Mayo Speaks Up and The Good Old Days
Dennis Mayo gives a thumbs down to David Cobb and a thumbs up to Richard Marks in his op- ed in the Eureka Reporter this morning.
Looks like Dennis' front yard will be a definite spot for your yard signs in 2008, Rich.
***********
Speaking of Richard Marks; Checking his blog this morning, I was saddened to hear of the permanent closing of the Manila Market. Now there's no neighborhood store on the peninsula. Shame to see that happen.
To add insult to injury, one of his commentors lists some other stores and restaraunts that have shut down in the area, never to open again. I don't know about you but, when you get older, more and more things you knew and enjoyed go away, never to be seen again.
Change is inevitable, but that doesn't mean it's always pleasant.
This got me to thinking about the 33 years I've lived up here and what changes have taken place over that time. Are things better now than they were 33 years ago, or worse?
Hard to say. I can think of a few places that went by the wayside up here that I'm sorry to have seen go and will likely never be replaced.
I mentioned in the comments on Rich's blog the A&W Root Beer on the corner of Myrtle and West in Eureka, where that Mexican Restaraunt now stands. Ever have the tacos they made? Those were the best I've ever had in my life. Slimy, greasy things you could almost suck the innards out of with a straw. They were great. Now they're gone. Forever.
Tom's Sourdough Pizza, on Myrtle Avenue in Eureka. That used to be one of my favorite hangouts when I lived in Myrtletown. I used to walk down there, grab a seat near the window and drink beer. A nice informal place to hang out.
Great pizza at Tom's, too, although I'll admit towards the end I probably didn't buy pizza there more than once or twice a year. It was a couple bucks more than other pizza in town, but worth it, if you could afford it. My favorite was the combination with anchovies.
The best thing about Tom's, though, was the deep fried potatoe chips they made. They sliced up big baker potatoes, dipped them in some kind of batter and deep fried them. Those were the best- a meal all by themselves.
I tried to talk one of the guys working there into giving me the secret of how they were made. He wouldn't say, except to mention that buttermilk might help. I tried making the batter a few times but never came close to what Tom's put out.
Tom's Deep Fried Chips. Gone forever.
I miss Sabrina's Restaraunt, too, if only cause I used to like to hang out there, having worked there for three years, or so. It used to be across from the Eureka Theater. I believe there's some Mexican restaraunt there now.
Interestingly enough, the original Sabrina's mother, Babs, was trying to start up a restaraunt in the same building a few years ago. I was looking forward to that, going back to the good old days. The deal feel through, though, and they opened in the old Tom's Sourdough Pizza building in Myrtletown as Babbetta's. Sabrina even works there.
Still, not the same as Sabrina's.
Then there's the stores that come and go. Some are easily replaced. Some aren't.
My biggest loss was Food Mart in friendly Henderson Center, right up the street from my house. Rite Aid has the building now and comes nowhere close to replacing Food Mart.
That was a great store. A real community center. Even had a bulletin board for posting local notices and stuff. Everybody hated to see that place close down. I can't imagine anything could come close to replacing Food Mart there. Gone forever.
Things come and go. That's life. Good changes happen as well, but I don't know that the good changes always make up for the bad ones.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 9:02 AM
77 comments
77 Comments:
I miss Carl's Fine Omelettes (sp?). The coffee wasn't my favorite, but the meals and service were great.
I don't know that I remember Carl's Fine Omelettes. I know there used to be an omelette place on Broaday called T-Bones. It was next to the store across the street from the main post office, whatever that store's called now I don't know. It used to be a Kacy's or Murphy's and waaay long ago I heard used to be a meat packing plant.
As an aside, the guy that owned and operated T- Bones used to own and live in the house I live in now, or so I was told by an 80+ year old customer I work for.
For me it was Shakey's Pizza on 4th Street.
It always reminded me of Arnold’s on TV’s “Happy Days” where all the local youth would congregate in the evenings.
Those of us who grew up anywhere in Humboldt County in the 70’s and early 80’s remember Shakey's was THE place to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Eureka, especially after a local high school football or basketball game.
I can still remember the lines snaking out the front door and it would take over 30 minutes standing in line just to order your pizza.
My how times have changed!
I miss Red Baron's Pizza.
And Carriage Pop.
