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Enough with the "New" Menlo Park Already
Menlo Park, posted by B. William, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 12, 2007 at 3:43 pm

We all know Menlo Park has a wonderful standard of living, goods schools, etc., but enough with the "new" Menlo Park already! Where are the days of Derry's Feed and Fuel, Johnny's Smoke Shop, and Shaw's Candy? Where can a man buy a water bed these days without Chelsea? Roots and Shoots anyone? Cafe Barrone is no Don's Hobby Shop I'll have you know. The employees are well under the age of eighty. All the denim I needed was at Jeff's Jeans--in REAL Menlo Park I didn't need a high end clothing store. Sure, New Menlo Park, you've got the Hoot and Toot, Su Hong's, Flegel's, and Draeger's, but you're just riding the coat tails of the old Menlo Park. New Menlo Park..do you even HAVE a head shop...look in the yellow pages under Black Elephant in Old Menlo Park. I'd much rather have my stone and gravel quarry than another Chili's any day. Old Menlo Park didn't just have toys and parties...it had Toy and Party. So, I say "eureka", as in Eureka Federal Savings, and remember new Menlo Park, try to mix in a few palm readers once in awhile. And while you're at it, end the alignment of Menlo Avenue and return it to the way it should be. Don't understand the alignment NEW Menlo Parkian? Then you don't deserve a Village Host in the first place.

-Cordially, B. William (via 1975)

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Comments

Posted by Old TImer, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Jan 12, 2007 at 7:55 pm

Great post. I had forgotten about Don's Hobby Shop! Menlo Sport, the short lived TLC (now McDonald's), and H Salt Esquire Fish & Chips deserve honorable mention. And before Jeff's Jeans there was The Hippo. We even had an A&W!

But in the new Menlo Park, they have a chance to save a remaining icon: Foster's Freeze. Alas, there is no room ...


Posted by Qld Timer, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 13, 2007 at 4:50 pm

Anda horse and buggy too. Yipee!!!


Posted by marie, a resident of the Menlo Park: Stanford Weekend Acres neighborhood, on Jan 14, 2007 at 10:02 am

I miss the old Menlo Park. I to remember Don's Hobby shop, the tile quarry and of course Shaw's Old fashion ice cream store. I have lived in menlo park for over 30 years now. Half of what I remember being around is no more. It will be a sad day if the city bulldozes Foster's freeze just for new housing. When is enough going to be enough already.


Posted by Old Friend, a member of the La Entrada School community, on Jan 15, 2007 at 11:10 am

I miss La Luna!


Posted by Norm Charley, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2007 at 8:00 am

I'm a Pink Pastry man myself. And, if I need a fish, I go to Marilynn's pet store. However, unlike the previous post, I do not go to Jeff's Jeans...I go to the European Jeanery. I went to buy groceries at Safeway the other day and there was a parking lot. Much to my suprise, Safeway had been moved into where the Brentwood Market used to be. With that being said, I'll see you at the Menlo Theater you Left Bankers!


Posted by B. Bruno, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2007 at 1:10 pm

I'll see you all over at the Co-Op!


Posted by Reba, a resident of another community, on Jan 18, 2007 at 2:29 pm

I'll be there after I finish shopping for kids' presents at the Dollhouse Factory...


Posted by D. Eberly, a resident of the Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park neighborhood, on Jan 20, 2007 at 10:15 pm

Three comments:

Shreve's Sport Shop

Menlo Cycle

Children's Bootery


Posted by mark thompson, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2007 at 8:46 pm

is the dutch goose still open, im in mo ozarks but i used to live in mp and gaduated in 78 ma let's not forget sherbas auto parts (sorry for miss-spell) ps: i had huge crush on nancy sherba


Posted by brad anderson, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Mar 3, 2009 at 6:48 pm

the left bank was bank of america before it was a movie theatre and shaws candy was macfarlands candy and before tlc or mcdonalds that corner was a shell gas station and sherbas auto store used to be ciardellas grocery store...boy do i fell old now!!


Posted by Pattie, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Apr 4, 2009 at 10:59 pm

How about Jiffy Burger?


