Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part I (Mission: driveways, mcmansions)

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by georgepwebster

Once at Naples, Ralph Broncuzio (sp), sat down to visit with my father. I dropped an Adam's plastic-fly-in-an-ice-cube in my dad's water. He took a drink, and told Ralph, who in his customary fashion, loudly berated the entire wait staff. I didn't know until then that a customer service problem was Ralph's short fuse.

Rehash: Ralph was chief chef at Valerio's. They had a culinary "disagreement", Ralph quit, opened the first Naples in the 3600 block of Broadway. If you parked in the lot in back, you entered the dining room through the kitchen. I don't know what year Naples opened, but my dad said the first time he walked in from across the street, he asked for a cheese sandwich, and Ralph yelled at him about dining neapolitan. That may be a stretch, because my grandfather would often ask if a diner had "pie like my mother used to make". When the waitress replied, "We sure do, Hon.", he would ask for a cheese sandwich.

I took my first dinner date there in high school. Called and made reservations for two. When I stepped to the register to pay, I was told by the cashier (maybe Ralph's wife or sister?), that "it was taken care of". I thought my father had done it. But later he denied it. Ralph must've seen the last name on the reservation list, thought my parents were dining, and seeing me and my date realized it had been many years since the fly-in-the-plastic-ice-cube.

I believe at one time Ralph's son was a school teacher.

Is The Barn Door still open? And is anyone old enough to remember Tom's Tackle Shop on Blanco (I think) south of Basse, later in a strip mall on San Pedro. Run by a letter carrier named Tom Culwell.

The Barn Door is still open on North New Braunfels. They actually opened up a new location near Sea World, but that didn't make it. I ate there once, and it was not the same atmosphere as the origirnal and the food just wasn't as good.

[hhwolfman]

Did anyone used to Fish or In their teenage Years, watch the Submarine Races at Pecan Valley Park?

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by hhwolfman

Did anyone used to Fish or In their teenage Years, watch the Submarine Races at Pecan Valley Park?

What year was this? Sounds facinating!

[hhwolfman]

LOL I used to fish there in the 70's and Park there in the 80's. It was a nice place.

[GWhopper]

Many of us remember and probably lament the existance of Lyndy's on Fredericksburg. it was a great little bar that lasted for such a long time. For those who remember this place, this is for you (gotta love the fern bar):

[GWhopper]

In researching various forgotten SA hotspots, I have frequently stumbled upon references to a place called "Wishing Well Manor". It was on Nacodoches outside of Alamo Heights back in the 30's. There is ample record of this place, but before I dig in too deep, does anybody remember anything about this place?

[GWhopper]

Fox photo has been barely mentioned here. How many remember these little drive-up Kiosks? They were based in San Antonio, and revolutionized the consumer photographic market in the US, so much so that Kodack had to aquire them in the mid 1980's.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

Fox photo has been barely mentioned here. How many remember these little drive-up Kiosks? They were based in San Antonio, and revolutionized the consumer photographic market in the US, so much so that Kodack had to aquire them in the mid 1980's.

I remember Fox Photo...and spent a LOT of money there.

Remember Toudouze? Wasn't there a camera place named Toudouze Camera STore? I'm hearing some cheezy jingle in my head about "clickety click at Toudouze". Am I dreaming?

Wasn't there a Toudouze Furniture store as well?

I don't think I ever patronized either.....I just remember advertising.

GW.....I vaguely remember some reference to the Wishing Well Manor. I've driven that part of Nac a million times and for some reason I'm thinking there is some business or school along there that has retained that name or something to do with a "Wishing Well"....?? Again...maybe just dreaming!

[wCat]

GW.....I found a reference to the location and a picture. It looks like it might have been a home that was converted to a restaurant or lodge of some sort. The picture is very faded, but it looks stucco and sort of a Spanish Mission style building. The directions say that it was two miles up Nac from Broadway on the right hand side of the road (going North).

Oh...it was purchased by G.A. Ball in 1946....not sure if that was a new owner, or if he purchased it from someone who had already established the restaurant.

I'll be very interested to hear what you find out about it. It looks very interesting.

The area that I mentioned in my post above would be outside 410 and not in the right location....so that answers the "dreaming" question!

[BudB]

Where is Pecan Valley Park? At first I thot you meant the Lions park below Highlands HS.