Old things and places we remember from the Grand Rapids area.

[Richard K]

Anyone remember the name of a cafeteria with nothing but tons of glass window vending machines ?
Located downtown real close to the old YMCA.

[Bob in Oregon]

I can't believe people remember the Butter Wagon! I worked there as a dish washer in the early 1980's when I was attending high school in Allendale. It was a fun place to work, mostly because of the insane cooks and other dish washers.

[Rob Burgess]

GilmourGuy wrote:

<quoted text>
Bob, his brother Jim and longtime friend Jim Black owned the Bavarian Inn across from the Shamrock. Mousetrap was up the street a block or so... Bob may not have had an interest in it now that I think about it. WHAT crazy, crazy places those 2 joints were.

Not sure if Bob Sullivan had an interest in the bar or not. He sure liked to hang out there with us younger folk.
I remember two groups in particular that could draw a crowd: Oz and Sunnuva. Oz played pretty much what we would call classic rock. Sunnuva had a flamboyant lead singer who the girls all loved. They played some of there own music and music more in the line of The Cars or Cheap Trick, as I recall.

[Pemgirl57]

Glass hut...best wet burritos! Skipped many a class from Davenpot College to eat there!

[Godwin Girl]

Jenison Girl wrote:

What about Casa Castillo on 28th Street? The Satellite restaurant in Jenison by the old Union Bank??

Yay! Casa's! It was THE place to go after a night of dancing & drinking. I was addicted to its tacos so bad.

[Godwin Girl]

Rob Burgess wrote:

<quoted text>
Not sure if Bob Sullivan had an interest in the bar or not. He sure liked to hang out there with us younger folk.
I remember two groups in particular that could draw a crowd: Oz and Sunnuva. Oz played pretty much what we would call classic rock. Sunnuva had a flamboyant lead singer who the girls all loved. They played some of there own music and music more in the line of The Cars or Cheap Trick, as I recall.

The Bavarian with the disgusting red shag layering the floors, booths, walls. Oz & Sunnofa were pretty good. But come on, Yuwanna was the best Class A band of that era. Steve, Mitch, Greg, Jeff--you guys rocked! They had a second excellent drummer...Chris?

[Rain]

That haunted house out on Division and 92nd... wow! A friend of mine was renting it years ago, and we all used to hang out there. There was a glass sun room at the top of the house? Peacocks too, lolz!

[Rain]

Rain wrote:

That haunted house out on Division and 92nd... wow! A friend of mine was renting it years ago, and we all used to hang out there. There was a glass sun room at the top of the house? Peacocks too, lolz!

Unless I'm just confusing it with another former haunted house on the outskirts of GR.

[Miller3458]

uh oh wrote:

There used to be a grocery on the corner of 36th and Clyde Park, SW corner, called Veisho's ( I know it was not spelled that way) and there was a giant 3D cow's head on the sign. Anybody remember this?

My Mom and neighbor both worked there until in closed in the late 60's or early 70's. They were both cashiers then. I always liked going there with my mom to do our weekly shopping. I can still remember the layout of the store after all these years.
It's now a bingo hall or used to be. It's called the Brittany or was at one point. There was a Sunoco Station on the corner now a CVS. Those were the day's. Remember Lou Deyoung's now Big Top?

[Godwin Girl]

Miller3458 wrote:

<quoted text>
My Mom and neighbor both worked there until in closed in the late 60's or early 70's. They were both cashiers then. I always liked going there with my mom to do our weekly shopping. I can still remember the layout of the store after all these years.
It's now a bingo hall or used to be. It's called the Brittany or was at one point. There was a Sunoco Station on the corner now a CVS. Those
were the day's. Remember Lou Deyoung's now Big Top?

I believe it's Vecio's. Before that it was Plumbs. I lived 2 blocks from there on Marcia. It now has a pediatrician's office and an Asian restaurant. Vecio's had those neat vending machines by the doors with rings and little rubber Humpty
Dumpties. You had to step on the black mat to make the doors open.

Lou DeYoung's is still there. They changed the name to Big Top Market but DeYoungs still own it. Leathermans and Palermo's and Suburban 5 & 10 are still there, too.

[Godwin Girl]

Godwin Girl wrote:

<quoted text>
The Bavarian with the disgusting red shag layering the floors, booths, walls. Oz & Sunnofa were pretty good. But come on, Yuwanna was the best Class A band of that era. Steve, Mitch, Greg, Jeff--you guys rocked! They had a second excellent drummer...Chris?

Brian Chrisman was the drummer.

[GRHistorian]

The Christmas lights in downtown G.R. back in the 60s and 70s!

[Fred]

I remember when there weren't 50 panhandlers on every street corner, brought to you by Mayor Heartwell - what a clown.

[Cindi]

JWM wrote:

<quoted text> Westra's?

it was called Mr. Fables! The Grease dripped down your chin!

[Cindi]

upnorthscott wrote:

HERPOLSHIMERS! My grandma used to take me there every Christmas.

The train and little kids ride around the ceiling?!

[Cindi]

twisted wrote:

Does anyone remember Farrows ice cream parlor that used to be by Woodland Mall? My parents took me there a lot, and if you ordered a Farrows Zoo they would bring it out on a stretcher and have a siren going while running through the restuarant with it.

It was Farrell's! If you could sa "Farrell's features fabulous food and fantastic fountain fantasies for frolicking fun filled festive families" then you got a free rope of licorice!

[rusted]

Does anyone remember the gravel pit.. That you swim in.. Right off of plainfield? I remember going there with my family

[Eltemonte Billy Bob]

Great forum!

[Godwin Girl]

Versluis Park is the old gravel pit off Plainfield & the Beltline. Very nice play & swim park now

[Hudsie Boy]

Remember Eds Grille in Hudsonville. Best burgers and shakes in town. Of course they had the only burgers in town back then.