I remember Shakey's. Been there a few times. Isn't it some oriental food type restaraunt now? I liked Shakey's, if only because the first Pizza I ever ate was at a Shakey's in Tustin, CA.
Speaking of sports; Tom's Sourdough turned into a sports place the last few years it was around. All kinds of sports stuff all over the place, especially in the banquet room, or whatever it was called.
It must have been where everyone went after Shakey's closed. I thought Tom's lost a lot of its ambiance, at least the ambiance I was looking for when it turned into a sports place. Go in there on weekend nights and all kinds of teams would be having their victory , or losing, party.
Which reminds me of the first place in Humboldt I ever ate a pizza at. The first day I came to town, in fact: Angelos, on 7th Street in Eureka.
It's still there to this day. I'll never understand why. Not that there's anything wrong with the place. I just figured if Shakey's and Tom's went by the wayside, why not Angelo's?
Yeah, Carl's on Broadway was a fine place for breakfast. A real working man's place. Lot's of fishermen, PG&E guys, loggers. Good food at a decent price. A great place for pastrami sandwiches was The Sunshine Deli, at the Eureka Mall. Best pastrami I've ever had. Bob moved the deli upstairs after Sears moved and did not take his pot of pastrami with him, and I've been searching for a good pastrami sandwich ever since.
I don't know that I remember Carl's Fine Omelettes.
It just closed a year or so ago actually. The sign's still up and it hasn't been leased to anybody else despite being a primo spot. It's on Broadway near the post office.
Shakeys??? That was a chain that was around when I was a kid. Had birthday parties there. Also Farrell's ice cream, which also went belly up.
Ok. Carl's Omelettes is where T- Bones used to be, I believe. I don't know if it was T- Bones or Carl's when I went in there, but I only went in there once.
Forget food, I miss Sharkey's arcade.
I remeber riding my bike down there for the weekend earlybird special: 50 tokens for $5 (a token = a quarter).
Obviously I'm a scosh younger than you guys, but I miss Sharkey's.
Sigh
-JMan
How a bout a few of those we should cherrish while they are here:
AA - best steaks and a real nice bar.
I remember Carl's going way back to the '70s. I'm not familiar with T-Bones. If you want a good burger, go to Opry Ally Bistro. And the fries are great, too. But ya know what I'd really like to see come to Eureka? Inn N Out. There was an Inn N Out in Pomona when we moved there in 1957 from San Francisco, and they have always been the best. And they've been expanding. There's one in Santa Rosa, Redding, and even one in Baker, Oregon. But in lieu of Inn N Out, try the Opry Ally Bistro.
All you guys do is think about food. I miss Sharkey's Arcade, across from McDonald's where the tattoo place is now.
Carl's Fine Omelettes only closed a few years ago. I never went inside, but how could you miss its huge wall-painted name at that curve on Broadway?
The best steaks are when WinCo puts the chuck eye on sale for $2.98 a lb. Marinated in Italian salad dressing with a dash of Soy Sauce, BBQed rare.
Hot Roast Beef from Sunshine Deli! Man they had good sandwiches. The best breakfast I remember was at the cafe in Bazar when I worked there. The Kahoalli's owned it and the food was always consistent.
Speaking of Grocery store memories, do you remember the Turkey Wars? When the big local groceries competed head-to-head on the price of their Thanksgiving Turkeys?
Everybody with a stove got to eat a wonderful big meal for almost no money at all.
Did the other Sharkey's poster do that entirely by coincidence, or do I have a twin? Very odd...
-JMan
The fewer places to shop means that there will be less chance for people to witness the abuse of animal sacrifice. Manilla is crawling with santerians and charles douglas is one of them! Don't be fooled! His newspaper is a front for his anti-animal activities. I witnessed he and other people in his office discussing santerian rituals, talking about how many chickens and cats they would need. At one point I heard charles say "thank god for all the feral cats around here, we'll never run out." Then they all started laughing. I've seen knives in charles's office that had dried blood on them...dried CAT blood no doubt.
There all against me! He's got lawyers and judges and cops who are all part of his santerian cult! His newpaper is a front! is involvement in the ACLU is a front! His involvement in the green party is a front! If I disappear after tommorrow know its because that psychopathic santerian cult has moved up to HUMAN sacrifice! I've begged lavelle, david cobb, and so many others to expose charles douglas for what he is and they won't because they are afraid!
nick are you off your meds again?