Posted by R Gould-Saltman, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jul 20, 2009 at 10:55 am

I was beginning to think I was the ONLY person who remembered Jiffy Burger! My family spent many a Sunday, 1961-65, eating tacos, "BBQ" beef on a roll, etc. there after going to family swim at Jane's Swim School (Jayne's? spelling?) over by Willow Road School, and winding up with ice cream from McFarland's.

Anyone else remember Howatt's Restaurant, at Santa Margarita and Middlefield?


Posted by ljh, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Oct 10, 2009 at 6:29 pm

Let's not forget Stickney's in Town and Country Village (my dad always loved to brag that he installed the sound system in their Redwood City restaurant when he was at Stanford). McQuarrie's Drugstore on Alameda de las Pulgas, across the street from All American Foods (across the street from the Dutch Goose). When I was a little girl I rode my bike to ballet class at RoseAnn's Ballet Studio, which later evolved into MP Academy of Dance. Joseph Magnin and I Magnin in the Stanford Shopping Center, Bullock's where Nordstrom is now... ahhh, the '60s.


Posted by DHill, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Jun 7, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Don't forgot the great Jiffy Burger owned by a wonderful couple from Woodside.


Posted by Ken McLaren, a resident of the Atherton: West Atherton neighborhood, on Jun 24, 2010 at 9:31 am

I miss the Menlo Toy and Party!!

I spent many hours there, drooling over the brand new 1968 Hotwheels cars that were sold there.

Then, one day they had a rare Hotwheels Store Display with all the 16 cars inside, man that was so cool!

Anyone know who the store owners were, and if they (or relatives) can be contacted? I want that Display...LOL :)


Posted by Doug, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Aug 31, 2010 at 1:31 pm

The greatest thing about the new/fake Menlo Park as opposed to the old/real Menlo Park is Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's is fantastic for sure, but it is a corporate mock up of an earthy, free-wheeling grocery store. Thirty five years ago, the same space was the Co-op, a REAL earthy, free-wheeling grocery store.


Posted by Terry, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Sep 20, 2010 at 9:37 am

Rector Cadillac, Beltramoes, Red Carpet Carwash, Bill Mumfords Bodyshop, A&W, Foster Freeze, Derry Feed & Fuel, Johnny's Smoke Shop, Sherbas, Schwinn Bicycles, Jeff's Jeans, Hoot'n Toot, Menlo Movie Theater, Guild Theater, Park Theater, Pink Pastry, Ann's Coffee Shop, Camera Shop?, Flegel's Furniture, Prusse Pharmacy, Bae Realty, Shreve's Sport Shop, CO-OP, Dragers, University Cleaners-with driveup, Eureka Federal Savings & Loan, Home Federal Savings & Loan, Bank of America, Coldwell Banker, Village Host Pizza, Applewood Pizza, Shaws Candy, Arby's, Hi Fedelity Stereo, Record Store?, Menlo Clocks, Mermaid Motel, Sam's Family Restaurant, Oassis Burgers, Palm Reader, Woolworth or Payless, Don's Hobby Shop, Stamps next to Don's?, Book shop now BBC, Ken's House of Pancakes, Quarry, Lutz Ford, Mucci Buick, Dutch Goose, Vetrinarian?, McQuarries Parmacy, Ben's Barbershop, ACE Hardware, Pizza Pub, All American Market, then Buds Ice Cream, Photomat, 76 Station, Chevron, Shell, Arco, Peninsula Realty, Robinson Realty, Safeway, Sharon Heights Beltramoes, Velvet Turtle, Pet Store, Eric's Deli, Pastries, Sharon Height Parmacy...


Posted by Joe Kavanaugh, a resident of the Atherton: West Atherton neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2010 at 11:49 am

Swensens Ice Cream...1/2 dollars for change...Bugna and sons Loves Menlo House ..Edys candy...


Posted by Ken, a resident of the Atherton: West Atherton neighborhood, on Mar 31, 2011 at 8:53 am

Jerry's Stamps & Don's Hobby Shop were some of my favorites, and then over to A&W for a root beer with the classic glass mug :)


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