Land crabs in your front yard
Hurricane parties
The Doors concert at Dinner Key Auditorium
When 'Saddle Shoes' were a fashion statement
Birch Beer at Royal Castle
Johnnie & Mack by the railroad track, the world's largest, and that's a fact!
Jack O'Brien and Municipal Auto Sales commercials
Western Sunset Bowl
When Don Carter's was the ONLY thing on 137th & Kendall
When you could get a bucket of shrimp at Kentucky Fried Chicken
Miami……See it like a Native
The Coppertone Girl on Biscayne Boulevard
The MacArthur Dairy Boy licking his lips
When there was a canal down the center of Miller Road
"The Dungeon" with M.T. Graves on Saturday afternoon T.V.
Bowl - O - Mat on US 1
St. Timothy's annual carnival
The water tower in South Miami Heights
The Jamaica Inn on Key Biscayne (prime rib on saturday nights)
When Quail Roost Drive was nothing but avocado groves
Big Daddy's Lounge on US1 and Coral Reef Drive
Daisy May's Barbeque on 8th Street
When Black Point was the old shack store and there was nothing but shrimp boats there
A&W Drive-In - served birch beer and the waitresses came out on roller skates
The air raid sirens in South Miami
The Holsum Bakery on US1 and Red Road...can ya still smell it?
Polar Palace on 36th Street
The old skinny rickety bridges to Key West
Mike's Drug Store in the South Miami Heights shopping center
Eureka Park's little orange pumpkin
Five year olds being able to walk to school on your own (I did)
Gen & Wren's (it's the Shack now)
Hurricane Donna
The Flick Coffeehouse on Ponce by the UM
The "dump" at the end of Eureka on Old Cutler Road
W. T. Grants and Grant City (where the Best Buy is now on US1 & Marlin)
"Hey, Culligan Man!"
The waterslide in Florida City
Zayres on US1 in "Pinecrest" where the Home Depot is now
When "Pinecrest" was Sunniland
The Tigertail Lounge in the Grove
When there was a Winn Dixie where Cocowalk is now
When Oak Avenue in the Grove had "head shops"
When Flannigans was the Loggerhead and it had pool tables and didn't serve food
Royal Castles everywhere! Birch beer and belly sliders
When you didn't have to pay to launch your boat at Matheson Hammock
Jai Lai on US1 behind the Bowl - O - Mat
Dixie Drive-In where the big Publix is now on US1
Neisner's in the old Cutler Ridge strip mall
When Mr. & Mrs. Burr owned everything on the west side of Burr Road and Mr. Mixon owned everything on the east side
Camp Choee on Colonial and 117th
Camp Mahachee by Matheson Hammock park
Beefsteak Charlies" on US1 across from Bowl - O - Mat
You could find shells in the water at Matheson Hammock wading beach
Gooney golf at the Colonial Palms Course on US1 & 136th St
Patty Murray on WGTR
Larry King on WIOD
Rick Shaw on WQAM
The Dupont Plaza Hotel on the Miami River
Monroe Station
Jimmy's Hurricane and the Hurrican Cooler
Hot Shoppes and the Orange Freeze, Teen Twist and Big Mo
When Coral Gables was "the" high school
The bowling alley at the end of Cutler Ridge strip mall (where Sears is now)
The little walk-in movie theater in the back of Cutler Ridge's strip mall
Richard's Dept Store
Private camps in the everglades
Pole beans and tomato farms on Kendall Drive(U-Pick-Em)
When the Coconut Grove Arts Festival was free and you could actually buy something there
The Trail Theater on Douglas/8th St
The Tower Theater on 8th St/ 15th Ave
The Pizza Palace on 8th Street and it's "snowball" architecture
Pizza Patio on Bird Road
Roller skating waitresses and car-side service
The Huddle House (at the corner of SW 8th St and 76th Ave before 826 cut it off)
The Coral Way Drive-In down the street from the football stadium high schools played in Concord Shopping Center and Movie Theater
Food Fair, Quick Chex, and Super-X
Anthony Abraham's home in the Gables with the most amazing Christmas decorations
When Kendall Drive was "the road to nowhere"
Colonial Palms Golf Course on US 1 and SW 136th St
When I-95 didn't reach here
When "Miami's Best Pizza" was the original "Little Caesar's"
The Five & Dime Store at Coral Way and 27th Ave
Parodi's Five & Dime Store on 8th Street
The Glorious Delicattessen on Coral Way
Richard Nixon's southern White House on Key Biscayne
When Les Violins was a hot spot
When the people on South Beach were older than the buildings
WCIX
Big Wilson
The original Holsum Bakery Christmas display in South Miami
When Howard Schnellenberger was "king"
The Serpentarium and Bill Haas "milking" those snakes!
The Austrailian Pines that lined the trail on the way to the Miccosoukee Tribe
The Zoo at Crandon Park and it's kiddy rides
The Hurrican Harbour Lounge
The Silver Sands Motel on Key Biscayne
Tahiti Beach for swimming during the day and making out at night
Larry Csonka and Jim Kick
Zayres, Diskay, Woolworth, and Woolco in Westchester and what was then Midway Mall
WFUN and WQAM were "THE" stations to listen to if your car only had an AM radio
If you were lucky enoughto have FM, you lustened to Y-100
Lums and Jahn's were the places to go with your friends after football games
Krispy Kreme accross from the cementary on 8th Street had the BEST doughnuts!
Sambo's in the Gables across form Sears and their patty melts at 3 AM
Sweden House (all you care to eat!) on Dixie Highway
The Flame (also on Dixie)
Fox's Sherron Inn for the prime ribs (still there!)
When Tamiami Park was Tamiami Airport and there were cow pastures across the street
The animated, talking cow in Dressels Dairy's ice cream parlor
Toby the Robot and Scrubby on Skipper Chuck (Zink)
The Copacabana Supper Club
James McDuffie and Neville Johnson
Johnnie Jones and gold plumbing
Mercury Morris
D'Pizza of UM
Lou Saban
Murf the Surf
Arthur Godfrey
A time when Frank Forte and Don Noe weren't on channel 10
Molly Turner and Alec Gibson
Arthur Godfrey Show from Miami Beach
When trains ran parallel to U.S. 1 (at ground level)
The roller skating rink at South Dixie and SW 27th Ave
When the 836 toll was 10 cents
The Miami Marlins and the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (AA teams)
When FIU was a "Senior College" and the school's nickname was the "Sun Blazers"
The Miami Daily News
Miami Rowing Club
Musa Village, the Seminole Indian Village on NW 27th ave. and the Miami River
K-land on Kendall Drive
The Ft. Lauderdale Strikers
Flipper in the open end-zone at the Orange Bowl
The rotating shark at the entrance to Key Biscayne
The Seaquarium with Hugo the Killer whale
When Crown Liquors got shot up
Cocaine Cowboys
Tent City
Packer Pontiac
Hurricane David and that masking tape that's still on all your windows
Grand Union (the grand union of all good things)
When the Norway was the largest cruise ship in the world
When the Rusty Pelican burned down
Miami Dade Junior College
The Coffee House on Douglas Rd
The Lemon Twist
The Monk's Inn
The French Connection
Monty Trainer's Village Inn
Jordan Marsh
Burdines and the playground on its roof
Peaches Records and Tapes
The Coca Cola Bottling company in the grove
Super Skating Centers and Tropical Skating
CenterAir Florida and Eastern Airlines
Glen Rinker & Ralph Renick
Gator Kicks on Tamiami Trail
When there was a grocery store in Dadeland Mall
The Seahorse at Dadeland Mall
When Dadeland Mall was open!
When "Footy's" name was "Athlete's Foot"
Heiny Wine "The wine that made Medley, Medley"
When the 94th Aero Squadron had good food
The Tropicaire Drive in Theater
When there was a Burdines at the Mayfair mall
When the Mayfair Mall was a drive-in laundry
When Centrust was Dade Federsal Savings
When SunTrust was Sun Bank
The Dadeland Twin Theater
The Riviera Theater, Gables Theater and the Coral Theater
The Coconut Grove PlayHouse
Ivan Kivit's Merry-Go-Round Theater
Gordons Docks
The ColliseumBowling : 1928 Opera House-Boxing - Wrestling - Ice/Roller Skating Rink
Indy car races at Tamiami Park
The Hialeah race track with demolition derbys
When Shorty's BBQ burned down
When the Rickenbacker was a drawbridge - and cost 25 cents
Biscayne Dog Track
Campus Life Haunted House
When the Youth Fair was at K-Land on Kendall Drive
When the Mark IV was the best ride at the youth fair
All the Dairy Farms where Miami International Airport sits today
Uncle Gordon reading the Sunday funnies on the radio (at the Freedom Tower formerly the Miami Daily News Bldg.)
The Skipper Chuck Show with Scrubby and Toby the Robot
Miami Marine Stadium and Hydroplane races
Velvet Creme
Planet Ocean (now Mast Academy)
Monkey Jungle
Parrot Jungle (moved to Watson Island)
The Goodyear Blimp at Watson Island
Chalk's Flying Service
Club OZ
Tom Thumbs in the Grove
When the Mall of the Americas was Midway Mall
Rory Sparrow
Black Caesar's Forge
Marcella's Mia Cucina
Richard's Department Store & Basement - Downtown
Grant's Five and Dime - Downtown
Gesu Cathjolic Church Downtown
Jimmy's Hurricane and the Hurricane Cooler
Hot Shoppes and the Orange Freeze, teen Twist and Big Mo
The Big Wheel
Ice Palace Ice Skating Rink on NW 36 St.
Key West was a long, lonely trip,, and the Key Lime Pie was 'real'
The trips down to the Rod and Reel Club at Jewfish Creek on Key Largo
The trips down to Everglades City
The Red Diamond Italian Restaurant south of the Airport on Lejuene
The El Bolero Restaurant
When La Carreta only had one location
George's Subs on 8th Street and 47th Ave
Wolfie's and the Rascal House on Miami Beach
Drag Races at Amelia Earhart Field
Kelly's Hamburgers Drive-In (later Billy's Drive-In) on 79th St next to the North Bay Marina
Dressels Dairy for ice cream and pony rides on a Sunday afternoon on Milam Dairy Road
Sealtest ice cream parlor near Jimmys Hurricane on Bird rd.
Luskin's High Fidelity
Lyle's Pharmacy
Lindsley Lumber
A.J. Duhe
Victoria and Abbey Hospitals
Mercy Hospital on Biscayne Bay
Malibu Grand Prix
Jackson-Byrons; JByrons; Jacksons
The rides on top of downtown Burdines each holiday season
McCrory's Five and Dime - Downtown
Sam the China Man
Roland Your Hatter in the Seybold Bldg.
Bayfront Auditorium with the Saturday Dances
Bayfront Park and the Public Library there
5th Street Fishing Pier and Charter Boats - Downtown (where Bayside sits today)
FunLand Park on NW 27th Ave
Krome ave. was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out in the sticks
Seminole Indian huts out on Tamiami Trail that did not have Parabolic antennas sticking out Pan Am's seaplane hangers (where real live seaplanes took off many times a day) in the Grove Mansene's Spaghetti House
The Studio Restaurant
The Yorkshire
The Hampshire
Leonard La Pena's Steak House
FIRE Station #1 across from the old Courthouse
The Old Miami train station just across the street from the police dept.
Coral Gables Bus station
The Boys Club of Miami on 32nd Ave (before it became Co-Ed)
Dairy Queen's with the curly cone on top and "flying saucer" ice cream sandwiches
A & W root beer joints
Royal Castle burger joints
The tennis courts at Coconut Grove park next to the basketball court
Florida Pharmacy in the Grove AKA the Fagacy
The Light House on Key Biscayne was a simple picnic place w/ NO Seawall
Fair Isle was just that, an island where we snagged mullet and fished
P. B. A. park on NW 14 St.
Miami Senior High before air conditioningBiscayne
Biscayne Cafeteria in the Gables
M and M cafeteria on SW 27 Ave and 8 St
WQAM radio
King Arthur's Court on 36 st
Big Daddy's Drag Races on Kendall and Krove Ave
The Tropicaire Flea market
Allen's Drugs at Red and Bird Road
WINZ radio
Scotty's Grocery in the Grove where tomatoes and artichokes were the size of your hand
When Westchester was "out in the country...way outside of Miami..."