I miss Rico's Pizza and their 28" pizza. Holy cow you could feed a family of six.
For that matter, remember when pizza parlors talked about their pizzas in terms of the diameter inches? When they started saying "large" and "extra large" we didn't notice each year we got less pizza for our buck.
A little history. The Carl's Omelettes place was T-Bones prior to that...but way before T-Bones, Stanton Elliot of Stanton's restaurant local chain fame opened up the first soft serve ice cream stand in Humboldt County there after attending the World's Fair and begging the man selling soft serve for a franchise. Of course, what did he call this new fangled ice cream delight? Fresh Freeze. And Fresh Freeze started the chain that included Stanton's (with Woodsman Room)in Eureka, Pam's in Fortuna, Deb's in Eureka, Stanton's Red Barn in Mckinleville, Stanton's Little Red Barn on F Street in Eureka and am I forgetting anything else? Also when the Elliot family sold to Steve Dolphini's Redwood Restaurants, they went on to own and manage the Samoa Cookhouse.
A good local chain of restaurants.
Speaking of chains....Angelo's Pizza with Pizzaz had close to 20 stores from Santa Rosa to Medford.
All started in Eureka.
But hey you guys are forgetting Steve's Coney Island in the trailer on the other side of the street in Henderson Center next to Cherry Blossom Bakery. Best chili dogs in the western world.
L&M Drive In ...5 hamburgers or burritos for $1
Eric, just a little friendly dig and all in fun....but you'll have to create your own Humboldt restaurant memories with the Woodrose Cafe or perhaps the Tofu Shop in Arcata or the new Green Evolution Center in Blue Lake. That's your history of this place.
If a restaurnt doesn't have a Logger Burger on the menu...it ain't shit.
Bon Appetit!
So 3:45
So what's wrong with Thom's sourdough cat and chicken pizza...with extra cheese.....it's a delight!
I could do without the feline.
5:39 PM asked: am I forgetting anything else?
Dot's, now Toni's, and Bim's, now a mexican restaurant. Bim's had the best view in Arcata. Man, I switched over to the Blogger beta and I can no longer post with my hucktunes blog account. Back to square one.
Actually, The Keg beer bar in Arcata served the most wonderful ham and cheese sandwich I've ever eaten. Tasty and served on a huge roll. This would have been in the late sixties.
Also, there was a organic food restaurant located just around the block from there, on G Street, a few years later in the early seventies. It served great tasting, hearty vegetarian fare for unbelievably low prices. Just the ticket for a starving student. It was run on a co-operative basis. Nice folks, but they didn't charge enough to keep the business afloat. Anybody remember the name of that restaurant?
Mama's?
Plaza Gormet
One nmore time. Sorry Fred, blogger beta ain't ready yet.
Anonymous said...
Plaza Gormet
11:50 PM
I'm pretty sure it was called Mama's. They had fish tacos. But Plaza Gourmet was a great sandwich shop. The no drinking on the plaza law killed that business. How about Don's Donuts? I used to love to watch Don walk up the hill to Well's Fargo every Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30 with two big bags of money. And a big smile on his face.
There's nothin' like a home-cooked meal, right? Few local spots remain. Instead, we get Applebee's, Carl's Junior and Jack in the Box -- franchises and chains.
The same trend has happened to retail stores, with the added impact of web-based shopping. In the last twenty years, Eureka has lost countless small businesses, including many that had been open for 50 or 100 years or more. Is that good? (Try to buy a suit in Eureka lately?)
We drove by three Home Depots between here and Ashland this weekend. All you see is orange Home Depot Home Depot Home Depot.
Provided Home Depot can find an acceptable location in Humboldt County (I am not convinced the Balloon Tract will be that location) let's hope we can still go somewhere to find the odd-sized bolt or that specialty tool we need to fix the screen door.
If not, we can just buy a whole new door at Home Depot and stop by Applebee's for some fried food on the way home. Progress? I would rather get the part at Shafer's or Pierson's and get a bite at Rita's or the Waterfront.
If you miss the local food of yore, wait a few years then try to find obscure hardware. You will miss that, too -- but your new door, or whatever product, will be a really, really good "deal".
