Sunday, November 16, 2014

Chow Time: Woolworth's 5 & 10 Luncheonette

What would you do if you had a time machine?  Like a lot of history enthusiasts, it is a question that often crosses my mind.  It might sound silly and superficial, but I would definitely employ my time machine for regular shopping trips to Woolworth's.  For me, a time machine would only be as good as the history I could bring "back to the future" with me; and the things I love most are the ephemeral objects offered at bargain prices from Woolworth's - greeting cards, holiday decorations, Halloween costumes, etc.  The city in which I grew up had a long-standing 5&10, Gilbert's, but by the time I had money enough to do my own shopping, the days of five and ten-cent items were long gone.  Gilbert's finally gave up the ghost in the 1990s when it could no longer be seen through the forest of Dollar Trees.

Even at the worst of times, in my entire life I have never shoplifted.  And yet, my favorite scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's is when Holly and Paul outwit the store detective to steal masks from the Woolworth's.  I've watched the scene over and over as much for the vicarious thrill of larceny as for creating a mental shopping list (masks included) should my Woolworth's/time travel scenario ever become a reality.

Woolworth's shoplifting scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's

Thankfully, there is a place that provides a bit of time travel without the necessity of a flux-capacitor.  In the heart of downtown Bakersfield, CA stands one of the only remaining Woolworth's Luncheonettes still in operation.  Built in 1936, the heyday for glorious Streamline storefronts, the building houses both the lunch counter and a bilevel antique store.  Excited to see a beautifully preserved retail environment and hungry from our drive, we made Woolworth's Luncheonette the first stop on Mr. Tiny's Bakersfield Birthday Bonanza!

Would you believe that this was Mr. Tiny's first visit to a proper luncheonette?
What was more exciting, lunch at a lunch counter or color coordinating?  I just don't know!

Purists might poo-poo the paltry cosmetic updates of the luncheonette.  Rather than wasting even one calorie on negativity, we tried to burn off our lunch in high praise of the folks who keep this landmark alive with the sites and smells of 20th-Century American life!

Sure, the red-vinyl barstools and checkerboard floor are a little corny but they are more than made up for by the gorgeous, curved, honey-blonde wood panelling punctuated by rose-gold mirrors, the terrazzo staircases with their Streamline Deco banisters, and the beautiful utility of all that classic, chrome, soda fountain fixturing! 

Don't go to Woolworth's expecting a full diner menu; you will find no meatloaf, no Adam and Eve on a raft, no blue plate special.  Proving that too many choices is not always a good thing, Woolworth's Luncheonette graciously limits the options to hamburgers, hot dogs, and a few sandwiches.  They do, however, offer a wide variety of old-timey fountain treats and some of the freshest lemonade I've ever tasted.

I don't know if it was just my surroundings leaving me defenseless against the
power of suggestion, but the hamburger actually tasted deliciously old-fashioned!

Even with full stomachs, a packed itinerary, and daylight burning, we couldn't bring ourselves to leave Woolworth's without at least a brief exploration of the antique store's offerings.

Since it was our first stop of the day, we didn't want to blow the birthday budget in one pop.  As
much as I was drooling over the graphics on this souvenir "Note Tote" with the original stationery
and letter opener, I settled instead on a few nicely-priced Christmas ornaments.

Had they fit in the wacky wagon (and had they been for sale),
I surely would have "settled" for this fantastic foursome as well!!! 

Without the benefit of time travel, I guess we'll never get the chance to turn a pocketful of change into a Woolworth's shopping spree.  Thankfully, there are thoughtful business owners who allow the visiting preservationists within us the opportunity to experience the same luxury of luncheonette service that Bakersfield residents have enjoyed for nearly eight decades.  Thanks to Woolworth's Luncheonette, we think we've found a million-dollar baby in the five-and-ten cent store!

"I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five and Ten Cent Store)" - Bing Crosby

Did you grow up frequenting your local five-and-dime?  Have you ever stopped at the Woolworth's in Bakersfield?  We encourage you to make Bakersfield more than a mere blur as you whiz by on your north or southbound travels; take the time to time travel with a stop at Woolworth's for a soda, a sandwich, and some shopping!

Woolworth's Luncheonette & Five-and-Dime Antique Mall
1400 19th St
Bakersfield, CA
(661)321-0061


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for the 1960's trip down memory lane.

    As a special treat, I got to ride the bus with my Grandma to Woolworth's in downtown Santa Ana. We sat on the high twirly stools and had chocolate sodas made with chocolate ice cream. (You had to ask for the chocolate ice cream special or else you just got vanilla.) Of course, you couldn't leave Woolworth's without oogling all the candy in the cases. I don't remember what kind of treat I got to take home, but I do remember getting licorice buttons for my mom.

    It was a sad day for my mom when Woolworth's closed and you couldn't buy licorice buttons. (She had me still looking for them until she died in 2011!)

    This now Arkansas gal thanks you for the Southern California memories.

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    1. Thank you! I love reading about your Woolworth memories. My own mom is a fan of spice gum drops; luckily, they're are still pretty easy to locate. As an Orange County kid, who lived in Santa Ana for a short time, I can only imagine the thrill of going to Woolworth's for an ice cream soda! Thanks again!

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  2. I have so many good memories of shopping in Woolworth's......the record counter, the fabric section, the lunch counter, the scarf counter. Thanks for bringing me down memory lane!

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    1. Thank you! As one who sews (in a family full of record-collectors), I can only imagine how much trouble we could've gotten into at the record and fabric counters at Woolworth's!

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  3. that place looks like paradise

    retro rover

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    1. It is a little bit of paradise! I'm so glad to have places like this still available to us!

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  4. We had a Woolworth's in our local mall in the Chicago 'burbs when I was growing up, but the fabric department was long gone by then. I wasn't aware of the luncheonette aspect until high school, when a substitute teacher decided to freak us out with her "Wooly-Worth's" story - she had ordered a hot dog and it had a worm in it! The fact that I remember it tells me she was successful. Plus I loved her pronunciation, 'Wooly-Worth's."
    Lisa
    Lisa

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    1. Yech! Now I'm really glad we didn't order hot dogs. But maybe it wasn't a worm; maybe it was a WOOLY caterpillar!

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  5. recently they were talking about time travel on This American Life and the things people said they would do with it, and they didn't even mention going back in time to shop! That is my first thought! How amazing would it be to take a couple hundred bucks in dollars and quarters and go back to the 50's or 60's at Christmas time! The time machine better have a lot of trunk space!

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    1. Funny enough, This American Life is the only thing we listened to during our entire Bakersfield adventure...I wish we would have listened to that one. The episode that really stuck with me is the one about how Tylenol will kill you; it's all I've been able to think about since then (and I never even take Tylenol)!

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  6. Thank you for the nostalgia trip. We had a Woolworth's with a lunch counter right up until the mid 90's. So many fond memories, both eating and shopping there. I remember one time going in to get an item they had in the window, when I pointed it out to the clerk the afternoon sun was shining on it like a spotlight. It was like something from an old movie. I miss stores with window displays and lunch where you shopped. Nowadays Dunkin Donuts or Subway in Walmart is just not the same.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your Woolworth's memories! Visiting this one came as close to fulfilling my time-travel wish as I think I'll ever get. I'm so glad you got to experience the real thing!!!

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