When there was NO FIU
When Miami Coral Park Senior High School was predominantly Jewish
Miles of strawberry fields on Kendall Drive after you passed 107th Avenue
No Town & Country Mall on Kendall Drive
No "West Kendall" at all
The Hamlet bar on Main Hywy
The little drive-in place that sold whisky at South Dixie and 27th Ave
The little bait shop that sold beer at South Dixie and 17th Ave
When Stiltsville was a seldom frequented place on the sand bars
The Lejeune Drive In, where the Marriott is now
When Widow McCoy's in the Grove was the hotspot for live jazz
The Grove Movie Theatre and the midnight "Rocky Horror" shows every weekend
All the funky shops on Grand Avenue before Cocowalk and Mayfair took over
When there was no traffic on the Palmetto Expressway
When Sweetwater was just trailers, small farms and houses on the other side of the canal
When there was NO Midway Mall, International Mall, or Dolphin Mall
Royal Ice Company on Douglas and US1
Great Value grocery store in Cutler Ridge, next to Dad's Hardware
Breezeway Drive-In in Homestead
Shaw's Nursery on US1 and Killian Dr
Poe's Hardware on US1 and Lejeune Road
Rhodes Brothers Club on US1 & 136th
When Luria'sBird Bowl had a gas station
WhenTropical Park was a horse track
Police Athletic League dances at Bird Road and 72nd
When we had TV channels! 4 (CBS), 7 (NBC), 10 (ABC) and then 6 (WCIX)
Bird Bowl & the skating rink
Drink & Sink...all the skating & beer you can drink for $5...
do you know how hard it is to go to the bathroom with skates on ??
The Playboy Clubs...disco dancing...the "bunnies" had little cotton tails...
FULL SERVICE AT GAS STATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL the woods we had to mud bog in
Motocrossing on the sand dunes that are now Cocoplum!
Long's Motorcycle Shop on Flagler St.
Taking the bus to shop in the Gables
All the worms on the sidewalks & in the hallways at school after a big rain
Tadpoles in the puddles
Camping at Browns Farm
Bird Road Drive-in...especially when they added "Air-Conditioning"!!
The Circus Restaurant on Bird Road
The Brasserie by the airport
The 1800 Club
The pizza place on 103rd street that showed Little Rascal videos...& had the BEST pizza too!Skiing at the Airport Lakes
The Flea Market at the Bird Road Drive-in
Little Caesar's on US1
The Sportatorium in the middle of nowhere where rock bands came to perform.
Bayfront Park when it had beautiful trees and a great Library
When Miami Beach restaurants and bars closed at 11 PM
When the South Beach scene was skid row and not fashion week
Earl Cashmore's Shell Station on the corner of Eureka and Franjo
The haunted and boarded up Biltmore Hotel
Camping on the levy on Tamiami Trail in the Everglades
Orange Julius in the malls
The Yumbrella in South Miami
Sorrento's Italian Restaurant
The Red Diamond Inn
Autorama at Dinner Key auditorium
The Columbus Hotel, Everglades Hotel and the Colonial Hotel on Biscayne Boulevard
The all you can eat fishfry on fridays at Howard Johnson across from the UM on US1
The Florida East Coast Railroad Station in downtown next to the county courthouse
The Dinner Key Boat Show
The Black Angus Restaurant
................................................................AND SO MUCH MORE!
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315 comments:
1 – 200 of 315 Newer› Newest»Dave,
I remember a lot of those things. Clicked onto your website while searching for Sorrento's which was my Dad's favorite Italian restaraunt. We went there on my birthday the last night it was open.
Thanks for the memories!
GinaG
Great memories, I remember alot of them and more! It's hard to believe that we know so many of the same places and may even have crossed paths before. Richard
...and all the cute chicks that I dated weren't sixty-something grandmothers yet, and sixty-something grandmothers didn't wear spike heels and miniskirts...LOL
Dear Gina, Rich and Al: I am sure you guys must remember much more than me! Please feel free to add any spots I missed and I will gladly add them. Thanks for the comments!
PS If anyone has pics of these places, please let me know and I will add them
WOW! What hurts most is my wife and I remember most of this list. Especially since I was raised on 47 terr and 112 ave SW. Ouch. Thanks for this site. Will visit often.
Wow. I moved from Miami (my hometown) to North Carolina about 8 years ago, and sudddenly I feel homesick for Miami. I remember most of these places. You have made me so nostalgic. Thanks for posting this list, and reviving so many memories! Big Wilson and Night Owl Theater, Jamaica Cupcakes store on NW 27th Avenue, etc.
Bowling at the Colleseum, on Douglas, between Calle Ocho and Coral Way was the best. First place I can remember my father taking me!!
This site here:
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories
has many South Florida pix.
I am an alum of the Merry go round Playhouse.
Yo Ivan and Danny!
I also remember Skipper Chuck and Scrubby.
As a kid I always thought the bakery smell was a gift from God.
Do you remember the Flipper house at the sea Aquarium?
How about the Gentile Ben set at David Fairchild Garden?
Banjo Billy any one?
Thanks for this site
Love it!
Thanx for the memories.
Great memories. Earl Cashmore is my Dad. How cool is that.
Thanks,
Sandy Cashmore
Oh my God. Awesome memories. And I only lived in Miami for a couple of years (November 1974-January 1977). I remember a great little sandwich shop in downtown Miami that was run by a group of Cuban brothers-excellent sandwiches! There was some chain seafood restaurant in South Miami that I used to eat at-New England Oyster House or something like that. Big Daddy's across from the Federal Building. The Ludway near the intersection of Ludlum and Coral Way. The Lum's across from Dadeland Mall. The best screwdriver ever made at the restaurant in the Burdines downtown. When I could look out of my 3rd story condo. window and see FIU from the other side of 107th. Just a few of my favorite memories of Miami.
how about: Shells City on nw 7 ave before I-95 was built. Pier Park on south beach. Just old houses on Collins avenue above the Eden Roc.
The Macarthur causeway drawbidge going up every 10 minutes, causing huge traffic jams. the Beatles arriving at the Deauville. the rock festivals at Gulfstream. Cuban tourists in the small south beach hotels in the summertime. Pumpernick's. Junior's. Cousin Brucie on WINZ. Getting into Dolphin games for free the first year and the orange bowl still half full.
Wow. I grew up in Miami, graduated from the "predominantly Jewish" Coral Park in 1969 (I myself am predominantly Jewish :-), and your list brought back amazing memories. I've lived in Texas since 1974, so reading this was like a refreshing walk thru my childhood. BTW: I'm also an alum of Ivan Kivitt's Merry Go Round Playhouse. But here's a few more: Westchester Shopping Center opening in 1961 with Food Fair, WT Grants, and Kresge's as the anchor stores; Plantation Pit Bar B Q on Bird Rd. (after Shorty's burned down); Miami Barber College on Coral Way and SW 87th (25 cent haircuts); Jim Dooley on Channel 10; The Saturday Hop with Bill Wyler on Channel 10; Wayne Fariss on Channel 7, and Weaver the Weatherman on Channel 4; and of course, the most famous memory for me, Frankie's Pizza on 91st and Bird (still open, and you can buy their pizza online and have it shipped to Texas!).
I was born and raised here in Miami, still here, 41 years old now. I remember alot of those places. Not sure if I saw Godfather's pizza on US1 next to the Zayers (however it was spelled)?? Midway skating rink I loved, always there. How about the Pit out on 8th street way out close to Krome when it was actually a decent place to eat?? The food places next to South Miami Sr high before they closed them all up our Senior year (84). Key Biscayne and the beaches that were covered in trees not the way it is now, Ft. Lauderdale strip when it was a 2 way lane highway?? I think I saw the flea market off of bird road and the highway, like 50 cents or something to get in, doing it every sunday with the family, Tamiami airport where FIU is now, where I learned to drive when I was 15 and there was no school there. I was also on the Skipper Chuck show, I wish I knew how to get a copy of when I was on there cause I won the big show, Disney on Ice, a HUGE Sugar Daddy candy bar and some other stuff! SO many memories! Thanks for sharing
I was born and raised here in Miami, still here, 41 years old now. I remember alot of those places. Not sure if I saw Godfather's pizza on US1 next to the Zayers (however it was spelled)?? Midway skating rink I loved, always there. How about the Pit out on 8th street way out close to Krome when it was actually a decent place to eat?? The food places next to South Miami Sr high before they closed them all up our Senior year (84). Key Biscayne and the beaches that were covered in trees not the way it is now, Ft. Lauderdale strip when it was a 2 way lane highway?? I think I saw the flea market off of bird road and the highway, like 50 cents or something to get in, doing it every sunday with the family, Tamiami airport where FIU is now, where I learned to drive when I was 15 and there was no school there. I was also on the Skipper Chuck show, I wish I knew how to get a copy of when I was on there cause I won the big show, Disney on Ice, a HUGE Sugar Daddy candy bar and some other stuff! How about the park and pool off flagler and i think between 8th street and 67th avenue maybe near the elementary school? cant remember the name of it, how about Venetian POOL? HOw about the Biltmore hotel when it was empty & falling apart? The girlscout camp ground off Miller and 87th I think, Kinloch Jr High and the icecream man who was there every morning/afternoon, how about split time school schedules, morning or afternoon shifts?? SO many memories! Thanks for sharing
I was born and raised here in Miami, still here, 41 years old now. I remember alot of those places. Not sure if I saw Godfather's pizza on US1 next to the Zayers (however it was spelled)?? Midway skating rink I loved, always there. How about the Pit out on 8th street way out close to Krome when it was actually a decent place to eat?? The food places next to South Miami Sr high before they closed them all up our Senior year (84). Key Biscayne and the beaches that were covered in trees not the way it is now, Ft. Lauderdale strip when it was a 2 way lane highway?? I think I saw the flea market off of bird road and the highway, like 50 cents or something to get in, doing it every sunday with the family, Tamiami airport where FIU is now, where I learned to drive when I was 15 and there was no school there. I was also on the Skipper Chuck show, I wish I knew how to get a copy of when I was on there cause I won the big show, Disney on Ice, a HUGE Sugar Daddy candy bar and some other stuff! How about the park and pool off flagler and i think between 8th street and 67th avenue maybe near the elementary school? cant remember the name of it, how about Venetian POOL? HOw about the Biltmore hotel when it was empty & falling apart? The girlscout camp ground off Miller and 87th I think, Kinloch Jr High and the icecream man who was there every morning/afternoon, how about split time school schedules, morning or afternoon shifts?? How about Lums? I loved the Velvet Kreme on 8th street, anyone remember the HIaleah Speedway with Saturday races?? HOw about the go-cart track around there as well I can still hear "Bring em in slow, one more lap, put your left foot on the brake, bring em slow"! SO many memories! Thanks for sharing
Yeah, it was my pleasure to run across you're blog. I was born and raised in Miami, FL, in '73. I grew-up in Cutler Ridge.
I just wanted to add some of my memories, such as: Happy Times ( At US1 & Marlin ) The Perrine little league, Snodens dam, Monty trainers, Saga Lounge & The O'l Smoke inn ( and across from those bars was dirt bike / ATC heaven before it was built up into Saga bay ) The many farm stores ( My main one was was on Marlin road ) The rope ( Also off of Marlin Rd. behind Bel-Air elementary school ) Pelicans Perch, Capt. Jimmy's ( Used to be beside of Modern age furniture ) The runway ( Across from Capt. Jimmy's ) block parties and of-course 152nd / Coral reef(er) park; To add a few more memories.
Oh yeah, and we used to listen to either Zeta 4 or 103.5 she FM ( The home of kick-ass rock-n-roll.)
Any of you fellow South Floridians can write me anytime @: swade73@live.com I drive a truck, so I only check my emails occasionally, but I will get back to you. I'm home-sick now, lol.
