Who Remembers Rinks Bargain City? (Columbus, Cincinnati: theatre, living, groceries)

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Jim Burke

Hi, does anyone remember the Federal Bakery that was located on Race Street across the street from Shillito's and a bit to the south? It sat on the corner of Race and an alley way , before you came to Newberry's ten cent store. It was there in the late fifties and early sixties and I remember their bakery goods were placed in olive green boxes that they tied with string.

I certainly remember the bakery on Race. What I cannot place is the name Federal. What I do remember is the old fashioned term tea ring. Their tea rings were some of the best I ever had. Whenever we went downtown we always had to stop and purchase a tea ring. It could serve as a desert with the evening meal or a decadent breakfast adornment, your choice. Haven't had one I could recognize for many years.

[MiddleCincinnati]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

Was Willie Thal also on the shows as a sidekick personality or am I simply dreaming?

When did the Rink's label begin? Is there a story to this?
.

Accompanying Mr. Ulner was indeed the Cincinnati comic actor and impressario Willie Thal. His ex-wife used to teach at our elementary school. A particularly bold kid once asked her whether it was true that she had been married to the same Mr. Thal who appeared on Big Time Wrestling. "That's the winner", she replied.

I seem to recall reading in Hy Ulner's obituary that the name "Rink's" was inspired by the fact that their first store opened in a building formerly housing a skating rink. Maybe his daughter will have more to say on the topic.

[Sweet Sue Ohio]

I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. We used to shop at Rink's Bargain City @ The Reynolds Corner Shopping Center all the time. We lived about .5 miles down the road from the shopping center on Richards Rd.

[mike1003]

Originally Posted by MiddleCincinnati

Accompanying Mr. Ulner was indeed the Cincinnati comic actor and impressario Willie Thal. His ex-wife used to teach at our elementary school. A particularly bold kid once asked her whether it was true that she had been married to the same Mr. Thal who appeared on Big Time Wrestling. "That's the winner", she replied.

I seem to recall reading in Hy Ulner's obituary that the name "Rink's" was inspired by the fact that their first store opened in a building formerly housing a skating rink. Maybe his daughter will have more to say on the topic.

I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the Rinks store in Hamilton was a scatting rink at one time

[rinksshopper]

at the time my parents & i lived in goshen. we always shopped at rinks in mliford. for years that was the place where if you did not make a lot of money you could afford to shop. lawn & garden items i remember was a rinks brand tiller & our first motorized lawn mower was from there. many clothes for school also. i remember his gospel show also that mom & dad always watched.i kept the old tiller until my mom passed in dec.2012 i gave it to a kid down the road who wanted the old style engine to build for go cart racing. oh the great memories of a better time that flood my mind. a kroger store sets there now but when i walk in it i sometimes feel i'm in rinks for just a moment & i smile !

[Rinksgirl]

We had a Rink's in Cambridge, Ohio. I just found one of their bags (no tears) in a drawer. I loved that store!

[missik999]

I worked at Rink's in Lima in 1979 as a teen. There were two Rink's stores, one the east side of town on Harding Hwy and the other on 309 on the west.

[GearHeadDave]

I can STILL remember the Bargain City kids singing the jingle:

Rinky-dinky-dinky-doo
We'll save ya money
Rinky-dinky-dinky-doo...

yikes

[Holis chambers]

Old post, I know, but I want to throw in my 2 cents. I worked at Rink's in Milford from '81 till Rink's went out in '83. I hated it with a passion. The managers treated us like trash. The union we had at the time, UFCW 1099 didn't care one bit for us. They wouldn't fight for higher wages. I never could see the use of that low life union. Back then, working 40 hours a week at minimum wage I would bring home $146.00. However it was enough to pay some bills. It had it's upside though. The people I worked with were nice people. The supervisors treated us with respect and would cut us slack. I had a good buddy that I would fish with on our off hours. After Rink's closed, I went to work for Van lunens in Mason. Much better place to work for. Shortly thereafter, I was headed for Texas to start basic training at Lackland AFB. Oh well.
Holis

[Harvestman]

Rink's also had locations in Northern Kentucky. Here is the one in Newport.
Former Rink's/CVS, Newport, KY by Harvestman Man, on Flickr