Gone but not forgotten in Jacksonville! (Holly Hill, Middleburg: military, motel, trip)

[steppen]

Originally Posted by jimbo13

ha. i was a waiter at patti's way back in 1989 and remember the awesome boneless chicken parmesan, as well as the two ancient old ladies that had worked there for thirty years. what a memory.

Did they still have the birthday pizzas with the sparklers? I used to love taking those out. The after dinner wine, great homemade Italian dressing and the spumoni and tortoni ice cream. Did Mrs. Morgan still work as cashier when you were there? I remember Totsie always worked in the front dining room and Joyce who was always so tanned worked in the back dining room (she trained me) Was Mr. Pellegrino still there when you worked there? I believe he was the Patti's cousin. I remember the son Pat going to a Best of Chefs in Jax thing at the Thunderbird Restaurant on Arlington Expressway. I was picked to go as the waitress from Patti's. Mr. Patti's mother told me she was so proud of me because out of all the other waitresses from the other places I was the only one to use my tray. Some times I would leave my car at the restaurant all night when I would go out with friends. I drove a little silver Opel Kadette. When I would come to work the next day, it would be sitting in front of the side door. The bus boys loved to pick up my car and move it. LOL

[steppen]

It would be nice to see some pictures from some of the places that aren't around anymore. Is there a place where they could be posted?

[jimbo13]

Originally Posted by steppen

Did they still have the birthday pizzas with the sparklers? I used to love taking those out. The after dinner wine, great homemade Italian dressing and the spumoni and tortoni ice cream. Did Mrs. Morgan still work as cashier when you were there? I remember Totsie always worked in the front dining room and Joyce who was always so tanned worked in the back dining room (she trained me) Was Mr. Pellegrino still there when you worked there? I believe he was the Patti's cousin. I remember the son Pat going to a Best of Chefs in Jax thing at the Thunderbird Restaurant on Arlington Expressway. I was picked to go as the waitress from Patti's. Mr. Patti's mother told me she was so proud of me because out of all the other waitresses from the other places I was the only one to use my tray. Some times I would leave my car at the restaurant all night when I would go out with friends. I drove a little silver Opel Kadette. When I would come to work the next day, it would be sitting in front of the side door. The bus boys loved to pick up my car and move it. LOL

wow. those are vivid memories indeed! i can't recall ms. morgan, but pellegrino sounds familiar to me. i only worked there a year, but ate a lion's share of chicken parm. i do recal working for sunday brunch and making pretty good $$ to just walk around clearing plates all day and i even recall there was a couple that came in every sunday that everyone hated to serve because the wife was bulemic, ha ha.

[steppen]

I wonder if that was the couple that also would tip 50 cents. lol

[Pioneers62]

What became of the Thunderbird? I worked there briefly in the mid-seventies but have been gone for some 30 years.

[clmacman]

Originally Posted by Pioneers62

What became of the Thunderbird? I worked there briefly in the mid-seventies but have been gone for some 30 years.

Holiday Inn took over the old Thunderbird Hotel for several years after a remodel during the late 80s and into the 90s. After that, Ramada Inn took it over but eventually they went out of business. A few years ago, the property was sold to some African-American Church (Bethel-Lite?) in town and they were supposed to use it as a convention center, but the place has become really run down and looks totally abandoned. It's surrounded by a chain-link fence and all of the shrubbery and vegetation is overgrown and not maintained at all. I think the place should be condemned and torn down. It's a shame because for a period of time after Holiday Inn took it over and remodeled it, it was actually a pretty nice facility. I had my wedding reception there in 1989 and a 10th year high school reunion there in 1990.

[LisaFla]

Well, I just found Winston Dean. Finally. He's selling real estate. What a waste of talent. Oh well, hopefully he made a pile of $$$ before the market hit the skids.