Later-4-ya,
bongo ( Shannon )
I also grew up in Miami. I lived in Coconut Grove, South Miami, Cutler Ridge and then in Kendall So many memories. I had my 4th birthday party by the water at the Coconut Grove bayfront park where they had shelters with picnic tables and a playground with an extremely high slide. A few years later we used to irritate the older folks when we played shuffleboard there during summer vacation. I had a classmate who lived in a houseboat when I was in the fourth grade at Coconut Grove Elem. School (where my younger sister had the same first grade teacher that my mother had there. That theater in Cutler Ridge Mall was where I saw "The Birds". I remember Miami Dade Community College when it opened, I attended the first classes held in Palmetto High School before the college even had a building. Now it stands 2 blocks from where my parents built a house a number of years after being told by a bank that they couldn't give them a loan to build a house because nobody was ever going to live out there. Who remembers "D" Battery at Palmetto HS during the Cuban Missle Crisis, before they were moved out to Krome avenue. I'm glad someone remembered to include Frankie's Pizza in their comments. Great square pizza! Remember when Kendall Drive was barely two (heavily patched) lanes that ended in a dump at 117th Avenue and when there was a canal running along a very narrow 107th Avenue. So much more...
I also grew up in Miami. I lived in Coconut Grove, South Miami, Cutler Ridge and then in Kendall So many memories. I had my 4th birthday party by the water at the Coconut Grove bayfront park where they had shelters with picnic tables and a playground with an extremely high slide. A few years later we used to irritate the older folks when we played shuffleboard there during summer vacation. I had a classmate who lived in a houseboat when I was in the fourth grade at Coconut Grove Elem. School (where my younger sister had the same first grade teacher that my mother had there. That theater in Cutler Ridge Mall was where I saw "The Birds". I remember Miami Dade Community College when it opened, I attended the first classes held in Palmetto High School before the college even had a building. Now it stands 2 blocks from where my parents built a house a number of years after being told by a bank that they couldn't give them a loan to build a house because nobody was ever going to live out there. Who remembers "D" Battery at Palmetto HS during the Cuban Missle Crisis, before they were moved out to Krome avenue. I'm glad someone remembered to include Frankie's Pizza in their comments. Great square pizza! Remember when Kendall Drive was barely two (heavily patched) lanes that ended in a dump at 117th Avenue and when there was a canal running along a very narrow 107th Avenue. So much more...
I just want to say thanks for the memories and what great ones they are. My life in miami began around 1972 when my stepfather packed my mother, brother, sister, and I in a car in maine and relocated to miami, then he dumped us in a motel on u.s. 1 over by dadeland mall and left us, so my mother struggled to raise us. that motel is no longer there, I remember it had a golf course, and there was a abandoned lumber yard next door and how we would play in there, I remember going to dadeland and the barefoot mailman(it was like spencers)it is so vivid in my mind,My mother worked 2 jobs 1 at the checkmate lounge, I remember the jade east apts that was there, I remember living in westchester and going to the mall over by there and zayres, and rockway jr. high that I used to go to, the youth fair, the pizza palace over on bird rd. I remember the horse track and when it closed they had the best haunted house there. bird bowl,royal castles, swimming at venition pool in the gables, lums in the grove and all the hippies, and I remember the hippie commune in the grove over by the zayres on south dixie(u.s.1)shopping at the flea market at tropicare drive in next to the palmetto, eating at shortys bbq (yum) when crandon park zoo was off biscayne bay, the planetarium and viscaya (what memories visiting there). riding the bus everywhere and the bus terminal in the gables, and the theatre on miracle mile.I still keep in touch with my friend who I have known for 35 yrs. I moved away in 75 and moved back in 84 and moved away in 87 and now live in illinois, my friend has lived in miami all his life and alot of these places we had gone to and hung out at. the concerts at the miami baseball stadium and jai alai fronton the amusement park on soth dixie the mephisto lounge, monkey jungle parrot jungle pirates world in dania the clakkety clack of the steeplechase ride and the log ride there.I could go on and on but I don't want to bore everyone with my life, but just remember the stuff that is no longer there, that live on in our memories forever, they were the good times of our lives, last I heard (20 or so yrs.) that so. miami high school or 1 of the schools got the big cobra that was in front of the serpantarium.
Peace!!!
I too was born and raised in MIami. In 1943 at Jackson Memorial Hospital. There was a German submarine scare going on then and therefore a blackout was in progress. I think I was "slipped in" from the sub. My parents don't look like me.
God, I miss those times. Please, someone, bring them back!
Yea let's bring back those good times, I agree with old salty.I am working on a way back machine and if anyone wants to join me we'll head back to the good old days of miami when it wasn't too crowded and the crime was down.I wish that we could time travel I miss growing up in miami in the 70's and all the places that are just a memory now. I hate urban renewal!!!
I moved back to miami in 83 or 84 and lived a short while in miami springs and would walk to the circle what a trip back in time that town was, with the movie theater and the drug store the gazebo in the middle of the circle, piggly wiggly, does anyone know if those things are still there? I used to think I was in mayberry, it was like living in a small town away from the big city.
I don't want to push on I want to go back to a simpeler time of life.
I now live in the midwest it is quiet here I am 180 miles west of chicago, no hustle & bustle of the big city here,& it is nice.
Thanx for the memories!!!
Was researching an old record album called "Holiday in Les Violins" and found your website. I left Miami 30 years ago but not the memories. My first job was at Johnnie and Mack by the railroad track. The very first Burger King started on the cornor or 31st ave and 36 street and the owner used to gives us kids money to put fliers for a free whopper on neighborhood doors but after a couple runs he saw we were giving them to our friends (smile). we used to go swimming under the 27th ave bridge on our way to Curtiss Park and would only get out if we got bumped by a sea cow. The old timers would pronounce miami-MY AMA. loved to stare in Frenchies Antique store on 27th ave and 27 street. There were red foxes behing the airport at Maul Lake. The old Seminole caves along the Miami River off 17th ave.Good good memories. Thanks
Loved your great list! I grew up in Colonial Drive area off of US1 in the seventies. Haven't lived there since graduating Killian High School in 1980. I stumbled on your list when explaining to my daughter about the Campus Life Haunted House and we wanted to see if it still existed. I would be curious to know your age since I didn't remember some of the things on your list. I also remember when the Cutler Ridge library was in the Cutler Ridge Mall right next to the movie theater I believe. There was a restaurant in Perrine that had all kinds of Pie. I think it was called Pie Fair? Palmetto Pool, off of US1 and Coral Reef Drive. I think it was a public pool but on a private golf course. The Treasury Department Store on US1. Carvel Ice Cream. There are so many to remember, I can see why your list was so long. One of my favorites was the bakery on US1 that smelled so good when we would pass by. I hope I was able to give you a few more to add to your list. I'm sure I will think of more later!
Some of you might like this little item I posted on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnHVWW98VbQ
Jack O'Brien remembers a lot of that stuff with fond, fond memories.
I used to live at 82nd Avenue and 141st Street..did a few commercials (thousands) for Municipal Auto Sales..had the Jumpin JackShow on Channel 10 for six years...did weather for five and Sports for 7 more. Seems like it was a long time ago..cause it was! Live in Tennessee now...to be near our grandchildren...still married to Miss Miami Beach of 1957, Deanna Briggs (for 50 years on Mrch 31 this year) You have any memories...email me at:
jumpinjack@comcast.net
love to hear from you!
Jck O'Brien
I lived in Miami from the time I was four until twenty-nine. My family moved there 104 Street and 23 Ave. in 1948.
Who remembers Thr Rosetta Theatre in Little River? My sister and I spent many a Saturday there.
One of my fondest memories is Easter sunrise service in the Orange Bowl--it was a Passion Play! And what about the restaurant Edith and Fritz? All the lobster tails you could eat for $5.00--that was in the 50s and 60s. And what about life before the Miami Dolphins?
This site is a great find! Thanks!
My family lived in Cutler Ridge when I was a small child. I was part of the first kindergarten class at Gulfstream Elementary. We moved away when I was in second grade. My dad was a butcher at the Great-Valu then later at the A&P.
I'm alittle surprised that you didn't mention the toy store that was at the Cutler Ridge Shopping Center. My grandparents owned that store - AlJo's Hobbys. My sister and I used to love to go there when my mom had to help out. We got to play with the stuff in the windows...then it burned down under "mysterious" circumstances.
I remember going to Grant's for lunch and getting their hotdogs...I have not tasted hotdogs like that since :( We (my sister and I) used to like to walk down to Richard's Dept Store to look at the lights in the littel fountain in front.
Does anyone reading this remember the Submarine Sandwich shop in Cutler Ridge? It was a little hole in the wall type place - they had THE BEST!!! subs - and they were huge!
Another thing...which is funny now, on the few times that we ventured to Coconut Grove, our mother used to make us lock our doors because "those people" (the hippies) were down there...too funny!!
Thanks for the memories!!
I do remember the free concerts on the weekends circa 1973-1975 at crandon park and the gathering at Lums in the grove and the park just southeast of Lums to get whatever your drug of choice may be.And the republic convention held at the Miami convention auditorium at about the same timeframe as there were all kinds of groups that set up camp to not just protest but to be heard and that was in a park just a few blocks away.I remember the National guard were at the convention hall standing behind a fence and some guy who had a large cardboard tube loaded with toilet paper was lighting the end and blowing smoke at each one of those guards.As i look back now it was not funny but then again we all did crazy things back then.Thanks for the memories as Bob Hope would say..
Does anyone remember the 747 Lounge on 36th street & Lejeune (i think)? What about the Tiger's Den dance club in the old South Miami Heights Shopping Center?
William,
I remember the 747 Lounge. Used to go there alot. Seems like you had to wear a coat and tie and if you didn't have one, they had a loaner closet full. I was a flight attendant for Delta in the early 70's. Remember walking down 36th in the wee hours of the morning and feeling perfectly safe. Does anyone remember a late night club named Mr. T's? Lots of Dolphins hung out there- I think that was the name. Also, a steakhouse with the biggest steaks ever- T-Bone Charley's (?) where if a guy wore a tie, they would cut it off and hang it on the wall? The Mechandise Mart- Rhodes Brothers show? Such fun memories, thanks!
Jenny
I remember many of the things you listed. I grew up in cutler ridge from 1963-1977. Lived on SW 200 st and went to bel-aire elem. Would like to find some of my classmates like wendy hartaway, vicki riciardi, kevin shoemaker, craig fishel, christine miller. I was at bel-aire from 1969- 1972. I would like to Ms Maryann Bliss, who was my teacher.I really dont know where to begin. If anyone recognizes these people, please let me know by contacting me at tarcybenson19@gmail.com
What a great list - just about everything on it resonated with me!
I'm from the Coral Gables/Coconut Grove/So. Miami area. Also spent many good times acting at Gallery Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (in fact, met my first husband there), then Studio M and Upstage. Was a flower child in the 60s Grove, went to Gables High.
Here's a memory for y'all- remember the number you could call for the time, sponsored by "Central Bank, the yes bank on 36th Street" You always had to listen to the silly little rhymes before the time: "Buy a boat, pay while you float!"
On the subject of phones - I remember when the Miami exchanges were HIghland, MOhawk...
Last but not least - the mention of the wonderful Sorrento's. I went to elementary school with Vincent Amanzio, whose family owned it. He brought his lunch and delicious smells would waft through the room when he opened his desk.
I also remember diving off the cliff at snowdens den on old cutler road and having to climb back up the rope if it was there and it seemed like it was about a 40ft. drop when you were 15 yrs. old.Also snake hunting on the road that lead to black point off of old cutler road where there was a ditch canal running the whole lenght till you got to the locks where the fresh water meets the salt water. And how about the colonial palms golf course that was lit up at night for playing golf at night next to the Zayres on U.S.1 just before 87th ave where the roller rink was.
Thomas, I remember the Colonial Palms Golf Course very well. It was one of those "executive" golf courses with a bunch of par 3 and a few par 4 holes. It was right next to a big Zayre's department store! Remember those? My cousin Mike the golf nut would drag me there early in the morning after a long night out drinking and dancing. It was on Dixie Highway and 136 street. I think it was closed in the 1980's. There was also a Goony Golf putt putt thereabouts with a giant Dinosaur in front
How about the machine shop game room on coral way near 37 ave? across from the Twin Gables Theater. Simpson Park on South Bayshore, When the Seaquarium had a monorail!! The iceberg at Planet Ocean. When channel 6 was on Brickell ave, Treasure Island at the Omni downtown they had a haunted house ride and bumper cars, Parentis Pizza. Uncle Tom's Cabin (great ribs) on SW 8 St. When Belen Jesuit Prep was on SW 8 ST. The Round Towner bus that took you from Brickell ave to the Omni for 10 cents, was free in the beginning. Laser light shows at the Planetarium.
