Gone but not forgotten in Jacksonville!

[Florida Ex-Pat]

[Florida Ex-Pat]

...and a bonus, I remembered I photographed the Huey Lewis & the News show back in '86- This guy opened for Huey.......

[majormadmax]

ggregchap

Actually, it was called La Chateau; and we used to surf there all the time. I think it was Hugo that finally washed away the small pier that used to be there (it actually have have been before that); but it was a sweet little break that was never crowded.

The Green Turtle was another favorite, it's still around but the place is pretty crowded these days. Of course, since I haven't surfed since I don't know when, it doesn't really bother me; but it is sad to see all of our favorite surf spots disappearing!

Cheers! M2

[LRChevy]

OK so most of the posters so far have a decade or two on me (maybe more?) but I know it was a popular place for myself in the 80s/90s as well as for my mom in the 50s-90s. It's also not in Jax, but everyone from Jax seemed to go there... Stricklands Landing? The lake place in Starke? I remember going there it seemed like EVERY weekend that it was open through out the year, and more durring the summers when I was little. I was sad to see it close a few years back (02 I think it was?)

I haven't been to Jax since I left in early 03, so I guess the places I have the fondest memories of that are gone now were Mobleys Sundries on Old Kings Road(my dad used to take us kids there for burgers when he worked for CSX, and Mr Herman used to tell us all sorts of stories, and give us free ice cream!) and O'Steens and Cathey's in the Paxon shopping center (before O'Steens moved across the street into it's own building). I remember all the little cafes my granny used to take us to when we were really little. I almost forgot the ones that used to be in the Pic and Saves!

Most of my later years were spent in the sticks out past the West side. Whitehouse/Baldwin/Maxville/Macclenny... even those have all become little cities that used to be towns with NOTHING! My Great Grandmother has never been more excited than when she called me in Turkey to tell me Baldwin got a red light lol

[ggregchap]

OMG !! Mobleys...at what we called "Grand Crossing". I worked for many years with Southern Bell in that area and that was a favorite stop for us...and the train crews....they had ther best burgers and genuine Milk shakes cooked by an Elvis wannabee behind the counter. The place was pretty run down in the early 70's when we went there....and we used to watch the engineers pull across the road and park on the tracks just down from Mobleys...and walk up to the store. It was about the only good place to eat out in that area for a few miles around. Thanks for the memories !! I had not thought of "Grand Crossing" in years....and i think it was like 15 sets of tracks you had to drive across to get back there....

[ggregchap]

I, too, can remember the "Cafe's " in the old Pic and Save stores. Most of us older "Jax Brats" give directions from "where the old Pic and Save used to be"....and other folks can find places with ease !! How the lanscape around town has changed. Thanks to Florida Ex Pat for the pictures of long ago, and how much the sky line has changed from even then. The last remaining drive in in the city closed...the PlayTime Drive in...a flea market by day and drive-in by night....and what a sad passing of a good time...and I remember most of the drive-ins this city used to have and ALL of the good times had by us all....sneaking friends in stashed in the trunk...running around and meeting our friends by the back fences...a truly American adventure and invention....the Drive in Theater...

[Florida Ex-Pat]

PlayTime Drive in!!! OMG forgot about that place!

I bought the Hedman headers for my first car, a '75 Camaro from Honest Charlies Speed Shop, that was directly in front of the PlayTime- I remember back in the day we would park off the road there and watch the 'movies' over the fence where a hole had been burrowed lol ;-)

And of course, remember the 'House of Bargains' that was a bit further up Blanding from there?

[ggregchap]

Yeah, the "House of Bargins" was just a bit further in town from the Play Time Drive in. I went there about 3 years ago and they still had the 3 screens, but no "speakers in the window". You tuned in your FM radio for that movie on a specific channel. Kinda nice, especially if you have a killer sound system in your vechicle !! But, the snack bar still had the same stuff...served by the same folks...but it was still neat to be there. I drove by the old location of Wacky Golf on Beach Blvd. on Sunday and the orange dinsaour is still standing there...in front of a new strip mall...I had many good times playing golf there and riding the go carts...ah, well !! And who remembers Mountasia....the PREMIER putt putt course and game room across from Regency Square ?? Thanks for the memories, my friends !!

[dcarlo]

I remember alot of what you are talking about. Terri and Debbie Wilson belonged to the order of the Rainbow for girls.And were very active members.Is anyone out there still belong to OES Riverside Chapter?

Originally Posted by harleyangelbrat

Does anybody remember the "Jacksonville Firebirds. My brother, Terry Knowles made player of the year one of the few years they played. I went to almost every game. Those were the good old days. Before that I graduated from Ed White Hi in 1973 and I remember before the school was built, our bus driver, Mr. Helms asked us to show up early for the bus and he would take us by there to see the new school while they were finishing it. I was the first student to walk through those doors is what the bus driver told me. I remember we had MODS for class periods. I would have two mods for some classes and four for others. I worked in the office as a switchboard operator. I remember Mike B. was popular. i think he played football. He was a nice guy and the Terry and Debbie W. were cheerleaders. They were twins. Ed White was a great school then. Remember Mark O. and drama class. He was a real nice guy, too. I think he later married the drama teacher which was cool. Was her name Wilson? It has been many years. Wish I could go back.

Also speaking of Normandy Mall, (someone did) do you remember that little researh company "Irwin Research"? I worked there as an assistant to Clarisse Irwin the first day they opened and wish I could get in touch with them if they are still around. They were good people. They grew into a big research company later. And Montgomery Wards....it later turned into Jefferson Ward. I use to work for Montgomery Wards in the record dept. My nickname was "BIG MAC" not because I was big, but because I walked real fast and confident. Do not know why they picked that name. haha. I also worked in signing and display. it was fun making the signs from scratch with a big printer. Had to put the letters in a metal setting and everything. Man, do I feel old now! I loved Orange Julius. They were so good. Eckerds was right next to it. They use to have such good prices. Not Eckerds anymore.
I miss the Pep rallies we use to have at Ed White. We had some really lively ones. I wonder if Glen and Sharon D are still together??? Oh well, just wanted to remember the good old days. Just putting my two cents worth in. Hope it was not annoying. God bless!

[dcarlo]

I am so glad this thread continues to hang on. I moved from Jax to NY 30 yrs ago.I miss Jax. Does anyone out there remember a place downtown with the name "Hawthorne Juices"? You could get the best pineapple juice and coconut milk there. I just loved the downtown area. There were certain places in Jax that I was not allowed to go when I was growing up. Bay ST Beaver St Springfield. My parents called them rough neighborhoods.Does anyone remember a band called MOUSE,The Boys and Brass.Or something siimilar to that?