One thing you're forgetting, Greg, is the vast majority of the places that have gone by the wayside over the years were still doing good business. They closed for reasons of their own.
It would be hard to blame those closures on big boxes, assuming that's where you're heading with this.
No Name (Brand) Burger Stand in Ferndale.
Doesn't Shafer's support the Home Depot coming to Eureka?
In the late seventies Vivian Gill ran a little burger stand next to the post office in Fields Landing. This was before she and her husband Ben opened up the Whalers Inn. Man, those were great burgers at a great price, wrapped in a classic chessburger bag.
Hey, Sharkey's guy! Did you ever figure out the trick of using HSU copy machine tokens at Sharkey's? HSU sold their copy tokens for something like 5 cents each, and they were the exact same size and weight as the Sharkey's tokens.
That was a lot of fun until we got busted.
I still love Stars burgers. I think they're the best. And Ijal's was a true Humboldt gem... chicken curry to die for. Melbourne, come back, we miss you.
Orange Elmo
Stars is really great. So was that hardware/plumbing store next to the cigar place on Myrtle ave. You could get stuff there that Piersons never even heard of. We really miss Roger and family's Burger Time. They sold out to Taco Bell (yuk) Guess we're getting old.
Burger Time sold out to Jack in the Box didn't they?
Roger brought the franchise "Weiner King" to Eureka and since he was the only franchise on the West Coast, he didn't get much help from the company, so he dropped the franchise and turned it into Burger Time. But, like other local business folks, Roger succumbed to the "I will make you an offer you can't refuse" and sold to Jack In The Box. Now, he didn't have to. But, sometimes the money is too great. Food Mart, the same thing. After the passing of the patriarch's of the clan, The Velluntini family sold to Safeway who made it a provision in the sale that the Henderson Center store could not be built into a grocery. When you play by the Devil's rules....He wins.
hank sims said...
Hey, Sharkey's guy! Did you ever figure out the trick of using HSU copy machine tokens at Sharkey's?
Remember when Coor's beer had the push tab? The larger one worked perfect as a dime in the parking meters. I drank a lot of Coors in those days.
The old Taco Bell was a fun place. It's too bad the owner pulled the plug after the sheriff's deputy accused them of spitting in her food. The manager was and still is a friend of mine and I do believe that the incident did not occur.
9:55 -- You've hit on a major pet peeve of mine. I don't need a full-on supermarket in Henderson Center, though. I'd be more than happy with a simple neighborhood grocery where you can buy a vegetable or two. Do such things even exist anymore?
I like Henderson Center, but the retail mix is all messed up. There's too many specialty shops -- places that you might go once a month or once a year -- and not enough neighborhood, day-to-day places.
Hank = you been to Oaxca (FU SP) on Henderson just east of F? Very good food and service.
No -- I'll have to check that out. I went to the place that was in that spot right before Oaxaca and I didn't much care for it.
That's good, though. For restaurants I couldn't ask for better. A good breakfast place (Coney Island), a decent burger joint, decent Chinese and now, you're telling me, good Mexican.
If Vellutini's were just a little bit more cafe-like, I wouldn't have any complaints at all on that front. I want my grocery, though, and I want that bookshop to come back.
Cobb had a Marks sign in his yard. Mayo needs to get to Eureka more often.
Dennis is a great guy. About ten years ago a mutual friend, now departed, got into some trouble with the law. He sat in jail with his picture splattered on the front page of the TS, as well as on TV. Lots of folks took the opportunity to deride him as a scoundrel. Dennis mortgaged his house and came up with the money for bail.
Yes, and Henderson Center is sadly lacking a good hat blocking shop and flashlight repair store.
Hank, you're forgetting Handee Market just down F Street about two blocks past JoAnn's. And what about Harris and K Liquors. Sure it's a bit of an extra effort, but they are neighborhood stores. Harris & K is very much a hub of the neighborhood. Have you noticed that Henderson Center has rarely an empty storefront. Sure the building around Grotto and E tends to have transient shops, but by and large it's quite a happening shopping district. Henderson Center Market & Deli used to reside where Papa Murphy's is now. But the owner purchased Myrtle Avenue Market and decided against running both stores. Also, Food Mart was operating at the time. Competition, I surmise.