I'm also an alum of the Merry-Go-Round playhouse. For 5 years when i was growing up I lived in Miami -- first in Miami Shores for a little while & then Coral Gables. I haven't been back to Florida since I left & this list has brought back many memories. Amazing...
Absolutely amazing stuff here! I lived just off Colonial Drive from 1965 to 1970 ...then as part of a move we were holed up in the same motel that "Kimike2" mantions above ... I remember the Jade East apts next door with the Japaneze roofs .. the golf course, Shortys BBQ, The barefoot Mailman at dadeland and all that.
Myself and a group of badasses used to terrorize the Palmetto country club golf course on many nights joyriding golf carts etc.
and hang out at "The Food Spot" on Colonial Drive .... Great blog here .. brought back some great memories!
Cheers/Glenn
I went to Killian high when it was first opened, I also swam in the canals on the palmetto club golf course, I knew the Haast's and hung out with Bill's grandson, collected snakes in the everglades with him. remember Snowdens bar and grill, and fishing behind it in the bay. Alot of fond memories
Enjoyed the site. Lots of memories. I grew up in Hialeah and Cutler Ridge. Went to South Dade High and (when it opened) FIU. Use to work at Hialeah and Mercy hosps.
Now live in NC but still have a condo in Fort Lauderdale. Use to hate the "snowbirds" and now I
'are' one (with apologies to Pogo). Would love to hear from other folks from Cutler Ridge about that time.
Rico
I grew in Miami Springs,born in the early sixtys.Remembering some of these names that I had forgotten about was soooo coool,I had to e-mail it to a few friends.Do you all remember Michaels Go-Carts in Medley,my dad used to take me n my friends there on weekends.Thank you for stimulating my mind!
I also grew up in Miami Springs & went to Michaels Go Carts in the 70's. Does anyone remember Hunters? Where the hunter meets the huntress? That was a funny tag line. Wow, what a list, lots of memories. Does the Campus Life Haunted House still exist? Would love to hear from anyone who grew up in Miami Springs in the 70's or 80's. Aaron Belair, Tina Wood, Cheyenne Cole, Kim & Michelle Syros, Maryanne Morris from Virginia Gardens. My email is atebse@yahoo.com.
Dave, This is wonderful! We lived in Miami, primarily Miami Springs for most of the years from 1965 to 2003 (our working years).
A couple of other venues I remember fondly:
• Dog Track at the tip of South Beach
• Curtiss National Bank (on 36th St across from Eastern Airlines campus)
• National Airlines (built the round hangar on 36th street)
• Trysting Places (Six Hundred, Six West, etc.)
• The Six Hundred had 11-cent drinks for girls
• Crossways Inn on LeJeune
• Rhodes Brothers at the Crossways
• Brothers Two in south Hialeah, it had a fireplace in the "basement"!
• New England Oyster House
• Jai Alai Fronton on 36th Street
• Lejeune Road & 36th street were two lanes
• Easter Sunrise services at Miami Marine Stadium
• When the Palmetto Expressway was only 2 lanes in each direction and had traffic lights
• Mike's Lounge on Lejeune (with larger than life mural of Csonka and other players painted on the side)
• Buses to Dolphins' games from Mike's Lounge
• There was open land between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and between Miami and Homestead.
• The primary language was English
I also read your posts of other places that are "biting the dust" or have by now! We had so many wonderful years there and so many fond memories… Miami is now one city that attests to Thomas Wolfe's "You Can't Go Home Again"!
Thank you again for the many fond memories of the Miami area!
Ruth
Born and raised in Miami- what a wonderful place to spend your childhood, back then...
I was one of the first babies born at South Miami hospital.
I remember many of the same things as you, Dave, but a few more came to mind... the pony rides on Bird Road, Dipper Dan ice cream shop at 87th and Coral Way, shrimping off the Venetian causeway and having to go home early because our station wagon couldn't hold any more shrimp, being taught Spanish in the first grade at Everglades Elementary School, the huge land tortoises at Crandon Park, when derelict buildings on South Beach were auctioned for $100 each, when Griese retired (I was a devastated 7 yr old).
I remember stories from my Dad about being "stationed" at the Clevelander during WWII, with Jim Backus as his commanding officer.
I remember when there was a horse track on Bird Road, which later became a flea market. I remember when 87th avenue was the end of civilization, and it was open fields for dove hunting west of that. I also remember having a milk man, and a "Charles Chips" man, making regular deliveries to our door step. I remember field trips to the Pepsi plant and Holsum bakery.
I remember when the Dolphins practiced at St. Thomas and played in the Orange Bowl, and I remember when Jim Palmer had spring training at Miami Stadium.
My dad worked for Eastern Airlines, and I remember when you had to wear your "Sunday best" to fly on an airplane. By the way, all of the servers were attractive women, known as stewardesses. I remember when LeJeune had to close on a daily basis for airplanes to taxi to the runways.
My family used to go see tapings of Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" show at the Miami Beach Convention Center. I also remember Farrell's ice cream parlour at Westland mall. They served a gigantic silver bowl of 50 different ice cream flavors called the "Zoo" on a stretcher, after running around the restaurant with lights and sirens (and kazoos) blaring. I remember Diamonds, The Treasury, Xtra Supermarket, Food Fair, and I remember when the Barn theater stood in a field of dairy cows owned by the Graham family, an area now known as Miami Lakes Main Street.
I remember when Key West was a wholesome family vacation destination.
There were lots of crooked politician scandals- Steven Clark, Janet Reno, Maurice Ferre... it seems like Miami was a breeding ground.
I remember dancing at Casanovas in Hialeah and the first day Y-100 went on the air. I remember lots of great concerts - David Cassidy, Bee Gees, KC, Michael Jackson at the Orange Bowl. I remember watching Miami Vice and recognizing the site of every episode.
And I recall when there was minimal Hispanic influence in Miami and it took no more than thirty minutes to get anywhere.
Ah, those were the days!
I remember the Balboa, the huge Spanish restaurant on Coral way and say SW 60th Ave. I played at the Prado as if it were my own private world. I moved from Miami in 1989 and probablly say everyday I am homesick everyday. It was a great town to live in for sure. My Grandmother lived accross the street from West End Pool and My Dad went to Sylvainia Heights elementary in the late 1940s. GOes way back. Was Banjo Billy on the Skipper Chuck sow or didhe have his own show? I remeber Bo Bo the Clown at I think was the Merry Go Round Theater in the Gables. He ahd a mean streak:) Ha and Dearborn school. What was up with that school anyway?
thanks for the memories
How absolutely marrrrvelous to see this list of "memories-fone-by". What a great deed you have done for all of us who have enjoyed most of these places in Miami. I have often tried to remember some of the names of the greatest places around and couldn't but this list was the trigger. Do you remember, UTOTEM's, and the Waffle House on Coral Way near Sears" Long lines and no one complained about the heat 'cause the food was awesome, and how about Westwood Ho! and Ranch House...then there was the fresh fruits and vegetables [Open air] on the corner of LeJeune and SW 8th Street when it was across from the car dealer? The famous sub-shop on SW 8th Street and Granada Boulevard, which later moved to SW 47th Ave and 8th Street and became George's Subs.? The best subs ever!!! I remember crossing 8th Street and never looking 'cause there were so few cars. Do you remember the Serpentarium on U.S.1..WOW!!! I think "Fun Fair" was a littleplace somewhere around NW 79th Avenue and what I do remember is the Fortune ZLady in the case right up front...those were some nice fun times at any hour.....and safe! Thanks for all the memories you have stirred up for us.
How absolutely marrrrvelous to see this list of "memories-gone-by". What a great deed you have done for all of us who have enjoyed most of these places in Miami. I have often tried to remember some of the names of the greatest places around and couldn't but this list was the trigger. Do you remember,
U-TOTEM's, and the Waffle House on Coral Way near Sears" Long lines and no one complained about the heat 'cause the food was awesome, and how about Westwood Ho! and Ranch House...then there was the fresh fruits and vegetables [Open air] on the corner of LeJeune and SW 8th Street when it was across from the car dealer? The famous sub-shop on SW 8th Street and Granada Boulevard, which later moved to SW 47th Ave and 8th Street and became George's Subs.? The best subs ever!!! I remember crossing 8th Street and never looking 'cause there were so few cars. Do you remember the Serpentarium on U.S.1..WOW!!! I think "Fun Fair" was a littleplace somewhere around NW 79th Avenue and what I do remember is the Fortune Lady in the case right up front...those were some nice fun times at any hour.....and safe! Thanks for all the memories you have stirred up for us.
So many memories........ time sure goes by quickly and the years seem like minutes that have flashed by us when you read that terrific list you have given us as a gift. It is hard to remember sometimes, as we just seem to flow into the next year without looking back....THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REALLY FULL LIST.
I was born in Doctors Hospital and was raised on Bird Road from 1950 till 1979 then moved to Orlando and I remember all these place and the sad thing is that most of them are gone now and alot of the friends from there are also gone
I was born in Doctors Hospital and was raised on Bird Road from 1950 till 1979 then moved to Orlando and I remember all these place and the sad thing is that most of them are gone now and alot of the friends from there are also gone
Just watched a show on the pioneers of local television but the didn't mention Skipper Chuck or banjo Billy my faves from the 60s. Does anyone remember Little Miss 7? Can't remember the host's name. And the commercial Bahama Bread, Bahama Bread, maker of any menu, YOU LIKE! the North Miami YMCA day camps and neighborhood pools like Myrtle Grove...50s and 60s a paradise for kids growing up in Miami...
Hi Dave,
Moved to Miami in 1962. Graduated from Southwest High. Worked for Flordia Power and Light Co. for 34 years. Retired and moved to Las Vegas, NV in 2001. Miami was an absolute pardise in the 60s. Your list brought back so many fond memories.
Thanks, Robert
I was a Merry Go Round Player. I lived on Miami beach and in the summer of 1970 -a 13-year old me took the c bus everyday at Arthur Godfrey Rd--through the Airport stopping behind Miracle Mile, just to work at Ivan's theatre--either on stage--or serving birthday cake to an endless array of kids having their parties there, which was a big business for Ivan. I'll never forget the people i worked with there. Especially a particularly ravishing young woman named Marci who was rather suicidal and has always reminded me of Helena Bonham carter's performance in "Fight Club."
As a Merry-Go-Round Player, we did everything from appear on Skipper Chuck's morning show to dong shows at department stores like Burdines. I appeared as the Artful Dodger in Ivan's production of Oliver-among many other things..
It was a great time that provided me with experience and insights that have served me to this day.
www.conspiracymfx.com
WOW, I FOUND YOUR SITE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I GOOGLED "JOHNNIE & MACK BY THE RAILROAD TRACK, THAT WAS OPENED IN 1933 BY MY FATHER, JOHNNIE FELLER. I TOO GREW UP IN MIAMI IN THE EARLY YEARS, 40'S,50'S AND 60'S. STILL LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND HAVE FOND MEMORIES. WENT TO DOWNTOWN ON THE #1 BUS FOR A DIME. TOOK IN A SATURDAY MOVIE, WENT TO "JAHN THE MAJIC MAN" ON SE 3RD AVE. AND TOOK THE BUS HOME, MUST HAVE BEEN 9 OR 10 AT THE TIME. YOU COULD DO A LOT IN MIAMI WITH NO WORRIES BACK THEN. REMEMBER PALEY'S BIG WHEEL ON SW 32ND AVE. GREAT DRIVE-IN AND FOOD.....IF YOU WENT TO MIAMI HIGH OR SHENANDOAH JR.....SEND ME A HELLO AT ijf33442@gmail.com...would love to hear from you.
