Writer's Block: Shops Gone By

[i_amthecosmos]

[Error: unknown template qotd]I miss the Woolworth's lunch counter, but not much else. I used to go there for a cheap meal and be the youngest person sitting at the counter. They had good fried chicken.

The businesses I miss most are the tiny, wacky ones. Craig Legg used to own a bookstore near my apartment in Southside that had a happy hour. Every Friday the real congergation would get a few six-packs from the store next door, and people would drink and recite their favorite poems. The "stage" for the poetry was a stepstool. If anyone does the history of bohemian Birmingham, they've got to mention that store.

Comments

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

We didn't have a Woolworths in town, but I took it really hard when two department stores closed when I was a kid. First was Grant's in 1975 and then J.M. Fields in 1978. It took my aaaaaaaaaaaaaages to get over it. (If indeed I am. I don't live near there anymore, so I don't have to look at the spots where they used to be and feel all sad about it all over again.) I'm sure that if they'd lasted till I was an adult, I wouldn't miss them at all once they closed, like Lechmere's and Bradlees.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

I don't think I distinguished between department stores much. We lost one of my favorite malls, though. It's a Wal-Mart Supercenter now.

[kennedy.livejournal.com]

I'm so sad about that. I'm going to the Olympics there and I was planning on visiting it. :( Damn it!

I remember the best friend and I used to go there and eat all the time until they took it away. And I used to love getting my craft supplies downstairs at the one in town here. My favorite one was the big one in San Francisco.

*sniff*

I'm so sad. I go now.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

I think they still have them in Mexico!

But honestly, for a couple of years the only place left to get decent fried chicken, done dark and crispy, was at the downtown Woolworth's. Chicken frying is becoming a lost art.

[kennedy.livejournal.com]

I'm on my way to Mexicco!

Woolworth's was the only place to get good friend chicken? Really? Woman, you need to come back to California. We've got lots of good places here that do up good chicken. I'm making myself hungry.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

I don't know if everyone's spoiled by home cooking or not, but finding real fried chicken is getting hard! (Part of the problem may be that nobody uses lard anymore.)

[kennedy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, around these parts hardly no one uses lard at all too. It's hard on the arteries and such. I wouldn't put that in my body for anything.

Next time you're out this way I'll take you to a couple of good places that'll hook you up with the good stuff.