When I was in grade school, I frequently walked to Ford City. The problem with walking there was that it took me into unfamiliar parts of Burbank, where I didn’t know any of the kids, or down State Road, where you didn’t want to run into any high school thugs, or across Cicero Avenue, where a semi was likely to flatten you.
My friend and I usually entered Ford City through the Wieboldt’s. (I believe it later became Carson Pirie Scott’s.) Even back then, Wieboldt’s seemed like an old person’s store. They gave away S&H Green Stamps with purchases. (Our kitchen drawers at home were always full of S&H Green Stamp booklets, but I can remember only one time that my mother actually cashed them in.)
Here are a few stores I remember:
Woolworth’s (another old person’s store, it seemed to me), and though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, Woolworth’s had a stand-alone diner in the middle of the hall outside the store. I’m not sure if I ever ate there, however. Probably not. I wish I had.
When I was really young, my favorite store was a bookstore that was close to one of the south entrances. This would have been before WaldenBooks opened in the mall. I want to say that the name of the store was Printer’s Ink, but I could be wrong. It was mostly a card-and-stationary store, with a few books. Even so, I would spend hours there looking at the few books they had. (These were desperate times, friends.)
Close to the bookstore was another store that sold Hammond or Wurlitzer organs. Did they sell pianos, too? Not sure. I never saw anyone in there, except the salesman.
There was an electronics store in that wing as well. This is where I got my first VCR, back in 1978 or ’79. The damned thing cost over a thousand dollars, and my father had to finance it; and I spent the next several years paying it off with money I made walking dogs or selling stuff at the flea market. (One blank videotape cost between $20 and $25!)
(Were these Orange Julius decals fuzzy? Am I thinking of some other iron-on decal?)
Orange Julius was another high point. My memory is that it was once located downstairs in Peacock Alley, but maybe it had always been upstairs.
The real highlight, of course, was Peacock Alley. There was a stairwell with all the names of Peacock Alley’s businesses painted every which way on the wall as you walked down. Many of the businesses had closed years earlier, but that didn’t stop me from wondering if I was somehow simply not seeing them, such as the camera store that was purportedly down there. I probably asked every proprietor of every store in Peacock Alley if they knew anything about the camera store. No one did. I even asked a security guard once, who thought I was crazy.
Highlights of Peacock Alley:
I seem to remember a head shop when you first walked down the stairs, but maybe I just made this up for my novel and have since come to believe it was there when it wasn’t. Does anyone else remember this?
What I do remember clearly was the record store. It was surrounded by a short wrought-iron fence, and it was close enough to Nickelodeon Pizza that you could smell the food. (What I loved about Nickelodeon Pizza was that it had a bar to the right when you first walked in. The first time I felt old enough to sit at the bar and order a slice of pizza, it was 1979, and I had just graduated eighth grade and was wearing a t-shirt with a “Class of ‘83” iron-on decal. I may even have flirted with the girl working behind the counter, or vice-verse. I felt so…adult.)
Another memory: My mother frequently took me to the beauty school – because haircuts were cheaper there – and I always left with crooked bangs, or some other minor mishap.
Later on, there was an arcade down there, but it was a rather sad and grim place.
One of the best parts of walking through Peacock Alley was emerging all the way across the parking lot, not far from the bowling alley, if I’m remembering this correctly. The whole trip to Ford City -- the walk there; the time spent in Peacock Alley; the movie we'd go to (if we went to a movie); the long walk home -- was a true adventure back then.
Okay, I’ll post more about Ford City later on. I’ll give Ford City General Cinemas its own post.
What stores do you remember? If you remember specific years that the store existed, please list those, too.
52 comments:
When I was in 8th grade, The Connection was being built in Ford City, which I thought was really cool because Hippy Stuff was right up my wannabe-Courtney-Love alley. I bought my first pair of Doc Martens there, and my paranoid Mexican mother threw them away a few days later because she thought I'd become a lesbian. Well, I never became a lesbian or Courtney Love, for that matter.
Hah, woolworth's. That really takes me back. I remember that stand-alone diner, too. The workers kinda reminded me of the huck finn diner ladies. Kinda crotchety, but they had character. I was 6 yrs old, remember getting an ICEE from that diner with my dad. Ah, the memories.
