WOW! I can't believe how many responses my post about Hess's last week drew.
I'd love to compile a thorough archive of "stores that used to be but aren't any more" in York County. I have posted about a few; if you're a newer reader to the blog, please check these out and let me know what you remember about these locations.
And for everyone - please comment and let me know what other stores you miss. I'll try to round up some info on them and post about them in the coming weeks!
Ghost stores:
- Hess's
- The North Mall (not a "store," exactly, but still.)
- J.M. Fields (at the North Mall, my sister and brother-in-law say)
- The York Mall (commenter Joe reminded me of that one) - I do remember that; wasn't there a free-standing Sears there?
- Best
- Hills
- ... and its neighbor Pathmark
- Gee Bee's
- Zaire's (which was at the same location as Hills, if I remember right??)
- I hear we had Mailman's, too, though I need some more guidance on where and when that might have been!
- Same with Two Guys - where was that?
- People's Drug (commenters Mark and Melanie mentioned all three of these last ones; do you guys have any locations?)
- From the Remember When topic on the Exchange, I learned about Bear's Department Store, which is what the picture above is of, and Stillman's Department store, as well as a place called Jack's store in York.
Ghost restaurants:
- Rax
- Rutter's (former employer of commenter friend Mark!)
- Ponderosa
- Spurg's Drive-In
- Gino's
- Bury's Hamburgers
Let's keep the list growing!
If I recall, Gino's first location was in east York across from the Red Lobster on Market Street. One of the best sandwiches was the Gino Giant which was similar to the Big Mac. The store was owned by one of the Baltimore Colts players, Gino Marchetti.
I am fairly certain that Jack's was a women's clothing stores in downtown York. At the time there were quite a few clothing stores in downtown York, including Weist's, Bon-Ton, Bears, Gregory's, the Hub, and Grant's.
People's Drug store was in the square in downtown York with stores later in the West Manchester Mall and the North Mall. I believe they were a Green Stamp redemption center.
To touch on a few of the items you noted:
The York Mall is where the East York WalMart is now, no Sears there. Sears was where the Giant is now, further east on Market St.
Two Guys is where Old Country Buffet is now, well that shopping center, not sure of its exact spot there.
Rax was great, I came across one in western PA. a few years ago and had to stop.
Growing up I lived down the street from two classics - Roy Roger's and Bob's Big Boy.
Mailman's I think was at Queensgate and possibly Delco (I was really young then)
I only remember the People's Drug Store in downtown York and the one in the North Mall. Don't know why I don't recall the West Manchester Mall location, I usually hit that mall at least once every time I come north to visit the family. They do say that the memory is the first thing to go... LOL
Two-Guys was where the Builder's Square was...now it's Central Tractor...been a while since I have been home. Mailman's was at Queensgate and People's was downtown. the Gino's I knew was where Taco Bell stand on the corner of the Trail and Arsenal Rd. There have been a few restaurants come and go along Rte. 30 in my life. Anyone remember Arthur Treacher's? Now it's a Hooters...that seems like a fair exchange for me when I visit. There was a Best's store in east York too right near the old Roll'r'Way I think it's now (or recently was) the AAA building. Before it was Best's it was a Green stamp redemption store. This is great!! Thanks for opening up this Pandora's box of memories Joan!!!
More Meories to come!!!
Greetings From Austria!!
Mark
Do you remember Avalons or Avalongs which used to be where the Rutters is at the Galleria mall. It had a restaurant, ice cream parlor and two miniature golf courses to two choose from.
Also, I am trying the remember the name of the seafood restaurant that used to be on Route 30 where the Hooters is now. It was also a night club that used to be called the Pink Panther (I think), but I think before that it was some type of seafood restaurant.
That seafood restaurant was "The Jolly Fisherman".
Our family really liked it and went there a lot.
The Hooters also used to be the home of a nightclub named Broadway Cafe. That was such a great place!
I worked at Key Fashions in the North Mall. It was my first part time job in high school. There was also Mariannes clothing store, Shaffners jewelry and upscale clothing store. There was a gift shop at North Gate I believe called The Gate House.
Two Guys Dept Store was the entire length form Old Country Buffet down to and including Tractor Supply. I ended up my time there as automotive mgr.
There was definitely a Mailman's at the Queensgate Shopping Center...located in the spot currently occupied by the Bon Ton.
Ames (briefly Zaire's) was located on White Street where Big Lots is now. The Hills department store at Delco Plaza became an Ames in 1999.