IVAN FELLER
I remember about 90% of your post in addition to the Playdium Bowling Alley Next to the Trail theater on 37 Ave and 8 St, Airport Lanes just off Lejeune and NW 14 St and the Cockpit Lounge just behind it, Michel's Go-Carts in Medley, Goony Golf on about 84 Ave and SW 8 Street, and I worked at Arbetter's Hot Dogs when it was next to Dairy Queen on 58 CT and SW 8 street before moving to Bird Road - just to mention a few more
I was born at Mercy Hospital 1961, raised in S. Miiami my cub scout troop was on the Skipper Chuck show and moved way, way out to sweetwater in 1972. Of course if you grew up in that time in the mid 70s to mid 80s you have to remember the concerts at the Hollywood sportatorium, or at the Jai-alai fronton, I still have the stub for black sabbath from the fronton in 1980. My older sister took me to pizza palace on bird road, but in my time we loved Godfathers pizza, zeta-4, WSHE "shes only rock and roll", Ann Bishop on T.V. When S. Miami high was going to get the cobra from the serpitarium. South east bank building the 55 story building downtown. I listen to the new sound of Y-100, Rorer and lemmon were vitamin Qs, Donna Rice and gator kicks, the zoo on biscayne bay, Miami vice ruled! Oh man, the memories, thanks for reminding me.
I can't tell you how glad I am to have stumbled upon your blog! Thank you, Dave, for all the effort you've put into preserving all these great Miami places and memories, even if only online.
A lot of the items on your list made me smile and say "Oh, man!" I lived in the Sunniland area in the late 70s and then South Miami Heights throughout the 80s. Some of the things I remember from childhood are:
* Pumpernik's Restaurant and Senn's 5 & 10 (with the little parakeet living at the back) in Sunniland
* Godfather's Pizza
* Stores like Zayre, Jefferson's, Jordan Marsh, Jackson Byron, BEST and Service Merchandise
* Getting S&H Green Stamps at Publix
* Piggly Wiggly in Coral Gables, Pantry Pride in Cutler Ridge, and Grand Union in Sunniland
*Morrison's Cafeteria and the video arcade across from it inside the old Cutler Ridge Mall
* Neighbor's and LUMS restaurants
* Diamonds (the best craft store EVER)
* Mark Twain's Riverboat Playhouse
* ShowBiz Pizza Place in Cutler Ridge
* Biscayne Cafeteria on Miracle Mile
* Woolworth's in Downtown Miami
* Holsum Bakery and then the Bakery Center, before Sunset Place
* The Colliseum (where my parents first met while bowling!)
* Ann Bishop and a very young Dwight Lauderdale on Channel 10
* Caribbean Elementary's old two-story building (when it was still the home of the Seahawks) and its funky quartz-encrusted exterior walls
So many memories & such fun reliving them!
how about publix closed on sunday, on 87th and coralway we used to take our go-carts and homemade mini-bikes and race them in the empty parking lot.coralway was dirt after 87ave.,the huge upick strawberryfield on 97 ave. and coralway.the keg parties in the cow pastures at the end of s.w. 16 st.& 107ave.coach downings"play with pain"as he held up that crooked pinky finger!all the coon hunters favorite cop, mr.overley used to help us sneak into central stadium right behind the royal castle,where al made great 2a.m. breakfast and always grumbled. mr. overley also let us sneak into the coralway drivein if we wern't driving and go sit in the seats at the conession stand.diving off the palmetto overpass at s.w. 8 st. into the tamiami canal and running from the troopers when they would try to catch you. the all-day concert at the circle c ranch hi-lighted by janis joplin being flown in by helicoptor and being so drunk she fell on stage 3 or 4 times while drinking her bottle of southern comfort.jimi hendrix playing the fronton on july 4th and 5th,i think this was the last u.s. concert he played before overdosing.how about the counter-flow bus lane on dixie that ran from sunset dr.,to the planetarium,in a lane,on the wrong side of the highway, separated by yellow cones,no left turns from 6a.m.to 9a.m. and no left turns from 4p.m. to 7p.m from dixie.saw a man at 27th ave. crossing dixie walking with his bike, he did not see the bus coming,as he was not expecting it to be on that side of the highway, the bus driver swerved to miss him,clipped the royal castle,and ran into the gas station taking out several cars and gas pumps ending in a huge explosion and fire.I think this was the catalyst for metrorail!! I was born and raised in miami, at 11 i remember taking the bus to national gun store and buying gunpowder and other re-loading supplies with a note from my mother!I remember riding my playboy bike,with my shotgun to what is now doug barnes park (bird rd.& 72 ave) and dove hunting all day,cops wouldn't give you a 2nd.look,THINGS HAVE CHANGED! i left in 1994 when i could not take the traffic anymore,i still have a few friends left in miami,and was just back in town a few days ago traffic still sucks,people are still rude, there are a lot of places i don't recognize anymore,BUT THE MEMORIES ARE SOOOO SWEET.
Dave:
I, too, remember a lot of those things on your list. I was born in 1957 at Mercy Hospital and we lived in the Westwood Lake area (on 43rd Terrace) till 1973 when we moved to Homestead. I went to Tropical Elementary, Riviera Jr. High (before it became a middle school) & one year at SW Miami High. I remember getting my first bike when I was five years old & within six years, I was bicycling everywhere. Westchester, Midway Mall, Dadeland, etc. We had a Royal Castle at Bird Road & 107th
Avenue & I remember when the little burgers were 16 cents. A
Burger Castle opened up across the street near SuperX Drugs & the Army Navy store. Those were the days where you could get a burger, fries, & a drink for about 89 cents. When I got a little older, I was bicycling to the abandoned Biltmore Hotel in the Gables. How spooky that place looked with the broken windows and the poor state
of condition that it was in. I
can recall for years that the sirloin steak dinner at the Black
Angus (at 104th & US1) was only 1.99 & then it went up to 2.99. My longest bike ride was to the JM Fields store at NW 166th St. &
27th Ave to buy a black light bulb for 99 cents. I got a flat tire at 8th St. & 27th Ave. which was near by Grandma's house. My mom had to come & get me, but she wasn't too mad. I could go on & on
but it is getting late. I live in San Diego now but Miami will always
be my hometown. Thanks for sharing
all of this and I will be looking for more.
Howard.
Do you all know about this group on Facebook?
http://www.facebook.com/groups/104004330042/
Don B.
What great mental therapy! I grew up in the Town of West Miami, Sylvania Heights Elem., and West Miami Jr. High with principal G. Leslie Poe then Coral Park High graduating in '68. Anyone remember making out in the 'tunnels', those big tree rows out towards Kendall and the unwritten etiquette of giving cars already in one end of a tunnel their privacy...Thrill Hill in the Grove and scaring the crap out of your friends who didn't know how it dropped off so sharply, before they carved down Tigertail Avenue, the Playdium on the Trail, the airplanes crossing LeJune Road to and from the aviation school, cartoons and championship wrestling with Gordon Solie on Saturday mornings, putting Tide in the fountains in Coral Gables off Red Road near West Miami, little league ball at the 'Rec' in West Miami and Mr. Brown teaching phys ed forever at Sylvania Heights and of course making out at the end of he street in Gables estates with the moon rising, never got any better than that...
Anthony's Pizza on Bird Rd....George's Subs on SW 8th St.
Good, good, good times!!!
You are NATIVE!!!! I live this!! Lived in
Cutler RIDGE and Homestead '72-'90.
Thought of Fayva, the Duck Duck Goose
show, Sambos, Morrisons an Ludlow in
morning radio show!!
Thanks for tw memories!!!
How about the Burger Castle in Perrine?
Farm Stores had the best chocolate milk!
Flynn's Dixie Ribs had great tater tots!
Red Balloon Toy Store in Sunniland!
Black Angus in Cutler Ridge and the one at 104th St and U.S. 1 in front of Jefferson. Later became a Fuddruckers hot dog place around 1984.
Air Base Elementary in Homestead and getting baseball cards and slurppe cups at the 7-11 down there.
How about our great convienent stores.....U-Tote-M, Food Spot, and Lil General!
The smell of Holsum Bakery bread!
The Youth Fair!
Ted's Bakery and the Pony Rides at Cutler Ridge Shopping Center!
I remember Banjo Billy the TV star. He actually lived on my street. He lived with his mother and painted oil paintings (of topless women) as a hobby. Kinda creepy, actually, thinking back on it.
A few more… memories from 57-61
Ed Mark-Em-Down Lane. He would stand by as used cars would drive by and he’d fast talk about them (tv ads)
U-Tote-M convenience stores with the totem pole in the parking lot
Colonel Bleep… the first color cartoon character on TV, made in Miami
Zacherley and Soupy Sales
Deewee’s Seminole Restaurant on Bird Road near Tropical Park track. There was always this guy sitting out front that would talk to me. Found out later that they were running a wire gambling place in the back and he was the lookout
The occasional alligator in the street during droughts in Westwood Lake
The dragonflies and leeches that were everywhere
Throwing rocks at planes that were bombarding us with insecticides
The water tower and radio tower lights
The homestead turnpike construction
St. Brendan’s Church and School w high school and seminary
Royal Palm Elementary
Banana and lime trees in the backyard
Miami Herald just over the causeway, went there on a school trip
And the ones I knew from the list…
Seaquarium, monkey jungle, parrot jungle, serpentarium (before they became amusement parks), crandon park and the zoo there
Birch Beer at Royal Castle (for a nickel and dime burgers)
Johnnie & Mack by the railroad track (what was that?)
The Coppertone Girl on Biscayne Boulevard (with the dog that would pull down the swimsuit pants)
The MacArthur Dairy Boy licking his lips
The Holsum Bakery on US1 and Red Road...can ya still smell it? (went there on a school trip)
Hurricane Donna (yeah, our house was just part of a river that night/day)
Matheson Hammock (used to go there but was terrified of that wooden bridge that was practically sitting in the water)
Jimmy's Hurricane (never went but remember the signs with the hurricane flag everywhere)
Food Fair and Quick Chek on Bird Road were the only supermarkets back then
Belk-Sawyer department store right near the Coral Gables border off bird road
The Marseilles Hotel. I was South Beach when South Beach wasn’t cool, mid 50s
WQAM for Top 40 and WINZ for other stuff. Tube radio always on top of the refrigerator, always on.
Channel 2 cbs and channel 10 abc from Miami. Channel 4 was NBC but was out of W Palm Beach and pretty weak picture. There was an educational channel too that was even weaker
Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Also the flat boxes full of donuts from somewhere else that they would sell after Mass at St. Brendans, even better
Venice Pizza every Friday before shopping at Quik Chek
When Tamiami Park was Tamiami Airport and there were cow pastures across the street (went looking for that airport. Used to love the way it looked at sunset when planes would fly by or into the sun. No wonder I didn’t find it!)
The Tropicaire Drive in Theater (aka Mosquito Cinema)
Wolfie's and the Rascal House on Miami Beach (my first intro to pastrami)
Seminole Indian huts out on Tamiami Trail
Bird Bowl and its always present smell of isopropyl alcohol
I remember Ed Mark 'em Down Lane because I worked for him as a 16 y/o and he cheated me big-time out of my withholding tax. He never reported it and just kept the money. Thanks for reminding me :-(
Good memory guys! Yes, Ed (Mark em Down) Lane was a fixture on early Miami TV, hosted a short lived talk show and owned Ed Lane Auto Sales om NW 7th Avenue. He went out of business sometime in the 60's and was not known as one of the most ethical car dealers to say the least! His shtick was to have as many cars as possible drive by in a 30 second TV slot, slapping the door of each one as it drove by announcing in his ditinct fast talking way the price and virtues of each car and saying "if you come down right now, we'll throw in the back seat for free" However, by far, the most famous car salesman on TV at that time was Jumpin Jack O'Brien for Municipal auto Sales on NW 30th Avenue and 36th Street directly across from the original location of the Burger King franchise
My dad Shelby Russell went to graduted from Miami high in 1962... He grew up on North west 7th st & 22nd place...he would love to here from anyone on here..his nickname was Bubber. You can reach him at sheronand shelby@gmail.com
My dad Shelby Russell went to graduted from Miami high in 1962... He grew up on North west 7th st & 22nd place...he would love to here from anyone on here..his nickname was Bubber. You can reach him at sheronand shelby@gmail.com
And does anybody remember the Open House Dances of the 70's at Electrician's Hall (still there), The Everglades Hotel, Dupont Plaza, and so many Hotel ballrooms in Miami & Miami Beach like the Eden Rock, etc. I was the lead singer of 2 of the most popular local bands of the times. "COKE" & "The Antiques" We had a predominantly Cuban teens to 20 year old following because the drinking age was still 21.
i remember a lot of those places and things
does anyone remember "the news depot" next to or near the bank of miami building?does anyone remember its owner jp "yanke"burdick he was the largest news dealer in south fla and lived on capones island palm island at 271 s coconut lane his wife was katherine "eve"pfeiffer anybody have memories of these people or business he owned bobbmd rburdic2@twcny.rr.com
i remember a lot of those places and things
does anyone remember "the news depot" next to or near the bank of miami building?does anyone remember its owner jp "yanke"burdick he was the largest news dealer in south fla and lived on capones island palm island at 271 s coconut lane his wife was katherine "eve"pfeiffer anybody have memories of these people or business he owned bobbmd rburdic2@twcny.rr.com
i remember a lot of those places and things
does anyone remember "the news depot" next to or near the bank of miami building?does anyone remember its owner jp "yanke"burdick he was the largest news dealer in south fla and lived on capones island palm island at 271 s coconut lane his wife was katherine "eve"pfeiffer anybody have memories of these people or business he owned bobbmd rburdic2@twcny.rr.com
Those were Velvet Creme doughnuts! Loved em! http://www.flickr.com/photos/velvetcremedoughnuts/
My family lived in Miami for about 3 years in the 1940's on 116th Street about 1/4 mile from the Biscane Dog Track. I have a few memories (I was about 7 or 8 then). Our house was on the outskirts of the city proper. Lots of scrub trees and sand. I went to school in a portable cabin. Since it was pretty hot almost all year around I spent my leasure time in jockey shorts and sandals. I hunted scorpions, copperhead snakes and other creatures with my trusty Daisy bb gun.