HA! Another good one, John. I remember shopping at Chess King - sweater vests, Whammo-bird collars on faux-silk shirts, bell bottoms. I had many jobs in and around Burbank - Ford City was no exception. My friend Jay & I worked at Fayva Shoes, near the FC Bowl. We were on shift with two gals that were in college and loved WKQX when it was commercial-free. Great times.
In high school, I spent a whole hell of a lot of money at the Chess King in Chicago Ridge Mall.
John,
Do you remember the "clown" at the entrance of Nickelodeon Pizza. It would move up and down. I have fond memories of a child being down in peacock alley with my grandparents and wanting to in (but never getting to). What about the dime store, with the big wooden totem pole. I remember there was a store that sold musical instruments right outside the lower entrance of "Monkey Wards". It wasn't until I was in 6th or 7th grade (when there was still 2 Ford City bridges)that my best-friend Nick and I would walk to Ford-City to check out the girls. You have to post a blog about John's Garage. Lets not also forget Scottsdale ( both the shopping center, and the bowling alley). I can go on for hours. I'd like to thank you for this, you have brought back some wonderful OLD (lol) memories, I look forward to the next.
I spent my money @ DEBS. It's still there. I go in and like to look around, getting that old feeling back again.
Scottsdale Mall... I used to go there as well.
How about the Millionaires Club?
My first job was at JC Penney in Ford City when I was 16 so I spent alot of time at the mall. I'd walk there down State Road and cut through the Main Street and Service Merchandise parking lots. I remember buying a winter coat at Jean Nicole. Does that store still exist? A night out with friends would take me to the Ford City movie theaters and Gerties behind Ford City. Can't forget Farrell's and the Golden Bear that were nearby too. So many memories. Thanks for the blog.
I also remember a player piano I believe was in Nickelodeon--I was entranced by that--also I do remember the head shop in the "Alley"--I seem to recall it was set back amongst these desolate stores in the farthest caverns of the mall...black light posters of reefer leafs,mirrors with rock-n-roll band logos(ie: Led Zeppelin,The Who,etc.) This is where we went to get t-shirts of the bands we crazed!- ...My first memory was taking ballet lessons at one of the little shops set up behind a big glass window as you came off the escalator that led down to Peacock Alley.
You sure do bring it back my friend!--Gretchen
My first job was at Franks and Marc Allen Shoes at Ford City. They were owned by the same company and shared the same stock room. I wasn't quite 16 at the time but they hired me anyway. I loved it because I had a shoe habit that I was able to feed with that job! Also worked at Thom McAn for awhile.
Spent many hours roaming the mall. Spent a lot of money there too! For some reason I remember this bright red London Fog trench rain coat I bought at Carson Pirie Scott, I loved that coat!
Remember John's Garage, that was a neat place to hang with friends. Farrell's was another favorite, we would go there with a group and order that huge ice cream volcano thing and make ourselves sick.
Peacock Alley was a land all it's own. There was a lingerie type shop down there, my neighbor worked there. I remember going there to buy my garter for prom and feeling so naughty.
John you sure do know how to bring back the memories! I had forgotten a lot of the little things till now! Thanks!
(btw: I posted a comment yesterday and I think it didn't go through. So if you get two from me, just post this one! ;) You can delete this part too!)
John, another great blog! Peacock Alley always felt a little dangerous. My Mom always took us to the beauty school down there too...crooked bangs are right! My kids would stroke out if I told them they were going to a beauty school to get a haircut.
I love Gerties and the belly buster sunday thing. It was HUGE!
Loved the Woolworths diner and their greasy grilled cheese sammies from the pretty grimy grill.
One of my first jobs was at Venture in FCM. I loved that job.
Ford City was what I would compare to calling a restaurant a 'joint'. It had character...panache. None of this sterile, cookie cutter business where you can't tell which mall you're in now. Woodfield=Orland=Chicago Ridge=blah.
