How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Mesa: prices, shopping center)

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

Lee

This one's for you. Johns Green gables. c. 1950

Hey, I went to high school early 1950's with this guy on the horse. I do not remember his name but had lunch with him once at the Chili Pepper, a Mexican dive on McDowell and 12th Street. The bill was probably about 75 cents for two of us; he left a $1 tip and said he made a lot of money at Green Gables parking cars.

As we left the Chili Pepper restaurant there was a sign 'see our kitchen' so we went to the parking lot that way; there were cockroaches all over the ceiling.

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by nitram

Anyone remember Sambo's restuarants, specifically at bell & cave Creek Rds back in the 60's?

Yes. They were originally called "Little Black Sambo's" and they're logo was a small (very) black boy with a bone in his hair. Stereotype?... what stereotype?

I think they became Denny's right?

[roosevelt]

Someone mentioned Uptown Plaza. That was a Del Webb strip mall shaped like an L built before Park Central so would actually be the first mall in Phoenix. I recall Websters Hobby Shop, who used to be at Green Park on east Van Buren in the 40's, there was also a Piggly Wiggly grocery store at Uptown Plaza, Helsing's coffee shop and McCrary's Pharmacy that moved up to the Central and Camelback location from Central and McDowell.

[Westside Willie]

I like how your buddy didn't even bother to remove his dorky dork glasses for the photo-op. Sheesh!

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by amatrine

Miss real monsoon storms. Remember the dust storms that were so bad, you thought a hurricane was going on outside, and did not dare walk outside, but when it was over, jumping on a bike and riding through the streams of water on the streets. It was so refreshing.

Heck I remember tubing down Marlette Ave (west side at 43rd Ave) after the rainstorms. Who needs the verde river?

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by MichaelinWA

Commodore Condello's Salt River Navy Band - they rocked, at least according to the ears of this elementary school student.

Well since you're a fan...

sadly Mike Condello commited suicide back in the 90's

ps

thats Ladmo on the far left.

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

I do also remember terminal 1, which was closed down after terminal 4 opened in late 1990, and it was later torn down.

Here's Sky Harbor in 1957

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

I remember actually going to Metro while it was still under construction. Some stores (anchors) were already open. I exited on the wrong side and spent an hour trying to find my car in the 110 degree heat. Ahhh.. summers in Phoenix.

Here's a pic of it under construction in 1972.
BTW the "airplane" bar was called the Metro Lounge. You could look out the portholes and watch the ice skaters below on the ground level.

Enjoy.

Willie

Interesting history about Metro Center, you will notice there is no exit on the south side and the rest of the exits are way too few for a mall this size. Why this happened is because there was a Globe Department Store on Peoria and the freeway, that would be on the northeast side of Metro Center. Globe went to court effectively blocking good access and exits from Metro; Globe thought Metro was going to hurt their business; Globe stores nationwide went bankrupt shortly after Metro opened; Metro actually was helping this one store not hurting it but to this day the south exit is ridiculous.

[Westside Willie]

OMFG - I forgot about Kurt the Klown. Wow what a mind bender -thanx a load.

How about Aquanetta? Aquanetta anybody... married to Jack Ross the Lincoln Merc dealer - B movie actress.

[Greatday]

The first "Mall" in the Valley was Park Central Mall. Formerly the Park Central Dairy

Then came the first enclosed and cooled mall - Christown - then Thomas Mall

I say "cooled" because it was at first Evap cooled - not refrigerated. But, to go shopping, in the middle of a summer day was wonderful in a "cooled" mall.