(photo, circa 1981)As you can see from the photo, this was a grim little place...and yet I went there all the time. We didn't have a Dairy Queen in Burbank, and, as I remember, the ice cream at R&D's was pretty damned good. The place was run by what I assumed were a husband and wife, though I couldn't say for sure. They never engaged in small talk. In fact, they rarely, if ever, cracked a smile.
My most vivid memory of R&D's? A girlfriend dumped me in the parking lot after I bought us both milkshakes. (That's cold, man. Cold.)
Ah, R&D's.
17 comments:
I also remember a train store- the Golden Spike, to be exact. I thought Mrs. Pullman, English teacher from Kennedy grammar school either worked it or owned it, right next door.
Though I am a bit younger, I am now 31. As a kid I remember going there for their bananasplits (in the little blue boats). I thought I remember it as Corkies though. I could be mistaken. As for the Golden Spike, that place is still there.
What a place to get dumped! I don't recall ever going there as a kid. I did go to the Subway that replaced it as a teenager.
Does Burbank have a historical society or club that docuements all this?
Right accross the street is that quaint hardware store. I think they still have the old sign, if I'm not mistaken
I must be to young to remember the ice cream stand. Though I do remember the train shop. And the pizza place, and bar that were next to it.
Mostly at that corner I remember the Subway, the dog groomers, the barber shop and the currency exchange. And that that hardware store across the street that was run by a father and son, I always felt like I had gone back in time walking into that hardware store.
Wasn't this a place to buy drugs?
It was definitely called Corky's at one time, although I don't know for how long. They had a seating area/counter inside, but it was sometimes closed and they would let people in at other times. The old man was always cranky it seemed. They had great fries and good ice cream, plus it was on the bike ride home from Burbank National before they had a concession stand.
I grew up right down the street. I remember this place going by the name of Corky's. It burnt down shortly after the Dugout opened in 83. The hardware store, Golden Spike train shop, Little Frank's and the barber shop are still open.
My dad wasn't allow us to go there because he said that there was a drug problem running from this place.
Same deal @ the pizza joint that used to be at 79th & central. remember when cops went undercover and busted a major drug ring OUT of that place?
I don't think it was ever officialy called Corkies, Because the sign still said R&D. The golden spike is still there and owned by family of the originial owner. The originial owner lived by my parent's and had a 50? Oldsmobile. Never drove it and it was clean. The hardware store Midwest (Jerry's) is still there as is the sign also. I took a pic a pic of the sign last summer. It is available to anyone who wants it. Remember the certified store west of the hard ware store? Also where chucks is now on central and 79 th was paulius hardware. I think Jerry's midwest hard wear is the last independent hardware store on Earth.
R & D's Ice Cream - LOL! I do remember people calling it "Corky's" and not remembering why. I also recall the husband and wife team who didn't seem to have the ability to smile. Little Franks pizza still ranks very highly in my mind as far as pizza goes. Remember the Taco Bell on 79th street beween Central & state Road? That was my sister's first job.
My Mom still lives right there at 79th and Harlem. Right down the street from Gil Simonetti's. Burbanks very own Liberace. I ate at Corkys, loved the smell of the hardware store, and let's not forget the deft man at Certified.
Yes - Ray and Delores were the two that worked there all the time. Ray got incredibly cranky when the Dugout opened and the place went downhill quickly. They had a tremendous "Boston shake" that they served with way too much whipped cream - so delicious with a batch of fries.
Circa 1965, the place was known as Debbie's. My sister worked there for a few weeks in the summer. The owner was kinda cranky sometimes (ain't we all), but let employees eat whatever they wanted.
that big goon guy at certified used to be a boucer at MT pockets on cicero. all he could say was "I.D. please" in a adams family Lurch voice. we called him Goorah,
because thats what it sounded like he was saying when you asked him his name! oh my God the memories i could post here. Burbank was a magical place in the 70's.
R&D/Corky's was the best place for fries. I remember, near the end of their reign, they invited me and my friend inside and gave us free hotdogs and fries. They were trying new brands of both and wanted us to let them know how they tasted. Maybe we went their more then most (our large family lived right down the block on Mulligan) but they always laughed and joked with us. I sure missed them when they retired to the warmth. I believe they went back to Florida permanently. They would close in the winter and go down there. Atleast that's how I remember the conversation.
Fond memory for me,JP took me there (in 7th grade lol)before he gave me his necklace to wear. Burbank WAS great back then.
LH
You forgot Franksville, best hot dog in town, especially the foot long! Corner of 87th and Cicero. My first job. The owners, Wally and Bea, were really nice people.
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