Pepperkris

I was born in 1970 and lived in Fonn Villas until we moved in 1977. My brothers and sister were quite a bit older than me and grew up in our house on Val Lena. They went to Bendwood elem., Memorial Jr. High (I THINK it was called Jr. High back then or maybe it has always been Memorial Middle School), and all 4 graduated from Westchester High School. I attended Bendwood only for kindergarten and 1st grade. I LOVED playing in Bendwood park. My sister has always affectionately referred to it as “Pimple Park,” lol. I guess it was because of the big asphalt hill that looked like a giant pimple. I alsoremember going to Brownies at Pines Presbyterian Church. My friend and I would walk to Town & Country to go eat at James Coney Island (I think it was originally located where Escalantes currently is). I also remember MiniMax, Continental Finer Foods and Demeris BBQ (which was over where the James Coney currently is, near LaMadeline). I think the pharmacy that was in T &C was eventually replaced by Eckerd Drugs. I absolutely ADORED going to Panjo’s! Getting to watch them make a pizza through the glass was such a treat! My mom would take me to Sakowitz with her sometimes. I hated it because there was nothing in the store for children. I grew up wearing clothes from Chocolate Soup, Joske’s and Foley’s (the one in Mem City mall). I vaguely remember an Orange Julius somewhere near Joske’s. Going to eat a Luby’s always sucked. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED Luby’s, but they ALWAYS had a long-ass line. There was also a Burger King (which my sis worked at for a minute, lol) and an International House of Pancakes on that side of T & C. There were the two movie theaters over there as well. I always thought it strange to have 2 different theaters standing side by side. I kind of remember a Pacific Stereo near where the Sheraton was. On the west side of Westbelt there was a Globe or a Sage (cannot rightly remember). Bert Wheeler’s liquor store was at, or near Westbeltc and Kimberly. There was a pet shop on W. Bough, I believe. I also remember Oshman’s was in that area as was a bank (a Savings and Loan maybe?). Our dad took me and my sis to open an acct there and they gave us Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy piggy banks (I got stuck with Raggedy Andy...I guess because I was 10 years younger than my sis so she got first choice). Taste of Texas was right over in that area too. Opened in the mid to late 70s, I do believe. Going around the bend there was a Baskin Robbins, a record store (I bought my very first record there...the Beach Boys, Endless Summer), and a dry cleaners (I think). Across from Lantern Lane, just down Memorial Dr. was Buckner Baptist Haven (a really nice nursing home). A few of the stores that I can remember in Lantern Lane were Wagner’s hardware, Beasley’s Hazel or maybe it was Hazel Beasley’s delicatessen, Interurban pharmacy and Lewis & Coker. Across the street was a UtoteM, the Burlap Barrel, Colony Florist, Dr. Dorris (dentist), State Farm (Fred Poole), and the Lantern Inn restaurant. Sorry I rambled on. It was so nice to reminisce. Not to get too terribly off the topic of T & C but does anyone remember where Uncle Sam’s was? How about Goony Golf, Peppermint Park, The Hungry Tiger, Don the Beachcomber, Night Hawk restaurant, Steak & Ale or the Old San Francisco Steakhouse? Good times!!!