I always ask my dad questions about Ford City and Peacock Ally, You don't know how much I wish I was born in the Earlier 60's.
reading the others blogs reminded me of memories I forgot. Iremember the woolworth dinner but vaguely. I am a lil younger so that could be why. Most of my time at Ford City was with my friends. We met so many other kids from all over by hanging at the mall. I remember guys with nick names like sycho jim. I hung out at the arcade alot. that's where the boys were. Peocock Alley was where I was Brave. I bought my first leather jacket there, my first skin tight jeans and rhinstone boots. This was in the 80's mind you. So the big hair and fringe leather look was the thing. That mall was a very important part of my life. I still keep in contact with people I met there. My son is now 16 and I wish he could of seen it the way it was. Now if a kids in a mall they chase them out for loitering.
I remember you could walk underground from Peacock Alley all the way to Venture which was located across the parking lot. There was always an eerie feeling going down to Peacock Alley. It was like a scary basement (this was the early to mid 80s).
For awhile (I think when I was about 9-12) I took piano lessons from a place called EZ Music which was in Peacock Alley (probably early 70's). We'd often give "recitals" in the Mall around Christmas. It moved out after one of the owners passed away. A few years later I took lessons at the Hammond Organ store you talked about. Later in life I discovered that I was working with the old guy that was the proprietor of that place. The Chicago Music world is a small place. When we were little kids my mom and aunt shopped there religiously on Saturday mornings, (I think there was actually even a grocery store on the north end of the mall at one time) and all of us kids would get a locker, throw all of our coats, hats, etc. into it, and run the mall together. One of our favorite things to do was throw pennies in the fountain in the main part of the mall, trying to get them to land in the tall chutes. We'd save pennies all week for that Saturday trip! At the end of the day, we'd go back to the locker, collect all of our stuff (always minus one kid's glove or hat or something) and head home. In Jr. HS over the
Easter break my friends and I would take the bus and spend all day there. It always entailed a trip to the Bowling Alley, where on more than one occasion hard boiled egg yolks "somehow" ended up in the ball return! I also remember the Woolworths. Lots of cheap stuff, and the diner to boot!
I remember a little kiosk or tiny store that sold inscense...and the arcade. I also remember a place that sold the hippest jeans at the time. I was only about 6 and remember hoping to be able to fit into those designer jeans teenagers wear someday
I graduated from Kennedy and Reavis and worked at Ford City for 3 years in high school. Many of my friends were not allowed to go to Ford City which seemed shocking to me because I was 16 and walked to and from Ford City to go to work and never had a problem (mid to late 80s). I used to buy cinnamon buns from Ann Sather in the mall for my lunch. Or, I would walk behind JC Penney to get chicken littles and mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC!
I grew up at 83rd & Laramie and spent enough time at Ford City. My mom worked at Goldberg's (a clothing store by the fountain). I bought AC/DC's "If You Want Blood" LP at Playback along with a used Garrard turntable. Oh yeah! I ate at the Woolworth's diner many times and the place right outside of Penney's. I used to buy my Jimi Hendrix imports at the record store in Peacock Alley. I remember they had the uncensored Scorpions "Virgin Killer" LP displayed on the vertical rack. I finally own it. Turnstyle was cool. This memory is very fuzzy - when I was about 4 or 5 (1967 or '68), we went to FC and I remember the parking lot being extremely jammed because (I think) there was a band playing on the roof of the bowling alley. Maybe I'm dreaming because I was a music fanatic even then. What was the jeans store by Monkey Wards that had the HUGE pair of Levi's on the wall?
YES!! THE "HEAD SHOP"
I grew up in Palos Hills. In the early to late 70's, my sister, 2 friends (also sisters) and I used to take the bus to Ford City. We would cruise Peacock Alley looking for cute boys and shopping. I remember the head shop, although no name comes to mind. I also remember a Knife store, Tee Shirt store, Artwork store and an electronics store (Jensen Speakers)for your rockin car stereo!! Lest not forget, the Starlight Drive In, Community, John's Garage, The Branding Iron, Rainbow Cones, just to name a few. Thanks for the walk down memory lane!! JEL
Remember the jewel/Turnstyle? I recall when Larry Lujack (or was it Bob Sirrot??)was doing a remote in the stero department for W.L.S. Being a early teen I turned all the stero's in the back ground to the rivial (W.M.A.Q?) station. Old larry lujack(who was young then) turned toward ma and asked " Did your parents have any kids that lived" I said if i am dead and your here i must of went to hell cause they play M.A.Q in heavan. Another time I walked into F.C. with Bill indicovitch and this old dude comes up and shakes our hands, says "hi i am Govenor Dan Walker" I shake his hand and say " Hi I am president Gerold Ford" we take another step and see his body guards and a big bannor that says ' Ford City welcomes Govenor Dan Walker" I guess we where walking in at the same time. I wonder if he hit the head shop as well? So thats Ford city nostliga Part 1 for me.