I will agree with you that Henderson Center deserves a grocery store. Especially for the older population. And I would love to see a real coffee shop located there. Not of the new era Golden Harvest ilk mind you, but more of the 305 Cafe(Heuers)style coffee shop. Where the waitress comes by with two coffee pots in hand and says, "Warm up, Hon?" But who is going to take a risk on anything like that? A grocery store or coffee shop in Henderson Center would take a proprietor who is willing to put in 18 hours per day. And you wonder why the streamline corporate stores do so well. It's business saavy.
No, that's the problem! It's got too many shops of the hat-blocking and flashlight repair variety -- specialty places you might use once in a great while, or maybe never.
I'm in Handee's and Harris and K all the time, and they're great, but they're both more liquor store than grocery. If you need something canned they'll probably have it, but there's nothing fresh. It'd be hard to put together a credible dinner at those shops.
As for your coffee shop, what about Coney Island? I swear to God that I've had waitresses ask me if I want a "warm-up" more than once. And they called me "hon," too, I'm quite sure! What I want is another Has Beans or Sacred Grounds -- a hang-out place.
I know you're right about the economics of the situation. I guess you almost have to be a big city to have a neighborhood grocery, because those are the only places you see them anymore. But a man can dream, can't he? And it doesn't seem like the cafe is too much to ask for.
I just want a neighborhood that's more of a neighborhood.
Do you live in Eureka, Hank? If not, maybe you should. You sure seem to spend a lot of time here.
Oh, and as far as Coney Island, I've never eaten there, despite living only blocks from it. Heard nothing but good about the place, though.
Almost went there for lunch once, but looked at the menu and it seemed a bit pricey for me at the time. I'm one those $2.00 for lunch at Taco Bell types.
Oh, and that Harris and K Liquors has been there longer than I've lived here. I still go in on rare occasion. They're still doing a brisk business.
Hank said "I just want a neighborhood that's more of a neighborhood."
I'm not sure that is the way society is turning. Do you know your back fence neighbor? Do you know the family across the street? Quick, that college student who lives in the mother-in-law unit at the end of the alley...what's her name?
I think Henderson Center and Myrtletown are as close as you are going to get in Eureka to a neighborhood center. Perhaps Cutten around Murphy's Market. Yes, I would say Old Town is a neighborhood center for the residents that live above the shops and to the north east, but really...is it a close knit residency with families and schools and what have you? I guess I would have to say yes. Now if the Marina Center is built with housing and shops and offices...will The Waterfront district become a neighborhood.
Eureka used to have distinct neighborhoods in the past. As did Arcata and Fortuna. And mostly based around ethnic origin. Italians lived here. Germans lived there. Scandanavians lived over there. And the grocery store was the hub. You can't say that is true anymore
Taco Bell, Fred? I'd like to join you for a Chalupa Supreme and a Cruncy Gordita. Of all of the fast foods available, I get a hankering for Taco Bell the most.
And Pepsico thanks you.
Fred: I'm a proud Henderson Center homeowner!
9:19 -- I get your point, and it's a shame. I will say, though, that I do know my neighbors on either side, and the people in both houses across the street. Overall, I'd say that I know about half the people on my block. Most of the rest of the houses seem to have steady turnover.
I'm a Dollison Street resident myself. Hank, you are in good company you know. Henderson Center rules! Sigh, now if we just had a Wildflower Cafe. Then we could see the complete transformation of our little society.
I want Food Mart back!
Hank. I'm very surprised. We're almost neighbors. I took it for granted you lived around Arcata somewhere.
8:14 wrote, "Henderson Center Market & Deli".
Now there's one I don't remember at all.
I live just east of Henderson Center. When I first moved here there were a number of rentals around. Many have since become owner occupied. I know just about all my neighbors in a 2 block radius.
Hank,
I was hanging out at HSU during that era, but I was a few years shy of being a student and wasn't aware of the copy token trick.
Man, what I'd give for a copy of Double Dragon II or Shuriken....
_JMan
During the last days of Sharkey's, I remember being completely dialed in on that robot football game and Gauntlet.
And that about sums up Hank.
Gauntlet, a game where you die just because time is expiring.
Gotta admit I dumped my share of dollars into it though.
