either fox chase or rhawnhurst.
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