A little on the History of Ford City. Built in 1942 it was a marvel of the war effort. It was obviously not a temporary building as time as atested. Dodge made Airplane engines there. Followed by the Tucker Automobile being built there. Then it was once again used for a defense plant in the korean war this time by Ford. To the north of the mall you will see two large white towers, These where anti-aircraft gun towers as Ford City was a stragic part of our defense system. Peacock Alley did not end by the magic shop,Catholic center and the green room. These where the last stores with public acess. If the doors where open you could sneak into "the tunnels" Rummor had it they went all the way to Midway airport I went in them twice. One time went out an opening by the tootsie roll factory so I know they went that far..here is another Ford City web site i found one night because I have no life and to much time on my hands http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2005/06/ford-city-shopping-center.html. This one is nostilga as well I have a few with history booked marked as well.
I used to work at Ford City Bank back in the early 70's and finally left there in 1976. I always did all my shopping at Ford City and remember eating at the Ford City Restaurant every Friday for dinner hour, as we were open til 8:00p.m. I also used to work part time at a waterbed store down in Peacock Alley called "Your Thing Interiors", in the mid 70's. Waterbeds were really the thing back then, remember? I miss going to Ford City, and was always there as a kid,every weekend, walking up there from the Stevenson Grade School area. If you couldn't find it at Scottsdale shopping center you were sure to find it at Ford City. signed netterbeez
From 1975 to about 1983 Ford City was a huge part of my life. As kids we too would walk to Ford City and the unfamiliar part of Burbank that John mentioned was my neighborhood. I knew all of the high school thugs that John associated with State Road. My sister and I even bought our first houses near that stretch of State Road.
Woolworths had an area tucked in the back where they sold records for cheap. My friends and I spent a lot of time in Woolworths because just about everything was cheap there and we didn't have much money. My wife still has a picture of us that we took in the Woolworth's photo booth when we were in high school. We avoided the Woolworth Diner like the plague in favor of Nickelodeon. we would squeeze six of us at a table and then ask for separate checks for a piece of cheese pizza and a coke each...
I think the head shop was down the escalator and to the left but the layout of Peacock Alley was much different when they remodeled it and called it "The Connection". As kids we would spend hours down in the record shop looking at albums and posters. My first job was at Ford City as was my sister's and most of our friends. The mall in "Fast Times" was just the California version of Ford City and I knew quite a few Jeff Spicoli's sans surfboard...
In the early 70's there was a Jewel food store and another store called "Turn Style" that were at the North side of the mall where Sears has been for the past quarter century or so. Right outside of the doors was a stairway that led to Peacock Alley.
around 1976 or so I remember a huge group of kids from my neighborhood would meet up at Ford City and we would play "Chase" which was a large scale version of "Tag" or "It" that was played by teams rather than individuals. In the end, both teams always ended up being chased by the Ford City "police". Does anyone remember the female security guard with the big hips...?
This may break some hearts, but rumor has it that Peacock Alley will be closed. The space will be used for storage by Tootsie Roll Industries.
I haven't been in Ford City for years, but have fond memories of hanging around there looking at girls back in the day.
Naw it won't break my heart. Ford city has gone so far down hill it breaks my heart even more to walk through peacock alley. the whole mall has the feel of a flea market. i used to stop in to see what Johnny lightning cars they had in Kay-be Toys. I had two bad experiances there. So I wont go back. Now wicks is closed and the Monkey wards is still sitting empty
I really did not care for Ford City all that much. (Maybe because I did not have a lot of money to spend in those days.)
I had a lot of fun at the Millionaires Club one night in 1975.
A couple of my friends and I were consuming hydraulic sandwiches and I heard a band playing in another room. I went to see what was going on and I knew the band that was playing. They were doing a gig to about 200 women; who were at their bowling banquet. The bands ask me to do a Bowie Set with them; since I was in a group or two in those days. That place went crazy. There is nothing like getting together a couple of hundred wild & crazy girls all one place.
