Where have all the good times gone!?!

...welcome to the real world and business? Its rare for many small businesses to last several decades.

There is the Zoo and Art Museum still: both of which are great. Toledo is not my home, I have lived and been all over the USA and of all the places I have been I can personally say that this is still a great little city with lots of fun things to do.

Sounds like its time to build new memories for you. I say visit, stroll down memory lane and look at the new directions the city is growing.

I feel like I should be listening to "In My Life" by the Beatles while reading this post.

Bring her to Toledo and show her the places that are meaningful to you, even if they don't exist anymore...and take her to the places that do exist and she will have a great time. Zoo, art museum...go to a hockey game in the new arena. Have fun!

When I first brought my fiancee (now wife) to visit Toledo in 2004, I was able to show her a number of things, and tell stories about places that have since gone out of business or have been torn down (like Maumee Drive In where I saw "Star Wars" for the first time).

I do miss Dominic's. My parents had their first date there. My wife and I our second

Dominic's Arcade was a great place! All those fancy, new, high tech (at the time) games you could play. That's where I became hooked on Centipede. Still am.

I loved Dominic's...good times, better memories

I grew up in Flint, MI., but going to the arcade was always a treat. I'd mow the neighbor's lawn just so I could save aside 10$ each week, which meant 3 hours of video games at the arcade. I wish there was one of those Dave and Buster's places locally.

I really wish i could have seen Toledo in the 50-60's. Heard downtown use to be a hot spot and some kind of mall down where Cosi is? Have heard so many good stories from that mall alone.

There still is a drive-in out on Navarre in Oregon.

Appreciate the comments, yeah Dominic's was a great place, my very first job was there, great food, good people, the arcade was cool, just disappointed to see it go away.

I'm a little younger so now is my memory time. Some of my favorite times have been at The Zoo (regular zoo, frozen tozen, and lights before Christmas), Maumee 18 Cinema (now closed) but Levis and Fallen Timbers are nice.

Wildwood and Pearson Parks are nice, as well as Walleye fishing on the Maumee by Sidecut. Watching the Storm at the rec center, anxious to see the Walleyes at the new arena ! :)

The main library on Adam St downtown. Evenings with my girl at Tony Packo's before a movie. Concert at the Stranahan.

I love Toledo. This town has given me more good memories in 5 years than the previous 20.

Is Tony Packo's on Front & Consaul still there?

I remember going to the zoo through the tunnel under the Trail, that was cool when you're little. Going to the library over off of Sylvania, Rudy's hot dog on Phillips, going to see the Mud Hens play at the rec center (we all went to hang out, the game was kind of secondary!), concerts at the sports arena (my very first concert was there!), Rally by the River (more great music!), Toledo Speedway Jams (more great music!).

Yes, Packos is still there, although the family is having some legal disagreements amongst themselves.

I know how you feel HomeTownMemories. Time is fleeting. The place where I learned to bowl, got my first job, and met my future wife, RCR lanes is gone. The place I had my second job, Tansels Amoco at Door & Holland-Sylvania is also gone.
Likewise the place of my third job, Sohio at Bancroft & Upton, gone, as is the place of my next employment, Sohio at Lewis & Eleanor. After that, it was the old Jeep plant, you guessed it, gone. My Jr High and High schools are both gone, sometimes it feels like my life is being erased.

I know how you feel JeepMaker. Sohio didn't fair too well (I worked at the one on Bancroft & Reynolds). We used to hang out at RCR, good times!

A great man once said - "If I could save time in a bottle..."

Ineedcoffee,

My grandpa is always telling me about growing up in Toledo in the 30's, 40's and then what it was like when my mom was little in the 50's and 60's.

He's always talking about the Lion store that was downtown, Tiedtke's, and then the movie theaters that were down there.

He's also told me numerous times about how him and his buddies would go junking to get enough money to go see the westerns playing at the movies on Saturday afternoon.

I remember Saturday afternoons. My mom would take my brother and I to lunch at Eppes' Essen, and then she would take us to a double feature at either the Paramount, or the Rivoli theaters. My ticket cost $.35.

I fondly recall going to Cedar Point Amusement Park with my parents via the steamer S.S. Put-in Bay. It left the Adams Street dock at 6:00 a.m. The Put-in Bay was built of wood construction in Duluth in 1910 and was in service till 1951 at which time it was anchored in the Detroit River and set ablaze.

INeedCoffee: The "mall" on Summit Street where COSI is was named 'Portside'. It lasted about 5 years and closed. I still have the paper sack that has the Portside News Stand logo on it that held a birthday card I bought there.

