Stinky's, The Midway and ... ?

This could be very popular, David! I always felt you should have followed up your "A to Z" feature with one involving past or present dining establishments from the area. As for the Midway, I think that place may have actually made it til the early '80s. There also was one other Tin Lizzy, in La Verne. I believe it was on D St in the early '70s. Naturally, I'll have to add a couple iconic Pomona eateries ... Henry's and the Taco Kitchen.

Great blog by the way!

Someone else remembers the Taco Kitchen -- amazing! As a kid in the '50s I was thrilled to use my limited Spanish there and order "frijoles."

And Henry's! Here's a link for the history of "Chicken in the Rough": http://chickenintherough.com/History.html

In the early '80s I was eating in a restaurant in Denver, struck up a conversation with the maitre d' and it turned out he had been a busboy at Henry's while I was dining there in the '60s.

Yes, there was a Tin Lizzy in downtown La Verne. I believe it was on the NW corner of D Street and Bonita Avenue. As for eateries past, how about the Bit 'O Sweden Smorgasbord in Pomona, Renee's New Mexico in Rancho Cucamonga, and the Mandarin Garden Restaurant in Ontario? All great, all popular in their day, and, sadly, all now just memories in the Inland Valley.

Whoa, the Bit O Sweden! I had forgotten about that place. Where exactly was it located? Who remembers that before the Cask and Cleaver came into its existence (in then-Cucamonga), it was a Mexican restaurant by the name of the Casa De Mayo?

Just wondering if the Charles Bentley posting here is from the Bentley's Market family in Claremont. I know there was a brother in my generation named Charles. If so, as you likely already know, there must be some interesting stories about this long-time Claremont institution.

[No doubt true, but Charles is from the roofing Bentleys, not the produce Bentleys. -- DA]

Did you see the news about Wolfe's Market giving up on groceries and focusing on the sandwich counter? Great sandwiches, I'll admit, but another bit of history fading away.

Okay, I shook the few brain cells I have left, and a few other "long gone" establishments fell out. Who remembers these? Seapy's on Holt, Sherwood Inn on D Street La Verne, Old Hickory on Foothill and Grand in Glendora, and the Heritage House next door to Hamilton Drugs on N. Garey? But maybe someone can remember the name of the burger joint on the corner of Garey & Orange Grove? That place had the best deep fried tacos!!!

Was that Burger Chef at Garey and Orange Grove?
Or was BC further north on Garey, closer to PV Hospital?

Burger Chef history link:

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/jsf605213/myhomepage/

The Burger Chef was at Garey & Artesia, and is now a favorite spot of David's, if I recall......The one I'm looking for is just south of the 10.

[Garey and Artesia...oh, that's Golden Wok, the place with chow mein, hamburgers, donuts and Louisiana fried chicken, right? -- DA]

One and the same, David. Originally a Burger Chef, then I believe it actually became another Taylor Maid donut shop in the late '70s, but I'm a little foggy on that memory.

how about Taco Lita, Sir Georges Smorgasbord on Garey in Pomona not far from Jenkins supermarket.

Can anyone tell me if the booths from DiCenso's now grace the Vince's on Foothill? They look familiar!

Oh yes the Tin Lizzy in La Verne...actually a few doors down from the SW corner of D and Bonita. The SW corner of D and Bonita was Winchell's Doughnuts, and the NW corner was Crocker Bank. I think the oldest institution to make it into the 'modern era' was the Homer Dacus filling station at the SE corner, which is a park now.

And don't be fooled by the Warehouse Pizza that I think is still there, a few doors down from the SE corner of D and Bonita. In the '90s (and perhaps now) it was all seafoam green, bright, airy and cheerful. But back in "the day" it was a dark, seedy maze of blacklights put there to make the amateurish little paintings around each booth glow in the dark. It was where you got pizza and beer and played Pac-Man, and it had a bad reputation, which is why teens were always going there, hoping to get a few sips of beer. There was all sorts of junk piled on the rafters, including the old Homer Dacus sign after he closed down.

The big building of the University of La Verne library used to be an Alpha Beta grocery store, and the smaller building used to be a TG&Y. The little one next door with the peaked roof was a Tastee-Freez.