My other favorite Ford City story or moment was in 1971, A friend of mine took a bet for $50:00 that he could leave a dump in the middle of the Ford City Mall and he did it. He took a bag of change and dropped it . Then he proceeded to squat down under the concealment of a raincoat and left the dump inconspicuous to anyone during the X-mas holiday rush shopping season.
Burbank’s All-Time Best Rock Club Watering Hole or Night Clubs was Harlow’s. That place was legendary with the bands that played in there. Cheap Trick. Mucho Fab Looking Babes to Kiss there!
Chico from Maine Class of 1972
My first underage drink was with my friend Bernadette at John's Garage. We dressed up and put on Southern accents. My first pina colada. Hey, I was 15, what did I know?
Went to grammar school at Stevenson and high school at Bogan. Graduated '84. Parents still live in Scottsdale.
--Christine
I remember Orange Julius was in a dark alcove of the mall that had (fake?) trees around it, and tables in the center. There was also a hot dog place there, as I recall.
I do remember the head shop at the bottom of the stairs into Peacock Alley (the mall stairs, not the stairs that emerged into the parking lot). I also remember shopping at the record store down there.
We would either take the Archer bus to Cicero and then take that bus to Ford City, or ride our bikes to the mall and lock them up at the Ford City police station in the center of the parking lot (on the "Turn Style" side). Remember that place?
One of my most vivid memories was shopping at the "County Seat" then having a slice of pizza at the restaurant in Peacock Alley. And of course, since were were teens, we just HAD to unscrew the tops of the salt shakers before we left...
Who remembers taking the shuttle bus for 50 cents from Ford City East to the main mall? I also remember spending a bunch of time (and quarters) at the arcade (Wizard Games) in Peacock Alley in the mid to late 80's. Later, there was another arcade for a year or so next to John's Garage on the main level.
Some other memories of Peacock Alley and Ford City: the Harvest House (a restaurant located right next to Woolworth's), a dingy and depressing shoe repair store right near the Peacock Alley/Montgomery Ward connection, a poster store in Peacock Alley that had a gigantic Freddy Krueger poster on display for about 7 years, Chess King, Pro Jersey (which was located inside Montgomery Wards and I believe was the first dedicated sports clothing store in the mall ), Farrel's (an ice cream/dessert type of restaurant in Peacock Alley), and the store Just Pants (which inexplicably sold more than just pants)
I last visited there about 10 years ago and it was pretty much a dump. The biggest change I noticed in Ford City from the 80's to the 90's was the addition of the now-standard kiosks throughout the mall walkways. Back in the day, the only "kiosk" was the diner outside of Woolworth's with the giant rotating ICEE cup.
Graduate of St. Denis (1991) and Brother Rice (1995) and proud former resident of the Ashburn Community.
My first job was at Ford City (JC Penney's Men's Department). I have fond memories of biking up to Ford City from St. Louis and 84th Place. Would it even be possible or safe for a 5th grader to bike up to Ford City from that distance today (of course, stopping at Bogan for a drink of water near the really tight basketball rims)?
Ford City was filled with more unique Mom&Pop style stores, as opposed to malls today which might as well be mirror images of each other.
Peacock Alley underwent renovations when I worked there and it was amazing to see how far it stretched underground when they opened it up (remember that area was used to build aircraft engines for WWII and was built underground to hide it from spying/bombing). I was always convinced the army base next to Daley college used that area for something.
I often miss the working-class neighborhood I grew up in. It was never rich, but it was safe and you could roam around it at all hours as a kid and have no problems. It is too bad many kids don't get that kind of experience in anteseptic suburbia where everyone sits inside fearing their neighbors, plahing Xbox, and not going out and playing ball with kids from all over the neighborhood.
I knew Ford City like the back of my hand. My very first job was at the Millionaires Club. I lied about my age and got hired as a waitress. I thought I was going to be a bus-boy (um.. girl) but they had me serving drinks. I was 13! My Mom flipped and made me quit. Then I got hired at Tally Ho! and worked there for 6 years. That was that awesome pizza place outside of JC Penney, right across from the tie store. That same family also owned Ford City Restaurant, a little further west in the mall.