The drive-in theater on Navarre was originally 'Parkside' and now is 'Sundance Kid'

I love reminiscing. I remember when Cedar Points parking area had trees, and picnic tables.
I LOVE the Lucas County Library's "Images n Time" website.
HomeTownMemories, may I ask your age? I literally spent 12-15 years hanging out at RCR lanes. I learned to bowl there at age 6. Bowled on the Saturday morning kids leagues for 10 years and at the old age of 16, started bowling in the Monday Night Men's Handicap league.

I remember going downtown with my parents to a movie and then hanging out at a mall/park that was created by closing off several streets somewhere near superior street.I also remember shooting pool at a place called esquire billards.It was in an upstairs building that reminded me of the pool hall in the movie color of money staring Paul Newman.

when you go to Cedar Point there is a museum in Frontier Town across from the old classic car ride that I love going into. The pictures of old Cedar Point are awesome. I remember the shuttle trams that picked you up in the parking lot when you parked way out there. My kids asked the last time we were there what the tower was in the parking lot. I told them they used to use it for deciding where to send the trams. We also always packed a lunch and sat on the beach to eat it. I always sneek above the arcade to check out the old ballroom with the wooden floor. Sometimes they have it locked - sometimes not.

Yeah, all those places I used to hang out in the early 80's are gone. Par 3 on Talmadge and Monroe(now the Andersons). Ozzie's arcade across the street. Franklin Park drive in. Norm Sobecki's Showcase lanes and also Ottawa lanes. Rink's on Monroe and Nantucket. All gone.

I drive through my old neighborhood in West Toledo near Ottawa Park every couple of years, and boy is that a trip through time. House and driveway are smaller than I remember, neighborhood is in poor shape, I pray my car doesn't break down, lol. I remember everything about that house and yard, and the neighbors, like it was yesterday, yet things have changed so much!

What was the name of the place that used to make Moron Burgers???? They were HUGE! I think it was Central Ave maybe. I also remember going to the 2AM jams at The Gigilo. The smoke was so thick in the place you could cut it with a knife!

Holland House...

OK.. Who remembers Central Arena? How about Frank Uncles? The Charcoal House (my parents took my brother and I there as kids so we would know manners- my brother still pulls a chair out for me at dinner!) Dunkin Donuts on Monroe Street was my first job. Now it is another donut place. Oh, and Farrell's Ice Cream at Franklin Park Mall. Remember? A real NIGHTMARE for our parents because in order to pay your bill you had to go through the labrynth of candy with your kids! (:

RockerChick- There is a chinese restaurant on/near the corner of Central and Holland Sylvania that still serves the Moron Burger. I remember my brother getting one at the original place on Central near Reynolds Rd.

Oh- and as if I do not sound old enough... Anyone remember the Disco Kid on Secor? LOL

I posted a very similar thread some time ago and we had a lot of fun with it. Take a look and maybe it will answer some questions here.

http://toledotalk.com/cgi-bin/tt.pl/article/57990/Just_Curious_About_Your_Toledo_Roots

Don't forget the White Hut on the corner of Secor and Sylvania

And the Lockwood Hut and Detroit and Collingwood Hut... I'd love to have a Super King and Onion Rings right now.

I have to add a couple of memories... the elephant keys at the zoo that you used on the little boxes near the animal displays... how about the giant uncle sam on broadway in front of the hamburger place.... that same uncle sam now stands on 23, just over the michigan line...

I believe the giant Uncle Sam(s) which were also in the Colony and I believe on Cherry Street were owned by the same folks that owned the White Huts. In fact, I think the one in the Colony may have replaced a White Hut there. This all happened around 1970-71 I think.

The Burgers and Onion Rings were almost the same except a little smaller...

Thanks for the link rch101! OK, here goes some more: Red Well's on Sylvania just before Jackman, Franklin ice cream on Sylvania (had a Lane's drug across the street), Rink's Bargain City at DeVeaux(sp.?), Carrother's magic studio on Sylvania, Farrell's Ice Cream at Franklin Park (hated it when they brought out the big drum for birthdays!), Kewpee's Hamburgers, The old school McDonalds On Monroe across from Banner Matress, the plane sitting in Strain's field on Reynolds, Renee's, cruising Motorhead (over by Hydramatic. F.Y.I. my grandmother telling me that Hydramatic was a propeller factory during the war!), Sveden House behind Ohio Skate on Alexis, going to Webber's in the summertime (best onion rings ever!)

I remember Farrell's at Franklin Park. I remember I went there on my birthday and because I finished this monstrous sundae, I got it for free. Also Red Baron at Franklin Park. And Pewter Pub in Hudson's, I believe. Little Caesar's Pizza Inn at Talmadge and Monroe, along with Shale's and Sportfame. Putt-putt on Monroe. West Toledo ruled back then.

Restaurants in department stores...wow flash back to when I was a kid going with my parents to Columbus to take my brother (who was at OSU) to a brunch in a huge department store. CRAP! I can't think of the name.

