osr403

Iron Tiger: The answer to your question is yes. At one point there was a huge round water tank with a large "W" with a red dot in the middle still standing, even after the fire. I haven't been on the east end in years so don't know if this is still standing there. Scrubba: To add to your post, I fondly remember that strip center Having a large Sears on the opposite end of it from Big Texan. Also had a Wyatt's Cafeteria in the strip. The Weingarten's space is still there, occupied by the $ store. The old Walgreen's (complete with counter and fountain) space is now occupied by the hair and beauty supply. Some may not remember, but the Fiesta at the corner of E.14th & Studewood was a Weingarten's between its long history as Studewood Food Market and Fiesta. My mother ran the snack bar at the back corner of the store next to the meat department. I have tons of pictures taken of her inside that store. Shame to hear that it's being torn down in the near future. That store actually replaced the original Studewood Food Market that burnt to the ground in the 60's, owned by Carl Cohen.

Couple of alleys in or very near the Loop that I frequented back when: North Shepherd Bowl- 701 N. Shepherd. This was mentioned earlier. Became a night club called NRG in the 80's, and building was razed in the overhaul of Merchant's Park. The location of the alley was where the Chinese Buffet currently sits. Del Mar Lanes- Mangum Rd. Still in existence and still stuck in the 60's last I was in there. Still has the old Reagan National Bank signs above the lanes from the old RNB on W. 19th. Little York Bowl- This was the small alley directly across from Big Texan on Little York @ N. Fwy. Became a church, as mentioned, with absolutely no renovation whatsoever...including the lanes still intact under the "new" floor. (Read that as a carpeted plywood covering) Building is no longer there, as it is now a large strip mall with Famsa as the main anchor. Big Texan Lanes- This was the grandaddy of bowling alleys. Seems like it had nearly 100 lanes. At least that's the way it appeared in my childhood. Closed in mid 90's. Part of it became Goodwill Thrift store which in turn closed and is now Food Town.