McDiner

So much nostalgia. Back in '74 or '75 they built a mall in easy walking distance of my home. It was just two houses, then up the hill and cross the big road, then over the railroad tracks and its right-of-way zone with grass on either side, and boom, into the parking lot, then to the mall. There were plenty of shops and stores. My own hang-outs were the bookstores, the pretzel shop, the popcorn shop, and the game arcade. I think it has been gone for more than twenty years now. Replaced by a Wal-Mart and various outbuildings in the massive parking lot. All of my memories are only that, now. Nothing tangible left behind, except for the books I bought.

Spent some time in the Southdale mall recently. My cousin was staying for a short time in the nearby Hospital. Ate at a greek place. Guy who served us, it looked like he was saving up for his suit of bronze. Soon as he had that together he was gonna storm the walls of Troy.

Yes, the McDonald's coffee case. That happened here in Albuquerque. I believe Dylan would comment on it and explain how public perception was wrong. I looked it up and it was the store I occasionally go to for lunch at work. She didn't sue for much; the jury awarded her much more.

I had jury duty this spring. Of course, we had our juror numbers. I said, "I'm not a number, I'm a free man." No one got it. Actually, I've never seen the show myself. My friend in college would say it and explained the reference to us.

Thanks for bringing up the discussion of "medium". I use that at fast food joints, and it drives my 29 year old son nuts.

And thanks for Southdale. Growing up in Richfield, Southdale was my mall. Fine retailers like Spenser Gifts and Roz. Fine food like Orange Julius(pre-Dairy Queen) and Karmelkorn. Dayton's had an upscale lunch restaurant, JC Penny had a more mid level lunch counter, and Woolworths had a simpler lunch counter. Being a Catholic school kid, we spent much of our waking hours wearing tweederoy slacks and a short sleeve button shirts bought at Korner Plaza. Going to Southdale meant looking at clothes the public school kids got to wear. A new store called The County Seat, which sold Levi's, was our dream. My parents, growing up during the depression and on farms, were Sears and JC Penny customers, which meant I wore Tuffskins and Plain Pockets jeans. Southdale had a shoe repair shop and barber shop in the basement. Southdale was great because the halls were truly decked for the Christmas season.

I've heard they've done some remodeling, again. I need to check it out. Maybe KarmelKorn is still in business.

Fresch Fisch (View Comment):

Thanks for bringing up the discussion of “medium”. I use that at fast food joints, and it drives my 29 year old son nuts.

And thanks for Southdale. Growing up in Richfield, Southdale was my mall. Fine retailers like Spenser Gifts and Roz. Fine food like Orange Julius(pre-Dairy Queen) and Karmelkorn. Dayton’s had an upscale lunch restaurant, JC Penny had a more mid level lunch counter, and Woolworths had a simpler lunch counter. Being a Catholic school kid, we spent much of our waking hours wearing tweederoy slacks and a short sleeve button shirts bought at Korner Plaza. Going to Southdale meant looking at clothes the public school kids got to wear. A new store called The County Seat, which sold Levi’s, was our dream. My parents, growing up during the depression and on farms, were Sears and JC Penny customers, which meant I wore Tuffskins and Plain Pockets jeans. Southdale had a shoe repair shop and barber shop in the basement. Southdale was great because the halls were truly decked for the Christmas season.

I’ve heard they’ve done some remodeling, again. I need to check it out. Maybe KarmelKorn is still in business.

Thanks all for your comments, and Frisch: you know your Dale! I'll have a piece about the new Southdale eventually, and will post it here. Or link to wherever it might be.