Hello, For all of the times we walked, rode our bikes and took the bus with our mom, shopping, the Kress Building has always been in downtown Long Beach. During the Christmas season, the street decorations were a first for us. It was awe inspiring. The store was decorated with all sorts of stuff. For us, it was the place. Yes, there was a Woolworth’s store just down the street and it, too, was set up with almost the same things. A diner section that sold great Cherry Cokes and hamburgers, could be had at either store. Waitresses in cute uniforms, great food and tons of stuff to buy for the normal household or gifts for friends. Jnaki Our mom loved to take us on the bus as she did not drive, back then. We spent the day wandering around and if we had time, continued walking toward the ocean and the wonder of the Westcoast, the Pike Amusement Center awaited two anxious brothers. So, lunch, shopping and the Pike was usually the case that we looked forward to when our mom got the urge to go shopping in downtown Long Beach. In our teenage, hot rod cruising days, wandering around during Christmas was a fun thing to do along with the cruise down Ocean Blvd toward the final Eastward destination, Alamitos Bay and the floating Christmas Trees of Belmont Shore. custom by @themoose This guy was also a frequent visitor on the weekends and Spring Break (Easter Vacations) night time cruising, if we were still in town and not down in Baja, Mexico. But, after downtown Long Beach, the Ocean Blvd. cruise along the shoreline ended up at a small pizza shop in the middle of Belmont Shore's 2nd Street that is still going strong, today. opened in 1954 Domenico's Italian Restaurant, labeled as Long Beach's oldest restaurant was the draw and not for just us, there were teens from our high school, although the pizza restaurant was in the middle of another high school's local area, too. The signature pizza and the world famous Caesar Salad were well known all over So Cal as the years rolled on for the next generation of cruisers/diners. But, today, the downtown area is going through a remodel of sorts. The old Kress Building looks similar to the old building facade from the old days... A mild surprise is awaiting those that enter the building. the whole building has been converted to condominiums and have wonderful 360 degree views from the ocean to the mountains, depending on which side the unit is located.
Here's a interesting one. this has been hanging in my Dad's garage since the 60's. Anybody recognizable ? He raced mainly Arlington, Bremerton and Shelton so it must be circa 1955?
The Jalopy Journal
