The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday in the noon hour.
Think about a store that you loved. It could be one that’s still open but not quite the same anymore, or one that’s closed. Then tell us, what store from your past do you really wish was open now?
Talk about it….
49 comments
Capwells, Bullocks, Hallmark Stores, Bed Bath & Beyond (before they changed to their current inventory), El Papagallo (restaurant), El Torrito, Chevys, David M Brian (before they changed locations and down sized), Crate & Barrel (before they changed locations and downsized), Radio Shack, plus many more – lol
I love how most of these are still open businesses….at least BB&B is alive for now 🙂
David M’s was always the bomb for a fabulous unique gift. Or a “spoil me” goodie for oneself. Mine was always a pair of Glam Gloves (fancy rubber gloves) or a cute kitchen towel. Bought one of each when I was moving out of the area for my new home I was buying
Gaberdine’s
there are more, but this one will do……….
Another Oaklander!
Nope, Richmond….. went to the one in San Pablo
Didn’t know O-Town had one; Neat !
🙂
S, Where was Gagerdines in S.P.
Just the other side of El Portal Plaza; buy the junior college.
Shared the same parking lot and strip by Baskin Robbins, and the Fish & Chips place (Rhodes English F&C ???)
Lived in Rollingwood by the church. Never went to that strip mall to much. Did go to Grand Auto and the Fish % Chip place and the Safeway before it. Also went to Sambo’s when I was younger. Thanks S for the 411
Oh LOVED Gaberdines on the E One Four. A friend was cleaning out stuff when her mom died and found an old Gaberdines bag.
And what about MacFarlane’s on on 35th and E 14
Mervyn’s, they always had a great selection of men’s clothing, at good prices, and I always bought my towels and sheets there. I also miss the old Sears and Roebuck, when Craftsman, and Kenmore were top quality. Grand Auto was much better than what we have now, they installed the parts they sold, including tires, engines, and transmissions. And, Radio Shack had electronic parts that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Yardbirds and Eames Hardware & Supply
Willits Rexall Drugs in Willits, CA. They offered a little bit of everything besides filling prescriptions, from authentic Polish stoneware to the most delicious homemade fudge; lots of nice gift options, and of course, Hallmark cards. I always stopped in when we passed through and always left with a new purchase. I think I miss their big sign the most.
The old Willits Cafe make the best Patty Melt.
opps…. made…
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Yardbirds Hardware. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, good prices, and locally owned.
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It was bought up by Home Depot in 2005.
Fry’s Electronics. It is difficult to know if you got the right part or not by ordering online. There you could check the item out as well as alternate items.
I Magnin’s – loved the french soaps and the home store
That’s an easy question.
Tandy Leather and Radio Shack/original version.
Emporium in SF. Woolworth’s on Market. Hallmark’s when it was a larger store. The original Sear’s before it was bought out. Others that were small businesses that no longer exist.
The rooftop rides at the Emporium were always a fun place for little kids and, and their Christmas decorations were the best in the City. Woolworth’s was always busy, with lots of customers.
Fred Kelleway’s Hardware, Mervyn’s, Long’s, Big ‘B’ Lumber, OSH, Bill’s Ace in Pleasant Hill (the new one isn’t as good as Bill’s), Hogan’s Sporting Goods.
My dad would say if you couldn’t find it Kelleway’s it couldn’t be found
Simons.
Gemco, El Papagallo, Hogan’s gun shop / sporting goods, Scott’s restaurant, original El Charro, and Velvet Turtle
Top Notch Variety.It was in El Monte shopping center and we use to ride our bikes down to the store and buy matchbox cars to collect.That was back in the sixties.To bad I didn’t save them lol.
Dating myself here, …. Above The Belt.
First it was in Sun Valley Mall the moved to Contra Costa Blvd.
Closed down sometime in the early 80’s.
We bought a furniture cabinet during the close out of the store.
Still is one of my favorite pieces to this day.
Hobby Town, Burton-French Lumber in Walnut Creek, and the original OSH in San Jose. Using the way-back machine, Huston’s Hobby Shop in San Jose.
The Lollipop Palace in Walnut Creek was the greatest when I was a kid….Ice Cream counter and loads of cheap candy….a great hangout after school. The women that worked there likely got tired of us hanging around but they never ran us off….That was in the Encina Grande Shopping Center.
K-Mart really miss them
Bobs Big Boy
Woops…Store…Lets go with Mervyn’s in San Pablo.
Longs Drugs
I use to go to Sports Authority for running shoes, hiking gear and other work out clothing. Can’t say l miss it tough, shoes l can get anywhere, and Macy’s carry active wear, besides l think l have what l need for some time to come. I miss that’s there’s no bookstores in the mall, such as Borders.
Shams, the original owner.
MERVYN’s!!! Open! Open! Open!
Second Deck
Mayfair Market
I went to the one on Cutting & San Pablo in El Cerrito.
Hilson’s in Concord. Got my first Levi’s there.
I think there was one in downtown Martinez too.
Yep. Martinez had old squeaky wood floors
I really miss Navlet’s! They had such great employees and the owner was wonderful…as were their plants etc! The company that bought it is ok, but not the same as Navlet’s.
A&L Poster and A&L Records in San Pablo
Woolworth’s in Park & Shop…. took each of my toddlers there for their first ever grilled cheese and a sweet fountain coke. I’m still their Hero-mom… just because of that!
Just when I was finally making enough to be able to shop there, I. Magnin and J. Magnin stores closed. There was really nothing to compare to their sense of style.
JM sales were the bomb. My first credit card, with a limit of $200 was issued by the JM in Oakland in the Kaiser Center. I worked down the street and would use my mom’s card. Manager finally asked if I wanted one of my own
FabricLand or House of Fabrics. There is no decent fabric stores unless you can find a small indy store. JoAnn’s sucks
Longs! The one in Clayton Valley had awesome book selection. I cannot stand CVS.
Also: Hobby Town & Beverly’s Fabric & Craft
Slow Sams Market. At Olympic and Tice Valley Rd. Old time small family run grocery, with a meat counter in the back. The family that owned it lived on the 2nd floor above the market. We used ride our bike there, in the late 60s, to buy candy.
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