It was always those black electric shooting wizards that got me.
-JMan
Ever take a look at those great Shuster photos from the late 40's? Nice aerial pics of Eureka.
You can search Henderson Center in the Shuster collection here:
http://library.humboldt.edu/humco/holdings/photosearch.php
"Ever take a look at those great Shuster photos from the late 40's? Nice aerial pics of Eureka."
Yes, the Shuster collection is priceless. Interestingly, take a look at the waterfront photos. And you think the Marina Center is a bad thing? Give me a break. Everyone should look at the Shuster collection and see the changes to Eureka. Also, the population hasn't hardly changed from then to now. Why is that if we are the next Santa Rosa.
12:15 PM said...Why is that if we are the next Santa Rosa.
I don't think we'll ever be the next Santa Rosa. We're not 'freeway close'. Thank goodness.
Hi, I found your blog while looking for the red barn in Eureka, CA. I have many fond memories of eating there and many other places in Fortuna. Remember Bobs foot long? The bon bonier (spelling I'm sure is wrong) ice cream. I'm interested in all things Fortuna, Eureka, Ferndale. I love that area and it will always hold a spot in my heart.
It was great to read about the old places in Eureka. Thanks for remembering the L&M Drive In. My parents owned that for many years. Great childhood memories of the place. I try to get back to Eureka every couple of years to see the Pacific and redwoods.
Those Shuster photos are great. Thank you for the link to them I can see my house in photo 2001.01.1864 on the corner of E and Dollison.
I never knew about the HSU coin trick at sharkey's but I did take advantage of the Saturday morning special.
I really miss the meat market that was in the grocery store in Henderson Center. Wayne was the best butcher.
Is Fresh Freeze still in Henderson Center? Is the Red Baron pizza still across the the Eureka Inn?
What about Lazio's Seafood Resturant, now that was a resturant. I miss that place.
People are remebering the past a Shakey's pizza and two Farrells have recently opened in Hawaii.
The grocery store in Henderson Center was Food Mart(?), I believe. Everybody was pissed when that closed.
Fresh Freeze is still in the same place in Henderson Center.
I don't remember Red Baron ever being across from the Eureka Inn. Sabrina's Restaurant used to be there for a few years. Right across from the Eureka Theater. In fact, I worked there.
Lazio's Seafood closed some time ago. I forget why. A fire maybe? They do have a place where they sell canned tuna in Henderson Center now, though.
I am trying to find out what year Food Mart closed. Any one know? Thanks!
gannms...there are people on Facebook group: Remember in Eureka When that are looking for photos, info on the L & M Drive In. Maybe you can help them out?
Harris and k market,I went to grade school with the owner,he lives in his dad's old has only a couple houses away from the store,Jim pastori is his name.great little store,old wood floors.
Does anyone remember the name of the fish and chips place that was in the building by McDonalds and across from the old Shakey's pizza place.
I believe that was Skippers?
Then there was Jonah's in Henderson Center where the video place is now.
It's the building where the Jalisco Café was. This would have been in the late 70's or early 80's. I thought it was called alfies fish and chips.
The name sounds familiar, but I don't recall it being in the Jalisco building. Skippers was on 4th Street somewhere around there.
The building is still a Mexican restaurant now. But it was Jalisco for a long time before that.
I have lived here all my life. I miss a lot of the good places. Weatherbees for fish on 4th street was wonderful and now is a Subway.
And also where was the L &M drive in located on Broadway? Someone said it was where Mr Fish is now..? Or Adels? I was just in my early 20's but enjoyed the 5 for $1 burgers. Also I worked at the first Bims just off the freeway in Arcata and down the road was a service station and a Chinese American restaurant called Marlins. Another good place to eat and was started in 1943 was Mikes with the great garlic fries and still operating. Haven't been there for awhile so don't know who owns it now and if it is still good. The best Chinese restaurant was Shanghai Low...it was owned and operated by local family.
It is sad that we have so much "fast food" here and should have a nice dinner house like OH Townhouse was and Volpis. . Guess no one in Eureka has the finances to start one up. The Shamus BBQ place off Broadway is not a steakhouse.... It is a BBQ cuisine but good too.
Eureka needs more cafes and not chain restaurants...wouldn't that help the tourism ... And not just Old Town.
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