Where are They?
It occurred to me this morning as I passed an old buliding that so many of the places I knew as a child have faded into oblivion. I can remember clearly Road Runner ice cream shops, Shakey’s Pizza, Stanley Motta, Bata Shoes, Brook’s Shopper’s Fair & Town and Country Stores, Morin’s Shoes, Island Victoria Bank, Century National Bank, Jamaica Citizen’s Bank, Homeletrix and of course Times Store where many a Christmas gift were bought. I realize that most of the persons who stop by here won’t even know what the heck I’m talking about. It just seems strange that old businesses fade away and new ventures take their place without so much as a parting good-bye. These new ventures will one day outlive their viability and they too will fade away. The story of life I suppose. A dew, a very minute few will live on for longer than average but even these will not stay the same. They must evolve to survive.
Have a great week everybody.
Who can forget Bata shoes, Woolworth and so many more. With allthe mergers going on these day, soon all business will be just one big mega company. It’s the cycle of life.
I used to love going to Shoppers’ Fair with my mummy. Some of those places you mentioned bring back memories.
I had this same thought the other day as I passed the “Cookie Jar”.
I used to love Shakey’s - the only place in Jamaica I knew of to play pac man.
Speaking of pac man, there used to be a game arcade called Fun for All right near to Princeville Plaza…
OMG…shakeys pizza…….Our only choice for pizza back then…..and it was soo good too sigh….
OK so now I officially feel old. I remember more than half the stores you mentioned. I even remember the old Pepsi and D&G glass bottles and when $1 bought you a MOUNTAIN of icy mints
This post is a quick jog thru memory lane, Scratchie. Hot Trax, Crazy Jim, Zippy ice cream, even Coconut Park in its prime, an’ mostly Brook’s Shoppers Fair that yu mentioned — mi cousin lived in Ziadie Gardens, so Brooks was to her what Red Hills Mall was to me — de nearest option; she always recalls her 1st solo walk there as a landmark in her childhood. (Ah rememba Road Runner too — beside Regal.)
Ok ok ok there are a whole lot of things going on in brain now… home sweet home lamp, kerosene stove, enamel mug, and and and lawd a feel so old ….. i was told once when the police officers atart looking like they could be your son then …WHAM!! yuh old….
In chatting this morning I was reminded that JUTC was once J.O.S. and Creamy Corner was the hot ice cream spot in Half-Way-Tree, TVJ is still called JBC by the older heads among us, Tropical theatre in Cross Roads is now a gospel church and State Theatre is now a SuperPlus Supermarket.
i could say the same thing about barbados, i remember when we had department stores and not malls
I remember Bata which of course is no longer around. It is interesting the way the face of Kingstown has changed as well. Nothing constant,eh
LOL! I soooo remember Road Runner
And I still can’t get my brain to remember that it’s now TVJ and not JBC!!
While I was in Amsterdam a few years ago I laughed to myself as I bought a pair of BATA shoes thinking, “I came all this way to buy a BATA boot!”
I remember some of those places. I guess they fell by the way side in the dog eat dog world of commerce where only the strongest survive.
Saw Bata here in Sarajevo and found it very funny…for the reaon that I remembered my school shoes were bought there in Jamaica. It is a Dutch brand…….
Mi near just start bawl….oh gosh!! Growing up in the 80s and early 90s…everybody supposed to remember dem deh place deh. I remember when Shakeys used to compete with everybody for delivery in 30 minutes or less and it was usually less….especially the one round Barbican!! Big up to Upper St. Andrew massive!!
I’m not that young. I remember about 3/4 of those places. I loved Shakey’s Pizza. My friends and I would buy a pizza, split it and use the change to play a couple rounds of PacMan. Ah, good times.
try going back to Dubai, when I grew up it was sand, now its buildings and roads…everywhere.
Road Runner…..a favourite treat by the parents on a Sunday. Except that Dad always forgot the name, and always referred to it as Happy Hunter!
Am feeling old and I remember nearly all of those places… ahhh, those were the days!
Hey, how many of you remember when Time Store downtown had escalator?