Wilhelm: Remembering businesses from downtown in 1965
My boss, longtime editor Glen Geib, always suggested Nickel’s Sportsmen’s Bar just a little north of the intersection of Front and Croghan streets. He loved the roast beef sandwiches served up by Julia Koke and I came to appreciate them as well.
Just south of that Front and Croghan intersection, also on the west side of the street, was Taylor’s Restaurant, a popular noontime stop for downtown folks. Across Front Street were the “five and dime” store counters, which offered a change of pace and quick service.
One more block to the south were Creighton’s Restaurant and the Annex Café, providing plenty of lunch choices for the week. If that wasn’t enough, you could head a little north and turn the corner west on State Street and find variety in the offerings within walking distance there as well.
The restaurants were not the only thing that struck me about the downtown.
Men’s and women’s clothing stores were plentiful, including three shoe stores — Hoffman’s, Seegel’s and Crosby’s – in the block between Croghan and Garrison. Klos Shoes was just one block to the north and, if I remember correctly, Joseph’s, I guess the anchor for downtown, also sold shoes as did J.C. Penney, which was just across Croghan from the aforementioned block. And, I would guess that at least some of the women’s clothing stores in that block handled some varieties of shoes. I can’t say that I shopped in them often, so I’m not sure about that.
Even more impressive was the fact that there were three jewelry stores in the same block — Bechberger’s, Connors and Oaks. And, of course, the Pollaks had a well-established jewelry section in Joseph’s.
Today’s downtown is different, but looks like it has responded well to the changing times, attracting people with different shopping interests and offering some variety of dining opportunities.
Definitely worth a stroll like those I took in 1965.
Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Remembering businesses from downtown in 1965
