Letters about even more downtown stores and restaurants
Hain’s Private brand cigars, rolled in the store by Jesus Castanon and his wife, Xenia Hernandez, are displayed inside the humidor at the shop in York in this 2008 photo at the South George Street store.
My mailbox has been exploding lately! I received two letters recently in response to previous posts on the stores of West Market Street, some downtown memories from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, and the downtown York walking tour. (More on that last one to come tomorrow – I can’t wait!)
Today’s mail comes from Florence Detter of West Manchester Township. Florence writes, “Here are a few more eating places on the the stores of West Market Street. 600 blk of W. Market St. Zeigler’s, 616 N. Market; across the street, Bennies. Lincoln Grill; across Belvidere Ave., on Market St. The Lincoln had a dining room back of the barroom. You could buy a baked ham sandwich for 15 cents, and it was full of ham. A jar of pickled eggs sat on the bar in a big glass jar. The eggs were a nickel apiece.”
Florence added that she loves all the “Do you remember” stuff, which I appreciate hearing, as I’m sure many of you do too!
I also had a letter from Karl Zimmermann of Springettsbury Township. Karl writes “Maybe your questioning your readers about this area of South George Street will stir up some other oldies and goodies.”
He made a list, titled “Places of Interest on South George Street – York City – 1960s.” In the first block, from the square to King Street, he includes Terminal Luggage, Sunflower Restaurant, a jewelry store, Sunny’s Surplus, the old location of Reineberg’s shoe stoe, and a meat market.
In the second block of South George, from King to Princess (home to the old YDR building, when I started working here!), he listed on the east side of the street Haines Shoe Wizard, a model railroad shop, Rosen Electronics, the Yorktown Press Factory and Famous Restaurant. On the west side of the same street, he lists The Hub, a tavern, a sporting goods store and International Jewelry, as well as a hardware store, Sol Kessler’s music shop, a building whose two floors housed a state store and a Public Works office, Pep Boys, Small’s Variety Store, Feder’s News and a furniture store.
On the west side of the third block was the post office, Holiday Beauty Shop, Rough Tavern (I’m not sure if this is a name or, frighteningly, an adjective?) and Reilly Undertaker, as well as George’s Stationary. On the east side of that block was an appliance store, a shoemaker, a florist, Hain’s Pipe Shop (still in business today!), Firestone Tires and a medical supply store.
Karl also points out that the Mailman’s store moved from Edgar Street to Queensgate in the early 1960s. That left only Weis Market and a few other small places in that early strip mall on Edgar.
Thank you so much, Karl and Florence, for sharing!
