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June 23, 2011

I survived Walnut Creek, CA during the early and late 70s

It's true I did survive this town in that decade.

I remember going grocery shopping with my mother at the Safeway that used to be located where Chase Bank now is on South Main Street. And, I remember looking for clothes at Capwell's and Joseph Magnin. Actually, my favorite store of all was the Woolworth's in Broadway Plaza, back when there was a parking lot where California Pizza Kitchen now is.
But I didn't just get the idea
to write about growing up in Walnut Creek in the 1970s. I recently became a member of a Facebook page with just that name, I survived Walnut Creek, CA during the early and late 70s.

There, members are sharing photos and memories, like this one above of then-Present Gerald Ford visiting Walnut Creek in May 1976. Or this one of the Safeway my mom and I used to shop at on Saturdays. I loved going grocery shopping with my mother.

Some other choice comments have to do with top party spots in Walnut Creek. Hmm, I didn't know about any of these: "The dugouts at the Civic Park softball field, the bus stop at Lakewood, Rudgear Park, behnd Lippert's, behind Pinky's. Ahhh, the list is endless," wrote
one person commenting.

And, yes, I have a memory of getting out of school to go downtown and see President Ford speak.

24 comments:

Thud said...

The daft Englishman with his little daughters sometimes seen trying to ring that bell is me after my morning coffee.

Synnoveah said...

I remember all these places too..Awesome.

Elizabeth said...

I didn't grow up here at that time, but I do remember when there was only a parking lot where the California Pizza kitchen is!
I arrived here in 1988, and my second daughter was born here. She loved looking at all the old pictures of her high school and the town. Thanks for posting it.

Walnut Creek sure has changed!!

Anonymous said...

who started this facebook page, and why?

kellitown said...

I Loooved Woolworths. I will always remember walking or riding the bus down to buy stuff there!

Denis said...

Holy Ghost Hall, Dan O'Hara, the lit peace symbol at Christmas on the bank building across Newell from Kaiser. Worked at Kaiser from 1969 to 1997.

Rabid Quilter from California said...

I grew up there in the 50s, before there was a freeway! Nordstrum used to be a Bruener's but before that, it was a Lucky grocery store! And that copper fountain at the edge of the parking lot that's now CA Pizza Kitchen? what ever happened to that, I wonder.

Anonymous said...

I too grew up near Walnut Creek in the Seventies and Eighties in Alamo. I think the building where Nordstroms is was a Bullocks, not a Brueners. I vaguely remember the candy store. There was a supermarket that was closed at the intersection of South Main and Newell. Was it the Safeway? We bought clothes there when some liquidator rented it in the seventies. Worked at Capwell's for years in high school and college. Still dream about it, it was a fantastic place to work and shop back then. In Baltimore now, I actually long for the quieter, old Broadway Plaza. It was pretty and serene.

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Dottie Rich said...

Right, it was Bullocks. I can't remember if it came before or after Lucky. I bet none of you remember the ice cream ant the bus depot on the corner of Locust and main.

Dottie Rich

Unknown said...

Does anyone remember who used to own The Knights Inn?

Anonymous said...

I know part of his name was Clifford who owned Knights Inn

Unknown said...

What about Heather Farms? I grew up on Ready rd. Good times

Unknown said...

We, my brother from another mother, and I would fish the pond at countrywood shopping center. The 70's were way to cool

Unknown said...

I do we used to buy cigarettes there. We also picked up my Aunt there when she came from SF

Anonymous said...

It was Bullock's.

And what about the Pop Shop to bring your empties to get new sodas. And the drive-through dairy where Dunkin' is now. Lippert's offered the Mt. Diablo -- like fifteen scoops of ice cream and if you ate all of it you got a free one (I think that's before they discovered insulin.)

Ridin' a Mongoose by the creek with the Goody comb in the back of your Jordaches (or Toughskins) on the way to Gemco to check out the new boom boxes then to Long's to swipe some candy (Charleston Chew anyone?!) ...

Anonymous said...

All the kings men a gay night club in the late 70s....the "meat market" butcher

Anonymous said...

Bullocks, not Brueners. Brueners bordered 680.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember the I Magnin on Broadway. I loved that store. They carried beautiful clothes that no other store had. I can still recall the site having a unique smell. The air was rarefied and transforming. Ah the good old days!

Anonymous said...

What about the x-rated theater that turned artsy and ran Beattles movies all day. Did anyone see Rocky Horror there or Stop Making Sense, or did those cult classics come later?

Anonymous said...

I played music 4 nights a week at the Knights Inn back in the early seventies with Robin DeSilva, lot of fun and memories

Anonymous said...

Playing pinball at magic strip and the old Safeway on main , partying at the ridge and Diablo .