Jefferson's at 104th St. & Dixie Highway had an arcade in the back corner.
Kresge's at Dadeland had a lunch counter and cheap subs at another counter that served ice cream.
The Barefoot Mailman at Dadeland.
Snak Shak at Dadeland, by the bus stop - you could catch the Biltmore, Baptist Hospital, or Coral Gables buses.
The White Baron.
South Miami Riding Academy at the end of Sunset Dr.
Penguin Cola from Grand Union.
Mack Cycle in South Miami.
Sunset Corners.
The Sundry in the strip mall by 7-11 on Kendall Drive just west of Village Mall had a couple of pinball machines.
bagel bakery and bike shop at Kendall Mall.
Fuch's Park in South Miami.
The Forum Cafeteria at Dadeland.
I remember and was actually on the Skipper Chuck Show, Chuck Zink was really a great talent and reminded me of Dick Clark in a way. Also on the Banjo Billy and Capt Jack show. Now that was a couple of characters!. And how about the guy on channel 6 with the white cape trying to be like superman?? (Forgot his name)
Also remember working at the first Super Skating center. It was HUGE!.. I DJ's there for years and helped to host some of the best local talent including KC and The Sunshine band.
I grew up in Miami from 1945 to 1953. We lived near downtown on SW 1st street near 8th Ave. I went to Riverside Elementary School. Loved it! Went to the movies downtown on Saturdays-10 cartoons and an Abbott and Costello or Tarzan feature. Loved the open-air Royal Castle. Went over to Flagler Street at night to watch TV in the store window. They had an outside speaker for the watchers. Visited my uncle at the TB sanitarium in Kendall which way way out in the sticks.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, I remember 80% of the list. I remember
my dear Father taking me to many of those places. I was the first Officer at the Dadeland shootings, I can't believe so much time has gone by, I think of my Dad and all those places and I get short of breath. I hope we made this place a better place to live, 43 years later. I thank you for writing this...
Hello, I am a first time visitor to this blog. I get some different stuff. Thanks..
Miami Sightseeing
Great memories. Thank you.I was born at Jackson at the tail end of the baby boom, lived in the Grove, Coral Gables/South Miami. My favorites -- unique to that place and time: Land crabs on the yard and Holsum Bakery (smells and Holiday display), Tigertail Ave when it steep, unsafe and exciting (so novel in flat Miami) and Venetian Pool -- only went there once but it was magical. You solved a long-standing mystery (my brother and I have long tried to recall the name of "Yumbrella" where our grandmother took us. And, like many other, I also appeared with my Brownie troop on Skipper Chuck's Popeye Playhouse. The show was taped very early but was shown in the afternoon. So they had us eat Burger King Whoppers as an endorsement/commercial. Eating a whopper at 7AM didn't agree with me so my biggest memory of Skipper Chuck is him getting mad at me because I threw up on camera :-) Other food related memories: hot dogs at the drug store at Main/Grand/McFarlane (Coconut Grove), dressing up for lunch with dad at the the Grove's Candlelight Inn, lunch with mom at Burdines (with her two martinis), Shorty's BBQ, Royal Castle burgers, catching dinner from a Miami bridge, free Hare Krishna feasts at Peacock Park in the 70's.
Thanks, for reminding me....I remember Royal Castle and the great hamburgers with fried onions and a pickle with a large Birch Beer in a frozen mug...all for a quarter. Then a chocolate donut with the white stuff in the middle for another nickle. I sorta remember Skipper Chuck but I especially remember First Mate Ellen and her very nice, ah, rack. She was my first true love (along with Annette Funichello).
the pizza place on NW 103rd street (the Palm Springs Mile) in Hialeah was called Figaro's pizza and there was a giant slide across the street. We moved to florida when I was a kid in 1969 and lived in Hialeah Gardens (a new city founded that year) for a year until we built a house down in south dade. One of my first jobs was at Snak Shak in Dadeland. tax was 4% at the time and my idiot boss couldn't understand how I could add up an order in my head (pizza slices were $1) and correctly calculate the tax! We lived on coral reef east of S.Dixie with the Big Daddy's on the corner and Royal Castle, Sweden House and the Dixie Drive-in theater just up the street. Black Caesars Forge was at the east end of Coral Reef hidden in a forest. The Deering Estate was just some old haunted house that nobody could see but we used to jump our cars on the street near the side that had the big hump in it and no houses on it.
U pick em fields were everywhere, pole beans and strawberries.
Well hello Tto Ivan Feller, I bet you and your dad enjoyed many a lunch at the Chesepeke,Bahamas,you were right across the "tracks",vividly remember your Dads ads,I think I got my 54 Merc painted there :{)
57 merc
I worked at the Bahamas Steak House From 1962- 1973, as head chef & manager, lived in West Miami& Village Green on 127th Ave,. I remember 90% of all the places you mentioned.
Thanks a lot for providing such a nice information. It brought my old memories back. Miami is a town of heaven and Accommodations Miami is designed in a creative way which provided me more comfort when i went for vacation with friends. It is a perfect place to enjoy the vacation with family and friends.
I was born in Jackson (1962), went to Killian Sr, got out in 1979.
I recall the Tropical drive-in on Bird Rd.
The silo in the "west 40's" (and the day in 1975 it was taken down).
Also the scary bridge to Key West until 1982 & its larger bridge.
There are some great memories here!
Miami the good old days. I remember when eight street festival began. I lived about a block from their. I lived on eighth Avenue and fifth Street. There was a theater they are called Theater Marti. I also remember my parents taking me to Womcco movie theater. I also remember watching on television when I was little the Skipper Chuck Show, and at the end of the show he used to say to everybody peace love and happiness. When I was little Miami was a great place to live. I have great memories of the good old days in Miami.
Amazing list of which I remember quite a few of them. Thanks for this list it's a lot of fun to think back about growing up here and sad to think about how much has changed or just forgotten about.
Tonight I found an old picture of my old 4x4 truck stuck behind Gatorkicks, I googled it, wondering if it was still there. I found your blog, wow, what a blast from the past! I graduated from Killian in 79, went to Miami Dade Community College when it first opened. Lived out in the sticks at 104 and 125SW...rode my horse down the power lines to the new shopping center on Kendall Drive, got chased by a bull out in the stawberry fields out past where they built the zoo on 152SW. Loved country music and learned to dance at Big Daddys on Bird Rd. Drove my truck out on sand at South Beach when So Beach was a dump amd no one went there, the boy scout camp was there then. Pohanka Cheverolet too! Wow, thanks for the great memories! I loved your list and read all the years of comments, I miss the old Miami, no one believes me, that it was actually a very cool place to live in the 70's! Miami will always be my hometown, looking forward to the next class reunion! Go Killian Cougars!
I grew up here also. Miami Palmetto class of 73. If anyone knows me hit me up on email. I knew a lot of people from cutler ridge and killian. Worked at jeffersons on 104th. My email is markbaby1@hotmail. Mark Harris. Don't forget Goldsteins pizza at Kendall drive Great new York pizza with 2 pinball machines.
you forgot vanitian pool, in the gables.
thnx for that list brought so many memories back...thats when miami was great...now when I go back its like being in a third world country.
you forgot vanitian pool, in the gables.
You also forgot to mention...
Breedings Drug Store n US 1
Cookie's Restaurant on Miracle Mile
Howard Johnson's at the bus station in the Gables for Coke and French Fries
Lunch stores across from Gables High
Dadeland was an open air-mall
Jahn's on Miracle Mile
The Green Thumb nursery had ducks and chicks (different colors)for sale at Easter (in their windows.
I worked for Ivan Kivitt at the Merry-Go-Round PLayhouse from 1963-65, and through him worked on "Skipper Chuck's Playhouse" on WTVJ during the same period.
I remember crazy eight races at Hialeah speedway.R.
E-Z Kwik at Bird and 27 Ave in the Grove on Friday night in the 80's.
BG Ramblers or the gunfights outside of Borderline Arcade.
I remember almost all of the list.
my band played places like PAL and The Depot on us1.
oh the smell of Holsome bread baking!
great memories!
thanks
My name was Bunny Kreeger and my grandfather was the first Dr. in Coral Gables, brought there by George Merrick. He also brought my aunt and uncle who founded Miami Military Academy. Sure miss the Grove Pub and all the good times we had when my husband and I lived on our houseboat at Dinner Key Marina.
That was my wife who's name was Bunny Kreeger. I was mostly known for helping turn around the Hurricane football program with Lou Saban. Maybe I missed any mention of the Taurus but that was a great bar.
Bunny, was his name also Kreeger? I remember a house right next to the Church of the Little Flower that I looked at when I was shopping for a house to buy and I remember I was told by the RE agent it was originally the first doctor in CG's house.
DR.FRANK VERDON
As a native Miamian who was forced to leave my previously wonderful city. I feel about the Cubans the way they feel about Fidel Castro who forced them to leave their homeland
I will add a few from down south, Homestead/Cutler Ridge area. . .
-The field near Marlin road and US1 next to the BEST store (with the extracted walls) that people used to fly ultralights around
-Parking at the Zayre/Publix/Jefferson Ward to watch the 4th of July Fireworks at Harris Field
-The Drive-In movie theater on Old Dixie Hwy that played porn and was a flea market on the weekends
-Barnett Bank
-King's Korner in Homestead. I scoured the neighborhood for those long glass bottles to get deposits back and buy baseball cards.
-Durty Nelly's in Perrine
-South Dade High School when they were the Rebels and not the Buccaneers. Confederate flags and hats would be worn at the football game!
-El Torito Mexican restaurant in the Falls
-Spec's music stores
-Merlin's Music next to the Campbell Drive movie theater
-Sunshine Skateway
-Lee's Bakery (Famous Key Lime Pie's!)
Iwould like to know if anyone ever went to the pier 8 lounge on s.w. 8th street ? I worked there for many years. I did grow up in miami but moved in the early 80s
I remmber a lot of these place I thought about the 27th avenue drive in, northside mall, also the big store called Diamonds you could buy anything there. keep posting i will check often.
Need some help remembering places
Warren Pender,
I was fortunate to grow up in Miami and I do remember so many of the wonderful things on this list. I remember Farm Stores Chocolate Almond ice cream as one of my favorites. Shopped at Diamond's with my sister, attended the 27th Avenue Drive-in on many occasions. Bummed around the Northside Mall as a kid. Miami was and is an amazing city. Who could forget Flynn's Dixie Ribs and their heavenly key lime pie! I now live in California but none of it compares to the memories I have of So. Florida and am just waiting for the opportunity to move back.
