Visited my Old Neighborhood
Jan 27, 2021 09:54:24 #
Monday I went to St.Louis to get some springs made for a trailer, dropped off the sample and then had half the day to kill, so I drove around and ended up on 14th street. 14th street was the shopping center of my youth, they have been rehabbing a lot of the old stores and making offices and apartments out of them.
The Hardware Store featured here has been owned by the same family since it opened in 1875 and is still in business,Can you imagine three stories open to the roof, there were two landings surrounding the walls and all kinds of things hanging from the ceiling The last time I was there I chatted with the Owner they just eke out a living now unable to compete with the big stores.
I bought my first "BB" gun a single shot Daisy here when I was 10yrs old, as best as I can recall it was under $4, I collected empty soda bottles and turned them in for the deposit My Mother and Father didn't find out I had bought it until I was married.
The Hardware Store featured here has been owned by the same family since it opened in 1875 and is still in business,Can you imagine three stories open to the roof, there were two landings surrounding the walls and all kinds of things hanging from the ceiling The last time I was there I chatted with the Owner they just eke out a living now unable to compete with the big stores.
I bought my first "BB" gun a single shot Daisy here when I was 10yrs old, as best as I can recall it was under $4, I collected empty soda bottles and turned them in for the deposit My Mother and Father didn't find out I had bought it until I was married.
Jan 27, 2021 10:15:15 #
Jan 27, 2021 10:19:36 #
Jan 27, 2021 10:25:08 #
It's such a shame when a long-standing business can no longer compete with all the big box stores and Amazon. Hopefully they offer some things that can't be found elsewhere...
Jan 27, 2021 10:37:51 #
Great story, great photo, Frank...thanks for sharing the memories with us!! 
Jan 27, 2021 10:38:33 #
billmck wrote:
It's such a shame when a long-standing business can no longer compete with all the big box stores and Amazon. Hopefully they offer some things that can't be found elsewhere...
All they have is some old stock of stuff people don't even know about.
other wise they keep small quantities for paints , cleaning supplies etc.
Sadly all of the Great Hardware stores in St.Louis are gone now. My Dad went to some of the closing sales at the two largest stores in the late 1960's
These places still had parts & hardware to build and repair harness, wagons and buggies. and other farm equip.
Jan 27, 2021 10:39:38 #
jederick wrote:
Great story, great photo, Frank...thanks for sharing the memories with us!!
Thank you very much Jim
Jan 27, 2021 10:40:44 #
kpmac wrote:
One of the good things about being older is the memories, Frank. Nice image.
Thank you very much Ken
Well if you can remember Lol
Jan 27, 2021 10:42:11 #
Longshadow wrote:
Ah, the memories, eh?
Ah, the memories, eh?
Oh yeah the memories
If Mom had only known some of the things I did
Jan 27, 2021 10:42:37 #
I have been in stores like this that do very well as a family business, or as a tourist attraction. A local one which is still going strong under new owners has the motto "If we don't have it, you don't need it." Nearly always true!
Jan 27, 2021 10:51:32 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
Oh yeah the memories
If Mom had only known some of the things I did
If Mom had only known some of the things I did
(We shan't talk about those...)
Jan 27, 2021 10:53:39 #
quixdraw wrote:
I have been in stores like this that do very well as a family business, or as a tourist attraction. A local one which is still going strong under new owners has the motto "If we don't have it, you don't need it." Nearly always true!
This neighborhood went downhill very fast we moved out in 1952 and by 1960 over half the stores were closed.
It got so bad that the large grocery stores closed between 1960 and 1980.
Jan 27, 2021 10:59:55 #
Longshadow wrote:
(We shan't talk about those...)
(We shan't talk about those...)
LOl
Mom did have a good laugh about me and a buddy going the BurlyQ show, and actually at that time stripping was an Art and the Comedians were funny.
Some time I pulled a stun that had Mom up all night waiting for me to get home, well when I got home hell followed me in the door, after that until I got married if I wasn't going to be home by Midnight I called Mom and told her.
Jan 27, 2021 11:01:31 #
Did you ever put out someones eye with the BB gun. Mine was a multiple shot and while I wasn't allowed to do it this was the first time I found that there was payment plan you could use.
Jan 27, 2021 11:01:41 #
olddutch
Loc: Beloit, Wisconsin
Did you happen to wander over to "Lamberts" That would be a must stop for me.. I hope your Spring works out...be Safe..
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