How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Tucson: roommate, percent)

[SluggoF16]

Impressive piece of history there. I just don't remember Smitty's #14 at 60th and Thomas, only the one at McDowell and Granite Reef. Note the Superstition Freeway ending at Stapley, for the longest time it ended at Price, and no freeway connecting to LA.

[AZBradley]

I still call my Fry's "Smitty's"! #21, I remember them selling rifles & ammo!

[azdr0710]

Smitty's is the whole reason I found city-data!

was googling around one day about five years ago to find any old Smitty's stories and that led to this thread!.....there was also an old employees' memories website that I think is now gone....many, many employees wrote about their time at Smitty's at that other site.....great store, high employee morale, locally owned!.....

not a facebook kinda guy, but here're a couple of Smitty's memories:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...38156336272364

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smitt...38156336272364

[Arizona Mike]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

Impressive piece of history there. I just don't remember Smitty's #14 at 60th and Thomas, only the one at McDowell and Granite Reef. Note the Superstition Freeway ending at Stapley, for the longest time it ended at Price, and no freeway connecting to LA.

We used to go to the Smitty's on 60th and Thomas when visiting at a friend's house. More recently, one of the victims of the Phoenix Serial Snipers was murdered on the street in front of it.

[chaparrito]

Originally Posted by jukebox47

Smitty's Grocery Stores started at 16th St and Henshaw (Buckeye Rd, these days). We went to the grand opening of #1 and it was something to see in those days. So big and so many things like the delicatessen with the chickens going round and round as they cooked. It had to be sometime prior to 1963 because when President Kennedy was killed we bought the Arizona Republic for that day; I still have it somewhere.

South, on 16th St at Mojave St was the original Food City. We still did most of our shopping there; I believe it was less expensive. I think Sam Billings owned it but I do not remember for sure. I also think Johnny Loper was the "carry-out boy boss" for a sometime. Johnny Loper became well known for his famous automotive speed shop in Phoenix.

We lived further north and east but our family's dairy farm was south of the river. Our weekend jaunts to the dairy included shopping at the original Food City and later Smitty's. Wikipedia says Clyde Smith founded Smitty's Big Town in '61.

[chaparrito]

Originally Posted by observer53

Spent a lot of time in those cozy little sitting rooms in the bar section of the Tempe location. Lots of memories. You have the time frame right.

I probably made you a drink or two.

[toextra]

Originally Posted by Applegate8

Upon further reflection, there may have been a gas station on the northeast corner in the late '60s. I just don't remember.

When I was attending ASU 68-72, I bought gas there sometimes. It was a Conoco at one point, don't remember what it was before or after.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by chaparrito

We lived further north and east but our family's dairy farm was south of the river. Our weekend jaunts to the dairy included shopping at the original Food City and later Smitty's. Wikipedia says Clyde Smith founded Smitty's Big Town in '61.

Possibly the first Smitty's

[chaparrito]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Possibly the first Smitty's
Attachment 132264

That's it!
Where do you all find these pics anyhow?

[dgsaz1950]

I believe that the 16th and Buckeye Rd Smitty's was the first. It opened in 1959 0r 1960

Part of the first Smitty's and the Walgreen to the south are now the headquarters for Customs and Immigration. I found the same picture and used it as the beginning of the course of construction photos for the renovation.

Then and now photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/dgsjms/...Wny7_18s2B0gE#

dgsaz