OK, if my comments are any indication, you guys can’t get enough of reminiscing about the stores that used to be around York County. In fact, it’s been such good fodder for posting that I’m soon going to need to make an updated index of all those stores and their posts.
Here are some more from recent (and in a couple of cases not-so-recent) comments.
Mark says from Austria: “Two-Guys was where the Builder’s Square was … now it’s Tractor Supply … 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 Road. There have been a few restaurants come and go along Route 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!!!”
Melanie checks in from down south: “I remember Hess’s and GeeBee’s! I was so excited when we got a Hess’s down here in Virginia because I liked the one in York so much. I was sorry when they closed. Mark, I also remember Mailman’s and Two Guys! I remember going to Mailman’s with my aunt and grandmother a few times when I was young. Does anyone remember People’s Drug Store? I’m pretty sure there were a couple of them in York … I worked for them in Virginia for a long time before I quit to raise my kids. I still miss their soda fountain. They served the best milkshakes.” She also wrote, in another note, “I 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…”
Joe says: “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 Street. 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 Rogers and Bob’s Big Boy. Mailman’s I think was at Queensgate and possibly Delco (I was really young then.)”
My wonderful brother-in-law Mike is an AMAZING source of York County memories. I love this blog because I’d never have had such great conversations with him about these things if I hadn’t started thinking about them through this! He writes: “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 store 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.”
And I had a funny one from a new commenter, Charles, when I posted about Rax. He wrote: “I used to work at the Rax in the salad bar. I remember going up to Hershey for a corporate mtg. Sadly it went kaput and I moved on.”
Then I found another memory from Mark. He wrote: “People’s Drug!!! Now there’s a memory … Wow, really digging deep! I remember going there with my mom for a real fountain soda. My mom (a child of the 40s and teen of the 50s) said it always made her feel young! GeeBee’s, there is another store I almost forgot about. I also remember the ‘scare’ when the West Manchester Mall opened … the folks at the York Mall thought they might be put out of business … but I think that was just an urban legend rumor. Every now and then, when I used to still live in the states, I would visit my dad in York and go to the York antique mall, when you bought something there and needed a bag, you would get paper bag from Mailman’s … how cool is that!? The memories are wonderful!” He also had another post about Hess’s, and then said, “I remember Hess well … but here some more deep thoughts on long-gone York stores … Does anyone remember Mailman’s and Two-Guys? We always went to Mailman’s for back to school clothes shopping and Two-Guys was one of my dad’s favorites … one of my fondest memories of my childhood was the occasional trip I would make with my dad to Two-Guys and was allowed to choose a new Matchbox car from the display after we would be finished shopping. Some things in life will never be so well remembered!!!”
You guys are making my day with all these memories. This is why I love being a Yorker!
My name is Joan and I'm a lifelong Yorker. Throughout high school and college, I swore I was getting out of here as soon as possible. Now, a few years later, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. I love my town. And, as a local editor, I hear every day how much you love your towns, too. So please, connect with me and let's share what makes life in York County great. I'm here to help you enjoy this place as much as I do!
From http://duckduckgo.com/c/Defunct_companies_based_in_Pennsylvania
Gino’s Hamburgers was a fast-food restaurant chain founded in Baltimore, Maryland, by Baltimore Colts defensive end Gino Marchetti and running back Alan Ameche, along with their close friend Louis Fischer, in 1957. In Dundalk, Maryland, just outside Baltimore, it got its official name in 1959 when the owners brought on Colts’ captain Gino Marchetti. It was an East Coast regional fast food restaurant and had 359 company-owned locations when they were acquired by Marriott Corporation in 1982. Marriott discontinued the brand and converted locations to their Roy Rogers Restaurants chain.
The restaurant was known for high quality hamburgers such as the Sirloiner, which was made from sirloin steak, and the Gino Giant, which competed with the Big Mac. The company held the franchise for Kentucky Fried Chicken in the middle-Atlantic states. Their slogan was “Everybody Goes to Gino’s”.