[RockSteadyVibe]

I remember the old Normandy Mall. It had the Orange Julius stand, the two-screen Twin Theatres, an Aladdin's Castle video arcade, Spa Fitness, and a popcorn shop. Some of the stores that have been in that mall were Montgomery Ward (later Jefferson Ward), Eckerd Drugs, Woolco, Roses Department Store, Murphy's Mart, Tempo Fashions, Sam's Wholesale Club, Radio Shack, and Sports-a-foot. There is a strip mall next to the mall that had Save Way (now Sally) Beauty Supply and Pantry Pride (later Rawsons) among other stores. The mall has been remodeled and is now owned by the Potter's House.

I also remember Peterson's Five and Dime in Five Points, Club Five, the Skinner's Dairy drive-thru buildings (there was one near Lee High School that is now demolished) that were called "Dairystores", Family Video (one was in Avondale and later on Roosevelt in Venetia), and the Roosevelt Mall (which had Woolworth's, Ivey's, Stein Mart and May Cohens/May Florida/Maison Blanche/Gayfers/Belk, the hot dog stand, Kinney Shoes, Underwood's Jewelry and Musicland).

[apanda]

Originally Posted by RockSteadyVibe

I remember the old Normandy Mall. It had the Orange Julius stand, the two-screen Twin Theatres, an Aladdin's Castle video arcade, Spa Fitness, and a popcorn shop. Some of the stores that have been in that mall were Montgomery Ward (later Jefferson Ward), Eckerd Drugs, Woolco, Roses Department Store, Murphy's Mart, Tempo Fashions, Sam's Wholesale Club, Radio Shack, and Sports-a-foot. There is a strip mall next to the mall that had Save Way (now Sally) Beauty Supply and Pantry Pride (later Rawsons) among other stores. The mall has been remodeled and is now owned by the Potter's House.

I also remember Peterson's Five and Dime in Five Points, Club Five, the Skinner's Dairy drive-thru buildings (there was one near Lee High School that is now demolished) that were called "Dairystores", Family Video (one was in Avondale and later on Roosevelt in Venetia), and the Roosevelt Mall (which had Woolworth's, Ivey's, Stein Mart and May Cohens/May Florida/Maison Blanche/Gayfers/Belk, the hot dog stand, Kinney Shoes, Underwood's Jewelry and Musicland).

I grew up about a 1/4 of a mile away from that mall on Post. 3 houses down from the Wendy's. I loved going to that theater as a girl, they had cheese pop-corn. My mom & I used to use the laundry mat in the strip next to the mall. I remember when the Super Cuts burned down a few shops down. There was also a Qunicy's across the street that I loved eating at. I went to Ramona Elementary & Temple day care. The memories!

[Jimmy46]

The name of the revolving restuarant at the top of what was the Charter Bldg was the "Embers". We only went there once but enjoyed the panoramic view of the city while we ate.

My wife remembers the Penny Burger thing at Herschell and St Johns as well as the A&P, etc. I remember, as a little fella, when Roosevelt Mall/Square was neither. We used to dig underground forts there before the Mall was built. I also remember when the Ortega River Boatyard was just a concrete ramp and a single pier out into the water.

I really grew up in Arlington (Terry Parker) and San Jose (DuPont HS) and remember when Regency Suare wasn't and the Arlington Shopping Center had a trampoline attraction, the Arlington Donut Shop and Arlington Theater, Town and Country Theater, Waldz' Deli, Bruce Park during the summer, Sandalwood before it was developed, Lions Club Dances, etc. I don't remember the area called "Cosmo"...we had a different name for it. Yes, the Saki Shop and Art Schell has good memories.

I remember "Thrill Hill" and the wooden bridge as Ft Caroline turned 90 degrees and into Girvin Road. Yes, I remember being able to ride the Power Lines from Ft Caroline all the way to the Blvd's or until a person got tired.

My wife moved me to Avondale and it is so much better due to the traffic and beautiful homes. Gee, how can I remember so much when I'm still so young?