OK A.D.D. Moment (look a chicken!) Any one know where I can find a picture of the Renees Logo?

My mom and I would have lunch at the Pub in Hudson's! And I totally forgot Sveden House- I just LOVED their bread pudding..... Oh, clam rolls at Howard Johnson's on Reynolds also.... I better eat something! LOL

Elboe Room I think on Sylvania for Pizza for me.

I remember when there was a big boys (I believe), Friendly's and a McDonalds in Southwyck mall, and another little restaurant in the Montgomery Wards in the Woodville mall.

lol, about the 10th 'days gone by' thread on here in last few years...

But not making fun; enjoy it as much as anyone.

How bout the Betsy Ross coffee shop Secor and Monroe?

all the White Towers that used to be around...there were maybe 6 or 7. Now one--on W. Sylvania, the last survivor...

Steak and Ale on Talmadge.....forgot about Betsy Ross....Also the Par 3 golf course at Monroe and Talmadge before the Andersons

Par 3's Ha! Love it.

All right, just had to jump in here. Angelo's Spaghetti House on Stickney. Had some of the best thin crust pizza.

^Yes!

See, that's the bitch about change. You find a place where you love something on the menu, then it goes out of business and the recipe is lost forever. Damn.

Betty Timko's Soup & Such. Pappy Mock's BBQ. Aku Aku. George's City Club. Hillcrest Hotel. The Greek place on Erie Street, where you were invited to walk back into the kitchen and pick your meal by looking into the pots on the stove. Oaken Bucket. Krotzer's. Garden Inn. Turtle Club.

When I was a kid we had a man by the name of Edson who lived a block behind us. He had a full scale electric trolley car track that ran around his backyard. He had several different train cars, passengers, flatbed work car, etc. He would give kids rides around the backyard track.
About 5 years or so ago, I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if old Mr. Edson is still alive". It wasn't a few days later that I saw his obituary in the paper, he was in his 90's.
I always wondered what happened to all the old electric trolley cars, track and equipment. I would think they'd have been worth a fortune.

Sam's Waffles in the Colony, corner Monroe and Central still owned by Sam Fine...White Hut family.....and still has Original Super Kings

Parents would take us to that Steak and Ale on Monroe all the time. Also the Griddle House on Monroe and Talmadge. Killer pancakes. Friendly's on Monroe and Nantuckett. Green Derby on Monroe. Church's Chicken across from Christ the King. The Willows. That Burger King on monroe where the Red Robin is now. Lane's Drugs on Monroe across from Franklin Park. The Pizza Hut across from FP. Ah yes, it's all coming back now.

Does anyone remember a bar which I think was on Secor called Don's? Had a Seven Up logo on the sign out front?

My Parents got robbed at the Willows. Took a family ring worth a good amount of money. Us kids were at home and my step dad called to say get out they got our keys too. Very scarry.

does anyone remember the little diner near downtown called Elmer's? (do I have the name correct?) I just remember plenty of food on the plate and some of the best hashbrowns ever... also, Don's Drive-in in Maumee... some great, after Renees, food

How about Porch of The Maidens on Central Ave....I think that it was owned by Gale Astels. Is he still around? The last I knew anything about him he was hawkin this stuff called NuSkin. Was sold alot like Amway where you had to get people to sign up under you before you made any money off the deal. A real rip off!

Do they still do "Music under the stars" at the Zoo? I had family that lived near Harvard school and we'd walk to the zoo to hear the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on Sat nights. If they still do it that's one thing I'd love to take my son to when he's old enough to remember it.

I hated the Maumee 18. I wish they would have never opened it. But then again I remember when the drive-in was there and wishing that they never closed it.

I miss Dominic's too. My grandparents spent every anniversary that I could remember with us having dinner there. (expensive for a party of 20+ every year).

I grew up near where Airport and South crossed. As a kid I would walk to several of the businesses there. It seemed like the center of the universe.

One of my favorite jobs was as a waiter at Rosie's on Heatherdowns. I would sometimes work the shows at the Stranahan when they'd hire Rosie's to cater it. I was able to meet the Righteous Brothers (who were awesome!), Jethro Tull, and Bad Company (both with and without Paul Rogers).

Back in the 90's Toledo was a great city to see up and coming bands. I saw the Goo Goo Dolls before they got big at the Asylum, I saw and met Dickie Betts at the Main Event, and helped to boo Kid Rock off stage (again at the Asylum, he was a replacement act and it was before he got big), and saw OAR several times (at the Centennial Quarry, down in BG, and at a bar I can't remember the name of in West Toledo).

Reminescing on these times made me want to listen to "My hometown" by Bruce Springsteen. Very fitting for Toledo if I must say.

Anyone here work at or have family that worked at American Shipbuilding? AMSHIP?

Many a cold beer across the street at the Seaway and Ship N Shore...