Gone but not forgotten in San Antonio! (Mission, Howe: baby, manufacturers)

[GWhopper]

When over a year ago, I posted that venerable Karem's was closing in early 2008 and had sold their location out to a major National retailer, many poster's disputed my claim. Karem's did close in exactly the time frame I reported, I hope that I have some street cred here.

Sadly, another San Antionio institution will end its run shorftly. Soon to be Gone But Not Forgotten is the last remaining Tom's Ribs. they have closed all their locations, minus the last one on 1604 and Stone Oak.That location is set to close on January 4th, though the owner will try to make it last untill the end of January.

[rexkwandosatx]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

When over a year ago, I posted that venerable Karem's was closing in early 2008 and had sold their location out to a major National retailer, many poster's disputed my claim. Karem's did close in exactly the time frame I reported, I hope that I have some street cred here.

Sadly, another San Antionio institution will end its run shorftly. Soon to be Gone But Not Forgotten is the last remaining Tom's Ribs. they have closed all their locations, minus the last one on 1604 and Stone Oak.That location is set to close on January 4th, though the owner will try to make it last untill the end of January.

i'll miss their chopped bbq sandwiches...very tasty and they hit the spot.

[Primo]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

Sadly, another San Antionio institution will end its run shorftly. Soon to be Gone But Not Forgotten is the last remaining Tom's Ribs. they have closed all their locations, minus the last one on 1604 and Stone Oak.That location is set to close on January 4th, though the owner will try to make it last untill the end of January.

We can only hope that the one on 410 and Vance jackson will be reborn into its original incarnation as a Sizzler!

[catriona]

Originally Posted by hhwolfman

I saw Sid and Marty Krofts Kaleidoscope, Which was an actual Live Puf-n-Stuf. This was a few Years before, It was turned in to the Saturday Morning, TV Show.

Me too!! I loved the Kaleidoscope show so much that I begged to see it more than once every time we went. My mom had a bus pass, so we went at least once a week during the summer. I feel sorry for my poor mom, who had to sit through it so many times. I guess she must have felt like I did sitting through endless Barney TV shows!

[BudB]

Originally Posted by wCat

I'm sure there is a quick search I could do (to add to my list of other things I'm researching ), but I just toss it out here anyway. Anyone know who owned or started Handy Andy? I'm drawing a blank right now....and I even had my very first job there! Was it a San Antonio company? I ran across a local individual from the 20's or 30's named Handy Anderson. It just made me wonder.... Probably too much of a coinky dink!

I'm fairly certain that Handy Handy was originally owned and operated by Mr. Charles Becker. His son Charles jr. later became mayor of SA sometime in the '70s.

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by rexkwandosatx

i'll miss their chopped bbq sandwiches...very tasty and they hit the spot.

I always liked their Texas Dip.

Regarding their closure, I wonder how many other local places will be closing in the next year? Basically, what I was told is that their business has been way down all year. Unlike retail stores, their prime season is the summer, when kids are out of school or back from college. This year, their summer business didn't materialize and they needed that revenue to continue operations.

It was interesting that I heard this on the same day that an independant national panel release a report stating that we have technically been in a state of recession since December 2007. The current administration, and most members of the house on both sides of the aisle have known this, but for PR reasons refused to use the "R" word. Instead both sides, including both candidates, used the phrase "economic downturn" which was coined by the White House PR people.

I'm probably on a soapbox here, but when national chains like Circuit City, Linen 'n Things, Benigans, and Steak and Ale are all going out of business over night, and local one's like Tom's are just struggling to make payroll untill they close their doors, It woiuld be nice if our elected leaders, I don't care if they are red or blue, came clean with us. We can't solve problems as a people if our leadership tries to manipulate us as opposed to leveling with us.

And on that note, they should also tell us what the h%$! happened at Roswell!!!

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by BudB

I'm fairly certain that Handy Handy was originally owned and operated by Mr. Charles Becker. His son Charles jr. later became mayor of SA sometime in the '70s.

BudB,
Your information is useful as ever! I did a search in the newspaper archive and found out the history:

A.L. Becker and E.C. Becker were salesmen who seemed to have worked at different places around the country depending on what was booming at the time, the sold Pierce-Arrows, locomobiles (I assume this means cars or maybe trains?) and insurance among other things. In the 1920's, there was a land boom in Florida so the brothers went there and were instrumental in building up Coral Gables. After that, they went into the grocery business. However, they didn't start Handy Andy, a man in New York owned the Hand Andy franchise, so they bought it from him with the money they made off the land. The Handy Andy name came from a character in a book set in Ireland.

They were all set to start running the Handy Andy chain in Florida, but because of one particularly nasty hurricane they changed their mind. Due to A.L. Becker's asthma, they choose San Antonio to relaunch the Handy Andy chain. They opened their first store on Broadway near Josephine Street in 1926.

[wCat]

Thanks Bud! And thanks GW for the added info! I love all the background history! Locomobiles! I love it!

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by wCat

Thanks Bud! And thanks GW for the added info! I love all the background history! Locomobiles! I love it!

The artilce says they also sold something called "pathfinders" and either a "Bal 12" or "Ral 12" (the printing is pretty bad), which even the writer didn't know what they were.

I'm doubting the pathfinders were Nissans.

[GWhopper]

I'm sure somebody already knew this, but its news to me. Locomobiles were what they called the first cars!!!