Also there was the "Tinder Box" that sold smoking stuff, like lighters, tobacco and pipes. There was Fashion Conspiracy, Circus World and Radio Shack....
What about "Dream One?" That was the boutique outside of Wards, near SuperX and Hallmark. Dream One had all those really funky chairs in the shape of shoes, and they had a massive revolving lipstick right in the front of the store and padded white patent leather walls. Outside the fitting rooms, they had octagon shaped mirrors with revolving floors so you could see your outfit from all angles!
I think the head shop that was mentioned at the bottom of the escalator was called the Pagoda House. You could go there and buy those cheesy little statues that said "greatest boyfriend" and incense. There was that art supply store right beside the record store. I often spent my whole check from Tally Ho at those two stores (painter/music enthusiast). During the Urban Cowboy craze, I bought my cowboy hat and feathers at R&R Crossing. Does anyone remember "Just Pants" or when the Gap sold Levi's??
"Your Thing Interiors," the waterbed store, was limited to only adults over 18, so I never actually got in there but there was the cutest guy that worked there and he'd come out and chat us up when we'd stop to look in at the waterbeds! Now I wonder what else they may have had besides waterbeds??? LOL
How about at the very end, just beyond the stairs up to Venture, there was a trick shop??
Oh... and I went to CCD at the "Ford City Catholic Center" - which was in that big conference room in the lower level outside of Wards. We used to ride the elevator up and down in Wards, just because we could! Elevators were very entertaining back then!
Orange Julius was at the north end of the mall and there was a flower shop there and a store called the "Male Shop" and then there was the "Sole Hole." Both sold really hip stuff. This was like 78/79. I remember shopping for my graduation dress and hearing the song "Maybe I'm a Fool" by Eddie Money blasting on the radio in Male Shop - they played XRT and that was long before he became popular.
Speaking of music, the electronics store mentioned was right near Weiboldts and it was called "Playback" <---<< the "electronic playground" - they sold stereos, albums and 45s there. I remember thinking it was horrible when the price of a 45 went up from $.79 to $1.00 ($1.05 with tax).
One year, I believe it was the summer of 1982, they had a "Ford City Fest" and all the local bands came out to play. They served food, etc. That was really cool!
Thanks for all the memories, this blogspot is great!
still have some chineese stars from the karate shop in peacock alley, loved the arcade i could name every game but my fav was karate champ and satans hollow, nickolodean pizza , ate in back with my friends and remeber it had silly signs everywhere, one i remember the most is as you slide down the banister of life be carefull for splinters, played a game there called ye ar kung fu and the waitress was our friend sandy p. a few years older, bowling had a win a free game promotion if a red pin came in the front and you got a strike, the elevator by wards , if you pushed open the doors mid-flight you could pause the elevator between floors and read all the grafitti written on the wall, woolworth diner was best for grilled cheese and those icees, i think only cherry flavor and coca cola flavor back then, woolworths was awesome to me as a kid, remeber it actually selling pets like hamsters and birds and fish, and cant forget childs world the giant toy castle where sears is, also i remember a ramp from peacock alley to wards and a small water fountain of brick by the entrance. well, those are a few of many more ford city mammories, and if anyone has any info on milk n things, jozos, coneheads, or remembers when toys r us used to have superheroes make special guest appearances , id like to hear about it....
The Ford City movie theater had a woman's bathroom where each individual stall had a sink and mirror! Does ANYONE remember this???
No one seems to remember the House Of Lewis in Peacock Alley or James Anthony an upscale type of Chess King that carried the infamous Nik-Nik shirts an the Italian knits. How about The Milionaire Club in front of Ford City ( the poor mans Playboy Club) cheap booze and bad hangovers.
I worked in the Head shop at the base of the escalator. It was called the Pagoda House. I was a junior in high school.I don't think my parents knew what it was.
I remember having to assemble bongs. I was not very good at it.
Goody two shoes much?
I was in one of the bands that played the Ford City Fest. It was outside I remember. We got to play because we won some sort of talent contest they ran where we played a few songs INSIDE the mall. Now I have to dig out the pictures....
Oh, the name of the band - FREQUENCY
Heck, I remeber Chasing Many a Shoplifter down the main concourses at Ford City! the idiots always made it to the Bus Stop in Front of Weibolt's!!!