Stumbled on this post when I was searching for information still out there regarding my grandparent's restaurant (Flynn's Dixie Ribs). It is amazing to see that people still remember in 2014 after all of these years. To add my two cents, Granddaddy (Bill Flynn) used to take me to the pony rides on Bird, then to farm stores to pick up Peppermint Ice Cream-YUM! Grandmother (Elizabeth Flynn) used to take me shopping (a very special treat) for a new dress at Burdines. My fondest memories are going to the kitchen in Flynn's for tater-tots and being treated to a slice of Key Lime Pie, smelling the Holsom bakery, the Dolphins perfect season, Monkey Jungle, Miami Serpentarium. :)
Flynns bbq ribs yum yum best bbq in miami. I ate there so many times. Your granddad and Grandmother had a great place there. There are so many memories posted here and i know at least 90% of the places. I am still looking for someone that might remmber the PIER 8 lounge IT WAS LOCATED AT 5707 S.W. 8TH STREET. sO IF ANYONE DOES TAKE A SECOND AND TELL ME ABOUT IT. Missing Miami Linda
CORAL GABLES HAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POOL Oh yes i just read that the city of Coral Gables restored Ventican Pool. I went to that pool back in the early 70s.It has to be the most beautiful pool in the united states. They did not change anything just gave it a face lift. Oh how i wish i could go back there, it holds so many memories for me.Im retired now so that tells you how long it has been around. Thank you coral gables for keeping this special place so others will have memories of it like i do.
Who can forget the Dolphin's perfect season. Still unequaled today!
I don't know what I was thinking when I left Miami but I will be back there the first opportunity and I'm working hard on that! I've lived in Washington DC and various places in California, but there's no place like Miami for me.
I do not know if you have been back to miami to visit, but it has changed a lot. Most of the old places are gone. It is really a different place now. I visit once in awhile because my moms grave is there, of course the strip is almost the same (south Beach) but dont go there looking for the miami we knew its gone.
I have not been back in several years but I would never presume that it was the same as before. Much of my family is buried there too, (Miami Memorial Park, and Vista Memorial near Opa Locka). Any place where you have many cultures coming together must undergo change. I lived in San Francisco for 12 years and it changed much as well and so did Los Angeles where I spent 3 years. I'm planning a car trip from California to Florida early next year and I'm sure I will see much difference. Still, So. Fla. is still home to me.
You mentioned the Pier 8 on SW 8th Street. There was a place on SW 8th called the Warehouse 8 years ago. It was a multi level bar. Is that the place? If so, I certainly remember.
I can't forget Wolfie's deli, though I know they are gone. Used to love to 'people watch' at the on on 21st St, Miami Beach. Goodness, those good ole days!
Anyone have info on the concert at the circle k ranch in sweetwater that ended with janis joplin.
Great blog. I do one about Miami Beach. You might like to take a look. Keep up the memories.
Stan Bronstein
MIAMI BEACH NOVELS AND NOSTALGIA
www.snbauthor.blogspot.com
Grew up in Westchester in the 70s. I remember
-Rockway Elementary School
-Buying Matchbox cars at Lionel Playworld at Coral Way and 87th.
-My parents going to the Tropicaire Drive In and I would fall asleep in the backseat.
- Learning to drive on the old Tamiami runway when FIU first opened up.
-Learning to swim at Venetian Pool.
-The Dade County Youth Fair had farm animals not carnie rides.
-The Go Kart track where Mall of the Americas is now.
- Buying my Sims skateboard (that I still have) in 1978 at the skateshop at Concord Shopping Center.
- The merry go round and arcade at the bottom floor of the Omni Mall downtown.
- Lums and Sambo's.
-Before CVS and Wagreen's there was Super X and Eckerd's, before Target there was Gold Triangle.
- Going to see Wrestling (Dusty Rhodes) at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
- Being on "Sunday Funnies" on Channel 7 and meeting Toby the Robot.
- Horseshoe crabs at Matheson Hammock.
- The Serpentarium with the big cobra head out front.
-Getting Slurpee's with my Dad at 7Eleven and collecting the superhero and baseball player cups.
- Before Best Buy there was Luria's and before Walmart there was Zayre and Kmart.
- Taco Viva and Tacos Ole.
-The old bus terminal in Coral Gables
Oh yes the Coral Gables bus terminal. Remember it as a kid when my mother took me to Variety Children's Hospital.
I remember the time the cobra got loose from the Serpentarium and they had to block South Dixie Highway until Bill Haas and team recovered it.
Remember Funland Park and the Wild Mouse up on 27th Ave?
Miami has certainly changed but still home and want to move back at the first opportunity.
Fantastic, I remember a lot of these, including the train ride at Crandon Park Zoo. Anybody remember peeking into the "Secret Room" in the English Pub next to the Jamaica Inn?
Does anyone remember the name of the resturant off coral way east of sears and approx, 5-7 blocks south of coral way?
Does anyone remember the real name of the girl that worked for her dad at Bird Bowl Roller Skating Rink in the early 70's? I think they called her Sister, she had long red hair.
Anyone have a photo of the Red Diamond Inn on Le Juene. Working on a documentary film. Thanks!
my father got me a temp job at the GOONY GOLF at the colonial palms golf course in 1972 or 3 dad was a golf pro at colonial palms then - did anybody ever go to a rock festival in the everglades about 1969 or 1970? billy graham was there also Santana johnny winter amboy dukes sweetwater vanilla fudge rotary connection
Shell's Super Store where I worked as what known as a box boy.That store was so large that I was afraid to stray away from my parents for fear of getting lost , while working there as a teenager at night I had my new set of moon hubcaps and my long fender skirts stolen, bummers.Earned 25 cents an hour and ate some of the biggest donuts ever made fresh and hot every hour.
How Irrememberthe Shell SSuper Stor. Got ggreat comic books there as a kid. Wasn'tiit called Shell City ? What a greatmmemor.
How Irrememberthe Shell SSuper Stor. Got ggreat comic books there as a kid. Wasn'tiit called Shell City ? What a greatmmemor.
Great memories! I grew up in the sunnyland area. In the 60 & 70's across Dixie Hiway (US1) and the railroad tracks from the Dixie Bell Inn later the Sunnyland Theater.
Wow, what a great website to find! thank you, Dave for bringing back all those memories. Lived in the Gables from 1951 to 1964. Does anyone remember 10¢ dill pickles from the snack bar at the Coral Theatre? Or air raid drills - especially scary during the 5¢ horror movie shows? And how about the huge "sonic boom" that happened at the Homestead base in the middle of the night during the Cuban missle crisis?
Yes, the Coral Theater! . Remember it well l. Was living in North Miami during the missile crisis and it was scary. My sister lived behind Souh Miami Elementary school so we were in the Gables a lot. Planning to move back to Florida before long. California is so so, but I miss my home.
The traditional Thanksgiving Day football game between Miami High and Edison played at the old stadium (called "Burdine Stadium"). After many years Edison finally beat MH in 1952, but not before Jackson High (Allapatta} beat MH in that year. Tyler's in Allapatta had the best strawberry pie in the world.
I moved to Miami in '68, got married the next year, and had my first child the year after that, so there are quite a few of these things I don't remember - but I was surprised how many I do!
I lived in the apartments at the 1800 Club for about a year. The man who owned the bar there also owned One South and Twenty-seven Birds. The weekend after we got married, my new husband and I picked tomatoes in a field just off of Kendal Drive; 16 years later, we bought a house about a block from where we'd picked them!
He's now my ex, I live in Oregon, but you gave me some good memories of my early and middle adult years. Thanks!
Loved the Morrison's Cafeterias! Planning to move back to Florida to the Sebring area, but will be driving down to Miami monthly just to capture some memories and gather some new ones. They don't call it the "Magic City" for nothing.
Born Mt. Sinai Hospital 1974, grew up in Gables/Grove/South Miami. Coconut Grove Elementary..
Is it youth itself or the place that was magic?
Joe's News
mango groves w/horses just off Red road!
Croton plants, puffy clouds, lizards
Riviera theater balcony
Sting Ray Shuffle (an old lady named "The Colonel" would come to our elementary school library and teach about horseshoe crabs and other ancient denizens of the depths)
Australian pines and wilderness at Bill Baggs, pre hurricane
Dolfan Denny
The woods in the sinkhole behind the YMCA near Fairchild Elementary
Ralph Remick (sp?)
No a/c in our school until 3rd grade
and knowing which water fountains are coldest
Those first cold fronts; a few minutes of rain and then that cool, dry air, breeze from the NW and surf for sure the next day!!
I went away to college in 1992, just before Hurricane Andrew hit. The city never felt quite like home after that, but then again I grew up. Kids are there now forming their own new memories, and I'm in San Diego. No roaches and better waves...but we all pine for native soil...
I'm reminded of all these things and missing Florida. Living in Palm Springs CA but working on a plan to move to Sebring FL. From there, can drive to Miami in less than 3 hours. California will never be home like Florida was
Fox's Sherron Inn was the place for Steak tidbits! They served them on little slices of garlic bread. They had a painting of a jet in one room and it was an optical illusion - the plane looked like it was flying toward you, then away
I remember a lot of these places, I came to Miami in 1968 and left to my country in 1970, Studied at the Florida Computer College inside the DuPont Plaza and worked at the New England Oyster House on NW 36 St. The Chesapeake. I looked forever for some reference to places like Pieces of eight that nice lounge I used to visit on SW 8 St. and their $0.25 drinks 2 days per week (regular was $0.75), I was also looking for a very nice bar in Coral Way: The Vanguard they used to have a piano, a bass and drums playing very nice music, don't remember Coral Way and what avenue it was on the North side of Coral Way.
Thank you for bringing back those nice memories.
Carlos
I am helping my best friend find more information about her mother who passed away in 1994, she attended Deerborne School in Coral Gables i'm geussing around 1975-79, born in 1961 her name was Susan Joy Long. my best friend never knew who her father was and is trying to find out who he was, or if he is still alive, is. If anyone has anything to contribute please reach me at Little305@gmail.com thank you!
Michelle
Polar palace wow,new England oyster house,crook and crook fishing supplies,so many thanks
Polar palace wow,new England oyster house,crook and crook fishing supplies,so many thanks
Polar palace wow,new England oyster house,crook and crook fishing supplies,so many thanks
I didn't see 'Black Caesar's Forge' listed. The last time I dined there (rosin potatoes) was, maybe 1971. As I recall it was located near the Deering Estate.
Gracias for sharing Miami with those of us who Were there as children! Remember deerborne school, with Mrs. Jackson teaching first grade; jj robinson falling on top of his amiga from the rainbow monkey bars at our playground; harry in third grade with his father working at NASA; diego rodriquez, originally from guatemala, having a birthday party complete with pinata y pony; denise with her nanny serving us macaroni & cheese with tuna y banana for lunch y playing the "chiquita banana song" on her record "re-player" :-); brad blais telling us he y his father went "streaking"; sweet freddie dunneman sharing his gerbils, which we ended up passing on to a neighbor as they Over-multiplied! <3 Do remember being on the skipper chuck show, as well as watching romper room y captain kangaroo on television ... with one day watching Live richard nixon resign. Do remember burdines, though Mostly wore winnie the pooh clothes from sears, y buster brown shoes ... y also remember slushees at 7-eleven y those Tiny meatloaf-tasting burgers on dinner-roll buns ... was that "white castle"? The best Large indoor burger king restaurant, with Lots of tables, y we all received paper crowns to wear! Y day trips to disney world and/or sea world ... y roller skating rink in hialeah, y grandmother living in apartment in coral gables ... we were children, in florida, y have Zero memory of going to the beach; think it was more "for adults," y our familia protected our young skin from sun at that early age, wisdom we all understand Today! Truly hope all are doing Great today! Por favor, forgive the use of "spanglish," a grown adult's attempt to learn espanol, which her cuban-born mother, whose own parents were from spain, spoke Until she y her brother began school; we were raised to speak the language of the country in which you live, respecting and studying, even the dictionary, to be Excellent at homeland's language! What a melting pot we All are ... remember our next-door neighbors from greece, the Likas famili, y an older couple across the street, the eldredges, so sweet y kind! Gracias again for sharing y inspiring more memories of early childhood in miami! <3
Oh! y Shriners children's hospital, too, with Great pediatrician, Dr. Schwartzman (sp?) ... Love to All who lived y Loved in our 1970-77 miami/dade!<3
Yes I remember Sipper Chuck and Burdines. Having just moved back to Florida (Sebring) I am much closer to my Miami roots and will drive down periodically to see how it's changed and growing. Haven't been there since 1993 and have missed it so.