The company also became known for its philanthropic efforts. The executives of the company supported many educational, cultural, recreational, and athletic programs. This made the community and the company tied with the common goal of trying to help the youth.
Gino’s Burgers and Chicken
Marchetti, Romano, and Fischer plan to open new Gino’s restaurants in 2010, with franchise information available in March. Marchetti and Fischer will be serving as consultants. The new restruant plans to serve burgers, chicken sandwichs, hand-cut french fries and hand-spun milkshakes. Initially, the chain plans to open locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In charge is Tom Romano, who worked for 20 years with the company, and was C.O.O. in 1982 when the chain was sold. “It’s apparent there’s a need for better burgers out there,” said Romano, citing the success of such chains as Five Guys. Gino’s plans to make its burgers to order from fresh beef.
remember the Genos radio jingle? “Everybody goes to Genos, everybody in the know….everybody goes to Genos cause Genos is the palce to go…..a hamburger there is just 15 cents, try some french fries and a milkshake , you’ll be glad that you went….everybody goes to Genos, cause Genos is the place to go..” ya gotta love those old radio jingles…
mark from austria is wrong. Arthur Treacher’s was not where the Hooters is now, that was the Jolly Fisherman. Arthur Treacher’s was across the street which eventually became a KFC. Our first two KFC’s sites were originally Arthur Treacher’s. One was on memory lane across from the market and the other was on rt. 30 across from the Jolly Fisherman.
Tommy…Thanks for clearing that up…I remember the now Hooters being a fish place but Jolly Fisherman escaped me….Now it does click a little better…but what I do remember is that neither lasted very long…sadly. After Jolly Fisherman wasn’t the building a Red Lobster for a very short amount of time too? hmmm…food in York County…YUM is all I gotta say!
The downtown stores were the best. Remember the Bon Ton Tea Room & the anticipation of their Christmas display. Also, the perfume fountain? People’s in the square was great, the best variety of candy. Here’s one to test your memory, Robert Hall’s Clothing Store on West Market Street, across from the old West Side Hospital, remember?
Thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the memories Does anyone recall the shopping center on pine Street Franklin Discount
Marical Mart I Think?? Block away from the old pepperment patty Co. were you could buy a bag of patties cheap. Also Jim’s out on west market street You could get a bag of bergers for $1.00
Does anyone recall a toy store that was down town
on E Market Street I Think??Not sure of name. Or Spanglers Drug Store on S George and E South St And Bab Fadders not sure of spelling on the other corner
across the street or Gem’s Bakery best bake goods
around Carmel & Lemon Buns or The bowling ally on Pine Street and Pizza shop across the street
best Chop Steak sandwich . Oh what found Memories
of when we were children .
Elizabeth: I remember Franklin Discount on Pine Street and the one that was on West King St. The one on West King had (what I thought at that time) a long stairway up to the main entrance.
I remember Spangler’s Drug Store at the corner of South George and South Streets. Mr. Spangler had a good reputation of “discounting” prescriptions to needy persons who needed the medicine but did not have enough money. “Bab Fadder;” The store across the street from Spangler’s was Feder’s News Stand. It was owned and operated by Silas “Babe” Feder. He sold fountain soda’s, ice cream, candy, cigarettes and cigars, and newspapers and magazines. He had one pinball machine there too. He was a good man! May he rest in peace.
This goes way back in Dallastown. The Old Wheel Lunch E. Main St/ Duke St. ( Adamsville Rd ). Chance’s Restaurant near the square in Dallastown which was a hangout for the kids in the 50′s. Where Red’s Body Shop is now located was a small restaurant called Lutz’s Restaurant.
does anyone remember ERNIES where you could get ice cream sundies etc.
I am looking for the name of a music store in the 800 block of East Market St. back in the 60′s. It was on the same side as the York bank. It sold musical instruments. Any help would be appreciated.
It was called Keyboard Studios at 830 E. Market St.
I took many lessons there.
What was the name of the food store on the corner of S. George and College ave? Remember the Ideal Rest? In york?