Ex-JC Penny Security!
Wow..is this ever a blast from the past. My parents used to bring us to the Millionaire's Club and I can remember being able to get Kiddie Cocktails. My older brother Mark used to work at the diner in the middle just outside of Woolworth's. I bowled at in leagues for years as a kid at the bowling alley. The last memory and I am wondering if anyone else was there...I was at the opening of Jaws when the Chicago riot police had to come in. I just made it to the window when the pressure of the crowd actually cracked the ticket window and it was shut down. Of course for last when I was a teenager myself and my nieghbor used to sit in front of Jean Nicole waiting for hot chics to walk out and then we would follow them around. Almost always unsuccessful of course. Thanks for the memories!
Glen Depke
The Loft was the name of the store that sold Levi’s in Peacock Alley (at the base of the ramp). That was back in the days when you could go into a store and just knowing your size, pull jeans off the wall and know that they’d fit – no try-ons necessary. I still have my Levis’ Women’s sized (new for that time) “fleece” lined jean jacket that I bought there in 1978 or 1979. It still looks good! No pockets though, which killed me. Turns out the pockets were fakes.
Village Records was the record store. There was this older woman who worked there/ran it, who was so cool. She was short but always wore spike healed shoes or boots. She was a character. I still remember a Halloween joke she told us one year: Why don’t witches have any babies? Because their husbands have hallow weenies. Burbank had a car stereo store on 79th Street just east of Harlem called Village Stereo. If I remember correctly, both stores were owned by the same people. Phyllis was this older woman who worked at Village Stereo with her son, who did the actually installations. Phyllis knew her stuff! She figured that if she was going to be selling it, she better damn well know about it! She was a trip. I miss her. Maybe the son’s name was Marty? We had many adventures there with both of them.
I also remember the bathrooms at the original Ford City Theater having mirrors and sinks in each stall. I though it was about the classiest thing I’d seen at that point in my life (I was really little). We lived out in Glenwood (south east suburb) at the time, and I figured all public city bathrooms were like that.
Around 1968 or 1969 (I was maybe three or four years old), I remember going into the bathroom in Peacock Alley with my grandma to find the bright yellow walls splattered with blood. One wall had a wide mirror at eye-level with a stainless steel shelf just under it. If I remember correctly, a person was stabbed, and laying in a heap under this mirror. My grandma grabbed me and we made a quick exit – but I, always the inquisitive one – had to know what happened. I don’t remember how we found out. Maybe my grandma contacted mall security. This isn’t a real clear memory, but it’s something that stuck with me all these years.
Speaking of Ford City Police, remember the horses that were part of the security team?
I hate shopping, especially malls, but always had a good time at Ford City in the earlier days (before the renovation of the late 80s or early 90s – whenever it was) – when it still had character.
Rick, I remember Frequency. Great cover band! I seen you guys at St Denis, St Bead fest. I think the drummers name was Terry O'Brien. He had a cool Ludwig kit.
Great Memories!!! Does anybody remember the Pool at the fire station that was across the street from the mall? I just loved going there on hot days. My daycamp group (from Durkan Park) would walk all the way to (I think) Tastee Freeze and for a cone and then continue on to the fire station pool. I also remember when President Ford visited Ford City during his campaign. My mom dragged me there for that.
I am sure that I am older than many who responded to this blog. When I worked in Ford City it was at a women's apparel store called Allison's which was across the mall from Woolworth.
An orange julius was a treat that we could not afford very often and Woolworth was a great place for the younger kids to get Mother's and Father's day gifts like the colonge "Evening in Paris" for your mother.
I lived in the city and we walked from 63rd and Cicero past the Cracker Jack factory and over the bridge to get to the mall.
Thanks for everyone's memories.
I grew up on the east side of Ford City and spent a lot of time in the late 70's and 80's hanging out there with friends. Here are the stores I remember most:
J.R.'s records
Woolworth
Wiebolt's
Peacock Alley
The Nickelodeon
The Alley
Ford City east (movie theater, Gerties)
Child World next to Venture
Farrell's ice cream
Rocky Rococo Pizza
Orange Julius
John's Garage
I loved Peacock Alley! I remember when you went down the escalator and turned to the right, there was a knife shop that sold knives, locks, and other similar stuff. Further down were offices with Weight Watchers and other types of businesses, and at the far end (where it connected to Wards) was KC Sports, which sold all sorts of martial arts books and equipment.
