The famous Art Deco Hallman's Chevrolet building still stands as a landmark on East Ave in Rochester, NY. We had a cousin who worked at Hallman's in the 60's and 70's. There is a coffee shop and other rental space in their now. https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=7c5d...sbWFucy1jaGV2cm9sZXQtc2hvd3Jvb20uaHRtbA&ntb=1
Hello, In our early days, downtown Long Beach was just a short bicycle ride away or a faster bus service to be dropped off right in the middle of Pine Avenue. That drop off was then and still is the main highway leading directly from inland to the ocean sands and water. It is a route that ends in Bixby Knolls, but one must know the side streets if travel only on Pine will end up in downtown Long Beach. Some of the Pine Street ends and a few steps either to the right or left, one will find the next version of Pine Avenue to continue the route. But, downtown and the Pike were all within walking distance to this main avenue. Downtown Long Beach... Woolworth Co. front and center and in the distance, the next block the Kress Company store and tall building. But, the corner of 4th street and Pine is and was the starting point for our early downtown adventures. As one can see, the Woolworth Company store was there and very popular. But, just up the street is the famous Kress Building which also held the Kress Store, rivals to the Woolworth Company Store. But across the street was the upstart store, Sav-On which was the modern version of that type of department store that sold just about everything and had some sort of food restaurant style service area to boot. Kress and Woolworth, were the shopping stop over places for us. Shopping, for our mom and good food for us. We normally went to the standard new store to get what we could afford. So, the “newish” Sav-on had just about anything from house hold stuff to perfumes for our mom. If one did not get there prior to the lunch hour, the downtown buildings emptied out and now lunch would have to be a hot dog stand down in the beach area, near the Pike amusement center. But, for us, nothing wrong with a hot dog on the beach location. Actually, a relatively secret spot was under the main East-West avenue on the ocean front to the large building with a tunnel leading to the lower level beach sand area. In this tunnel was one of the best dinky hot dog stand with several stools outside, in the tunnel. Our mom did not like the tunnel’s atmosphere, but my brother and I would always stop here as the hot dogs/chili dogs were the best in all of Long Beach. Jnaki Not much to look at, but for little kids, the sight of the whole downtown, street Christmas overhead lighting was a sight to see back then. PJ's and all... Note: The only remaining building is the Kress Building. It has been empty for sometime and the redevelopment made it into some fancy ocean view + surrounding views all around condominiums. But, at least the historic building is still in its original look and place. Note 2: As little kids, our dad took us to the downtown Pine Avenue location for the 6-7 blocks of a fabulous display of Christmas lights and overhead decorations. Compared to today, it is a simple design. But back then, it was one of the only cities that had above the main downtown road that had a display of lights that headed for the ocean and the shoreline park, The Pike. We all craned our necks to see the long road with the bright lights on display. Teenage cruising? Sure, everyone had heard and went to see the displays almost every year. But even as teenagers in our hot rods and cruising sedans, it was an old thing to do, but impressive on dates and just couples drives. Before the outdoor malls and inland shopping areas, this was a great place to walk around and shop for gifts. No snow, but cold enough to bundle up... coastal oceanfront beach style... YRMV.
The Jalopy Journal