Dave It was not Krispy Kreme in front of the cemetery on 8th street It was the Velvet Kreme!
I worked at the Great Value Grocery store in 1967 and 1971. I remember many of the places listed very well.
Mike Newman
This is a nice list but it neglects many of the areas and attractions in North Dade County where I lived from 1957 to 1994--especially the 60s and early 1970s. I moved to Opa Locka at age 11 with my parents in 1960 and stayed there until moving in 1994. I was born at Miami Jackson Hospital in the early 1950s and lived near Edison High School in the 1950s.
There were at least 4 drive ins near the Opa Locka/Carol City area in and around 27th Avenue. The first indoor shopping mall (small one) was off 22nd avenue and 156 street in a Black area at that time.
My friends and I use to play and roam the vast Opa Locka Air base in the 1960s.
Opa Locka had its own bus service Coach City which picked up in the Opa Locka area went east on 135 street to downtown Miami (Biscayne Blvd. and Flagler Street area and back. It was un-air-conditioned and had bars across the windows like a prison bus. it cost 50 cents each way.
My older brother delivered a local newspaper in Opa Locka called the HUB in the early/mid 1960s
I have many. many pictures of that area during those years.
How about Murphy's Family Restaurant in Hialeah?
Thank you for this wonderful compilation
What about Real Foods on 69th and Biscayne that was a health food store w/all Eden products? Kaleidoscope Restaurant in The Grove (Commodore)? Flora's Pizza with the flies off 79th st causeway?
Neighbors restaurant..... I used to go to the Neighbors Restaurant from time to time. I liked the food and the ambiance. There was a female cashier working there in her 20s. Very cute but very unfriendly. Whenever I paid my bill, she would take my check and money, give me my change, but didn't say a word to me. One time I was sitting at the counter and I noticed that she was staring out the window. So I looked out to see, and there was some guy, he looked like he was about 17 or 18 hitchhiking. I couldn't help but think she was fantasizing about picking him up and having sex with him.
I grew up in Perrine off 152st. The perrine plaza had an Eagle Army Navy, Quick Check, Woolworth's, Coral Gables Federal Bank, Greyhound bus terminal but I can not remember the name of the Pharmacy/Drug Store at the end of the plaza. The gas station was a Sinclair before it was a Hess.
Don't forget Farm Stores, the Carvery, Al's news stand along with A&P, the Treasury, Royal Castle, Snowdens, Jeffersons, The Flame, Black Angus, Coral Castle, Green Turtle, The village Inn, and Martin Burgers in the Grove on weekends.
The best list ever! Great memories lived there from 81' to 9 3 ' some of the best times of my life. I was 13 when moved to miami. Graduated in 86' from south dade sr. High still miss it very much along with the keys.
I'm so glad I moved back to Florida and now live about 150 miles from Miami which enables me to visit much more frequently than I was able to before. And will always be home to me.
There was a pizza place (a kid-friendly place as I recall) in Perrine not far from Sweden House and the Dixie Drive-in Theater. (circa 1977ish) Does anyone remember the name of it? It had red tables.
A lot of those things on that list I do remember but you forgot the one important one Franco's pizza that set on 7th Ave
In opalocka that was the beginning of the jitney service I remember that too the vans are used to pick you up take you to neighborhood the neighborhood
In opalocka that was the beginning of the jitney service I remember that too the vans are used to pick you up take you to neighborhood the neighborhood
Some things I remember that I didn't see on the list:
"The Famous" Jewish restaurant on Miami Beach.
Steven's Market on Red Road near US 1 (before air conditioning).
When Spec's was on US 1 and sold TV's, guitars, and HiFi's and Buddy Molo, who lost his eye in a train accident, repaired electronics in the back.
The huge, diesel powered air raid siren atop the Riviera Theater in S. Gables that was tested every Saturday(?) at noon.
When Westchester was mostly Jewish.
Camping at Owaissa Bauer and collecting spent shotgun shells.
Eating hotdogs steamed in beer and buying acid from hippies inside Lums in the Grove.
The Octopus's Garden headshop in the Grove.
Tripping in the nature trails (Old Dade Co. Nursery) across from Matheson Hammock and painting on dead trees.
There's an Icee machine at The Place.
Neil GOD!
Use to buy my hifi stereos at luskins
Ate a lot of fried clams with my grandfather all you can eat fridays also ate at sambos and steak back charlies
You mean BeefSteaks Charlie! ON NW 36 st by the airport!
Also the "The Famous" Jewish restaurant on Miami Beach Was actually Wolfies!
No Bill, there was a Restaurant on the Beach named The Famous. It was at 671 Washington Ave, the phone number was JE1-3987
Wolfie's was on the corner of Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue. The guy who created Wolfie's also opened Pumpernik's on 67th Street and Collins.
I remember a place called gator kicks
Eddie: Fond memories remember these places and more. Born and raised in Miami my Dad had a grocery store in Pinewood Park at nw 98st and 7th ave Graudated from Miami Edison High school in 1950. Strated to work with the phone company 1951, was transfered to Atlanta in 1983 and retired in 1987. Now call Atlanta home. Thanks for the momories.
I am hoping someone can help me. I am looking for my biological father. I was born in Miami in 1975. I was told my biological father's family may have owned a factory, I believe making uniforms and possibly other apparel, and that he may have had a brother who opened a factory as well. Is there any information on a uniform factory that was family owned around than the someone can recall. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
I am hoping someone can help me. I am looking for my biological father. I was born in Miami in 1975. I was told my biological father's family may have owned a factory, I believe making uniforms and possibly other apparel, and that he may have had a brother who opened a factory as well. Is there any information on a uniform factory that was family owned around than the someone can recall. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
I love this wonderful list, thank you so much. I was born in 1950 at Doctors Hospital and lived in Miami Springs. My dad (Carl Wicklund) was a manager at The Big Wheel, and my mother (Marylou) had a late-night radio program. I only lived there til 1956 but my memories are vivid - of frequent sonic booms from Homestead AFB, of the delightful field of blue lights that I was told was the airport, pick-em-yourself tomato farms, the flamingos at Hialeah, Burdines' rooftop ride, fishing from dilapidated piers, watching Arthur Godfrey and Let's Go Fishing on TV which was still a new technology, the miles and miles of orange groves, the sharp palm fronds on the beach just south of the Fountainbleu Hotel, carhops, the drive-in movie theaters that played Heckle and Jeckle before the feature, a radio ad that went "cross over the bridge", and so on. I loved Miami and am grateful for these memories you triggered!
Patrick Mason -
How about these
Red Coach Inn on Biscayne
Johnny Raffa's Lobo Lounge (it was also a restaurant) on Biscayne
700 Club at the David William
I was in Miami from 1969 1973. Bell Haven Trailer Park on 79th street, Westgate Bar on 79th with a cute bartender named Sunny, Jack Murphy's restaurant on 79th, Gulf Lake apartments right accross from Miami Dade Jr. College. 5th Street Gym run by Chris and Angie Dundee, Frankie Otero popular Cuban boxer, Ali and Luis Rodriquez. Miami Beach Auditorium Miami Beach Convention Center Sunland Training Center where I worked with a pretty young lady named Mary Daniels. Jim McKeever
Thank you so much for this wonderful and amazing blast from the past list! It brings such memories, both good and not so good! I am a native Floridian and still live here in Miami! Sometimes wish I didn't.....not quite like the days of yesteryear. I attended Kenwood Elementary, Glades Jr. High (now middle) and graduated from South Miami Sr. I was on the tennis team from Jr. high through MDCC. Rest in peace my best friend Leslie Morris who I still miss. My mother was a teacher at Pinewood Acres Private school where I attended summer camp every year! I cherish my memories of living in Kings Creek right off of Kendall Drive where I first drank Boones Farm Strawberry concoction and listened to Led Zeppelin and enjoyed long hot summers of playing tennis, ping-pong in the teen room, and night swimming with the thrown in lawn chairs! Thank you again for reminding me of all the fun places from my childhood! Susan Freudenstein
Those were the best days ever!!
Heya -- what a bunch of memories.
We used to live at SW 2nd Ave and 12th Street until I was 5, and then we moved out to the sticks in Coral Gables. Went to Sunset Elementary, Ponce, and Gables High (in the Nick Kotys days).
My father went to Miami High and mother went to Miami Beach High. My dad had a men's shop in tghe Seybold Arcade.
I am trying to remember a place where we went and had watermelon. Probably in the late 50's. It was close to one of the Miami River bridges and they had picnic tables.
Someone recently gave me a book called "Towers in the Sand" (the history of FLorida Broadcasting by Don Colee. Really brings back memories of how big a part of our lives that radio was. Remember Tigaer Radio and WFUN and their FUNdamental News??
Anyway, this blog has some great stuff.
Cheers,
Rick Goldsmith
My niece went to Sunset Elementary and Gables High. My uncle worked in the Seybold Building. Who can forget the WQAM "Tiger in a Mustang" and their competitor "Fun" Radio! . We were at the very first Dolphin game where they ran their first kick off back for a touchdown. Took a ride in the Goodyear blimp from Watson Island. I lived in California for 20+years but now back in Florida to stay. I'm about 100 miles out of Miami and am always glad for an opportunity to visit. Yea the traffic is a pain but I really love "The Magic City"
Don't forget that in addition to "M.T. Graves", Charlie Baxter had previously played "M.T. Space", and showed Sci-Fi movies at the same station and hour.
Yes, Charlie Baxter was on the Sunday afternoon show "The Dungeon ć which aired good old sci fi films
I just finished reading all the memories I came to Miami when I was just 1 yrs. Old I remember how everything was back in the 60s - 70 how I miss those days thank you for all .
I just finished reading all the memories I came to Miami when I was just 1 yrs. Old I remember how everything was back in the 60s - 70 how I miss those days thank you for all .
I just finished reading all the memories I came to Miami when I was just 1 yrs. Old I remember how everything was back in the 60s - 70 how I miss those days thank you for all .
What a wonderful site. I was born and raised in Miami. In the mid-1950's we kids played in vacant lots, where bits of wild sugar cane grew. The largest building was the Dade County Courthouse, which could be seen for miles in every direction. There was Pitch and Putt par 3 golf course. I remember burlesque's Tempest Storm advertised in the newspaper. Pupi Campo was a hotel headliner. The old Miami Beach Cinema Theater had Yiddish vaudeville on Sundays. I also remember segregation, the terrible black ghettos, back of the bus, right to refuse service. Good and bad memories.
I was born and raised on Miami Beach. I remember...Sonny's Barbeque in NORTH MIAMI, all the Royal Castles, Boulevard theatre on Biscayne Blvd by 79 St., Fun Fair, Food Fair, Funland Amusement Park on NW 27th Ave., Que and Cushion pool hall on 79th St, just west of Biscayne Blvd. McDonalds on Biscayne Blvd around 135 St.....at one time that was the only McDonalds in all of Miami, Pumperniks Restaurant, The Luau, Parhams Restaurant on Miami Beach, Juniors Restaurant on Miami Beach and on 79th St Shopping Center, Wolfies Restaurant on the corner of Lincoln Rd and Collins Ave, Liggett Drug Store on the corner of Washington Ave and Lincoln Rd, and Woolworths right next to it, Alfies newsstand on Alton Rd, all of the movie theaters along Lincoln Rd, that aren't there now, the Normandy and Surf movie theaters on Collins Ave.
I remember all of these. The Center Theater on 62nd St (?), the Essex Theater in Hialeah and Shell City. Still a great city.
What about George's super sub shop on the southern side of 8th St across from the Krispy Kreme. Heiny wine jingle:
Heiny in the morning,
Heiny in the evening,
Heiny at supper time.
If I give you some Heiny,
Will you always be mine.
Wait a minute! It was VELVET KREME.
George's sub shop!
Orange blossom hobbies!
Murray's speed shop on 62nd!
Great memories of miami
I'm still here but nothing else is!
Remember when there where
TACOS OLE!
TACO VIVA!
TACO BELL
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