What was the name of the record store upstairs just outside the food court? I believe it was next to a shoe store.
I remember playing video games in Woolworth and buying comic books out of a dispenser machine that had a corkscrew. You put in your money, picked the comic you wanted, and the corkscrew turned, dropping the comic down the chute. This was stationed just inside the store, as you walked through the metal turnstyle entry. There was a guy named Don who worked security at Woolworth, and I interviewed him for my high school (St. Laurence) newspaper.
Thanks to everyone who named the names of shops at Ford City esp. in Peacock Alley! It was driving me nuts. I used to go that record store/headshop to buy tie dye. I thought it was called "the Annex" but I guess I was wrong! I do remember the bowling alley at the end of the Peacock Alley but don't remember the name. When came out of the end of Peacock Alley, the bus stop was there (which I took in the 80s from Archer/Harlem area to go shopping). I have a memory of a store with a kelly green lighted sign (lighted at night) that was either in the outside mall part of Ford City or it was in the mall across Cicero from Ford City. I think it might have been Wiebolt's but I still am not sure. This would have been in the 70s as my mom took me shopping there was I was a little kid. I remember the color of the sign and the letters were cursive. I remember going to see "Star Wars" at the Ford City theatre there (also Superman, Poltergeist etc!). I remember the ice cream parlor too! I don't remember any place called the Millionaires Club at all though - of course, sounds like I couldn't get in. My friends and I ate at "John's Garage" a few times. I didn't care for it but they did. I think there was a Rave at Ford City - best store ever in the 80s which there were still more around. It is sad how Ford City changed - I used to love shopping there because it was kind quiet. Someone mentioned Venture - was there a Venture there? I can't remember but I worked at the Venture in Countryside back in 90/91 in the cafe! I do remember the ICEE kiosk with the rotating ICEE too! I always got a coke ICEE when I went shopping at Ford City. Aw, why do they have to change so many things? :)
Does anyone here remember a hamburger/hotdog stand on the northeast corner of 67th and Cicero, right across the street from the Cracker Jack factory? It used to have stuffed toys hung on chicken wire outside, and in the summer it had fireworks for sale. I'm dying to find pictures of the place, or any information, including the name of it.
In the late 70s there was a dance studio in Peacock Alley..Celeste Dance Studio. It was owned by a girl named Celeste who was well versed in ballet,tap and tahitian. When disco came in the place boomed. I did some photography work and audio as well for that business.
I remember buying the Scorpions album "Lovedrive" at the Playback record store in '79. It had a dark red plastic cover on it to hide the cover photo, which featured a woman's bare breast. I miss the 70's.
Remember the show "BJ and Dirty Dragon"? I remember seeing them make an appearance at Ford City. We also saw Aliotta, Haynes & Jeremiah play live there (remember "Lake Shore Drive"?) They handed out promotional copies of that album. It didn't have a real cover. It was just a plain white sleeve. I got arrested for shoplifting an Elton John album at Turn Style - not a good day. We would always go into stores that had stereo receivers on display and turn them off. We would then turn the volume all the way up and just wait for some poor soul to switch it on. Always good for a laugh. We would take those little tubs of coffee creamers from the Woolworth cafe, or ketchup packets that we had ripped the corners off of, and place them on the floor and wait for people to step on them. We would drink our frozen cokes and just wait. It was always best when an older person would step on them because they would go berserk, which made us laugh even harder. We were little bastards back then, but considering what kids do nowadays, it was pretty harmless. Wow - the memories are flooding back.
The bowlintg alley was called Ford City Bowl and the bar/pizza place attached was called Tally's Pub.
Remember Peacock Alley had a Catholic church and actually did a 5:00 mass on Saturdays (maybe it was 5:30). Every now and then, for whatever reason we would miss mass at St. Alberts and wind up at the Peacock Alley mass. This was the first time I thought about that in over 25 years! Thanks.
I worked at the wig shop, across from Candy's Casuals, and Merle norman, and the candy store, in the 70's.
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