Here's a toughie for anyone out there who can answer...there was a church in La Verne that was turned into a dress shop. One day in the '70s someone threw a cherry bomb through one of the windows and most of the inventory burned...anyone remember the name of the store?

Was the store called "HOUSE OF FABRICS"?

I remember the Bit o Sweeden in Montebello, Calif. Also one in Alhambra I believe! I was just a child so I don't remember the driving directions but the Montebello location is for sure. Great Swedish MEATBALLS that even kids liked!!

My brother was a busboy at the Bit O Sweden in Alhambra. Valley Blvd. Near Ricky's SkyRoom.

What about Betsy Ross? There were a couple when I was at Cal Poly 30 years ago that saved me many a night from actually studying.

Can't forget HOT DOG SHOW on Holt at San Antonio in Ontario, GRISWOLD'S SMORGASBORD & bakery at the old High School site in Claremont and FORD LUNCH at Holt and Euclid in Ontario a very long time ago =) And STUFT SHIRT on Foothill in Upland.

I worked at the store in downtown La Verne, Alpha Beta.

Oh my gosh, Betsy Ross ice cream on Foothill (I think it's a real estate office now), down the street from what used to be Griswold's Smorgasbord.

I use to get pickle ice cream and bubble gum ice cream there when I was a kid. Mmmmmmm.

my mother used to hang out at the midway bar back in the 1970s. her name was patty (patricia) lunn from san dimas, ca...she's 54 years old....i was wondering if anyone remembers her...i am actually looking for a man named steve who used to hang out there also who met my mom and broke down with her one night on the 57 freeway on his motorcycle...this would be in the year 1977!!!!! does anyone remember them???? please help me i have been looking for him for 20 years at least. i want to find out what his last name is....he is my father and i have never even met him....i dont even know if he knows he has a daughter.....any info will help please ...i was born on june 16,1978 in pomona, ca. i am almost 31 years old....my mom has brown straight hair and brown eyes, has an older sister named carol, 4 brothers named lloyd, frank, bobby and kenny......thank you.

please email any info to my email: jenn_tylers_mama (at) yahoo.

p.s steve has 2 grand children...
Tyler 5yrs and MaKenzie 1yr

The Hot Dog Show was on Holt Blvd and originally owned by the Antonelli family of Ontario. They had a daughter named Debby that I knew when I was a kid. Mr. Antonelli worked for the dairy on the corner of Arrow Hwy and Benson Ave in Upland.

Stinky's restaurant on Foothill later became The Upper Crust in the '70s. How about the Magic Lamp restaurant on Foothill Blvd? Or the Pup 'N Taco drive-thru restaurants?

There was Taco Lita on Holt Blvd and San Antonio Ave in Ontario. Back in the '60s, they would have 10 tacos for $1 on Friday nights. That was smart. They made their money off the soft drinks.

Anyone remember the monkey cages at the Valley Drive in Ontario? I know I am not crazy, they were there I tell ya! Oh, and the Grinder Haven also in Ontario! They were still great the last time I had a grinder there in 1976 or so. It was their flaky crust bread that they baked on the premises that made them special. I grew up in Ontario during the '60s and '70s. How about Mi Taco on 7th and Mountain Ave in Upland? Their burritos were huge!

[Steve, thanks for the memories. -- DA]

Does anyone remember Bob's Billiard Parlor in downtown Pomona? I believe it was on Second St. in a basement. I don't think it survived the 70's. Speaking of the Midway Bar in Upland in the 1960s, does anyone remember the Rock Inn Bar just down the street on Foothill Blvd.?

green frog - now the buffalo inn

Ray S, the Rock Inn was the same building as the Midway, just a name change. I tried sneaking into the Rock Inn while still a high school student in the late '50s, then adopted the place (Midway Inn) in '63 and spent many, many days there until 1980 and knew many of those who did the same.

Wondering if anyone can share any information about the "old Taco Kitchen" in Pomona, which was owned by my great aunt and uncle for many years before I was old enough to know the place.

Would especially love to know of any old newspaper articles or photos to add to the family history.

Thanks much!