Retro Raleigh

Posted: Aug 28, 2008

What do you miss about the "Raleigh of old" that you would like to see again today? Carolina Conversations blogger Allison Taylor posed that question in a recent email. Here was her message:

"I grew up in Cary, moved to Raleigh, then all around NC, then to England for five years. I love being back home, but it has really changed.

Hey, why don't you have a blog about natives to the area? People BORN here, things that happened way back, events, shows, the underground in Cameron Village, all kinds of things, famous bands, the Fabulous Knobs, the VillaCapri restaurant at Ridgewood, politicians, people at WRAL, Bob Debardelaben (I went to school with his son.), the tremendous growth in the area. And remember off New Bern Avenue, years ago, the person who had that HUGE Christmas scene in the front yard? What happened to that? We natives couldhave our own blog site.

I wonder how many natives are still here or who have returned to the area tosettle down after many years away. I think that might make a good blog."

I think you're right, Allison. Let’s talk about that today.

What do I miss about my young days in Raleigh? Well, several restaurants for sure. I miss Neptune's Galley on Western Boulevard. No offense to the new Red, Hot & Blue on Hillsborough Street at Oberlin Road but I miss the Darryl's Restaurant there at that intersection. I also miss the Big 85 - WKIX Radio where I worked for several years with greats such as Rick Dees, Steve Roddy, Pat Patterson, Jack Kane, Charlie Brown, Tommy Walker, Dale Van Horn, John Tesh, Doug Limerick, Scott White, Steve Shumake and Steve Reid. I miss Joel Chaney’s great sports columns in The Raleigh Times. I miss hearing Bob Farrington ad lib an entire 30 minute newscast complete with soundbites on WPTF Radio. I miss Uncle Paul on Channel 5. I miss colorful politicians like Thad Eure and Jim Graham. And I also miss Uncle Don’s soda shop on Western Boulevard where the Bojangle’s sits today. That’s where I met my wife Cindy. And I miss seeing David Thompson flying through the air and wreaking havoc on the basketball competition at Reynolds Coliseum

What about you? What do you miss about the Raleigh area?

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Great topic Bill and Allison! I moved to Raleigh in 1988 at the age of 13. ALOT has changed since then... I miss the OLD Cameron Village, with department stores. I miss the Belk's downtown: this one I actually miss for my Dad. It was his place to shop for Christmas. He'd pick a night the week or two before Christmas and he did all his shopping right there in that one store. He has been lost since it's been gone. It's my understanding that alot of gentlemen have been lost since the downtown Belk's exit. I miss the "old" Cary Village Mall and North Hills Mall. Everything has to be updated to frilly and modern. Whatever happened to pleasant and simple? I too miss Darryl's... And Swain's.

MaplesMom
GOLO member since October 25, 2007
August 28, 2008 9:05 a.m.

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I could go on all day with this topic. The Ambassador Theatre downtown, Darryl's, Crazy Zack's, and Edwards Grocery on Hillsborough St., Boylan Pearce at Cameron Village (along with a lot of other stores there), the Capital Room at Belk's downtown, Dr. Bugg on Jones Street....and so many more.

Riverracer8
GOLO member since February 4, 2008
August 28, 2008 9:38 a.m.

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I grew up right off of Hillsborough Street right behind the KFC that had the big red bucket for a sign. Remember that one Bill? How about driving down Hillsborough st and smelling the bread baking at wonderbread? I miss Swansons Icecream and the Red Barn, again on Hillsborough st. The arcade at the undergournd in Cameron Village. Mom says Roys Drive in Restaurant that sat across the tracks behind the waffle house on Hillsborough st and the Saturday morning western movies shown at the Ambassador theater Do they still do the food festival at the fair grounds? That was one of my grandmothers favorite things to do in the summertime, pay one price and go inside and eat all day! I remember as a child the pops in playing at Meridith College and my father standing at the corner of Faircloth st and Clark ave helping people cross over the fence to walk up the hill to find a spot to sit and listen. He even got his picture in the paper one year! I could go on but have reached the space limit!

cindyedwards38
August 28, 2008 10:53 a.m.

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I was going to say that I miss the Belk's basement downtown.

Though the traffic load couldn't handle it anymore, I miss coming into and going out of Raleigh on 70...before I-40 was built (1986??)

I miss the Plantation Inn too.

happy
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
August 28, 2008 11:17 a.m.

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I miss WQDR, and folks like Chris Miller and Jo Leigh Ferris. (A disclaimer: I was never, ever a fan of WRDU, it was a lame imitation of the real pre-country and western WQDR.)

I miss the old two-lane NC 54 from Cary to Chapel Hill, which was a great country drive.

I miss the old grass fields outside of Carter-Finley Stadium that didn't require parking passes.

I miss the Village Underground with its three live music venues all across the hall from one another. Going to see REM in TRhe Pier and then the B-52s in the Cafe Deja Vu was awesome.

I miss Arrogance, Glass Moon, The Snap, the X-Teens, Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, The Woods and all of the late 70's / early 80's local bands.

I miss the Ambassador and The Cardinal movie theaters.

I miss Isabella Cannon, our little old lady mayor.

I could go on forever, and I realize cities evolve and change, and that today's Raleigh is darned nice place, but then again, so was old Raleigh.

charlesboyer
GOLO member since August 16, 2007
August 28, 2008 11:21 a.m.

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I miss Hearts Delight in historic Millbrook. I also miss all of the smaller movie theaters like the Falls Twin which is now Raleighwood. I also miss being able to drive FROM anywhere in Raleigh TO anywhere in Raleigh in about 20-25 minutes.

Arkansas Razorback
GOLO member since July 6, 2007
August 28, 2008 12:12 p.m.

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Anybody remember Jesse Helms "Viewpoint" on WRAL? How about sportscaster Ray Reeves? This is a wonderful topic and I'm sure we can keep coming up with more goodies!!!

tpt3
August 28, 2008 12:18 p.m.

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I miss the old Blue Tower diner on Hillsborough Street, across from today's Snoopy's. Our family would go to the nighttime Christmas parade -- finding a place to stand on Hillsborough Street -- and after the parade we would go into the Blue Tower for hot chocolate. I miss the old S&W cafeteria on Fayetteville Street where our family would eat supper before going to the downtown Belk's toy department to let it be known what we wanted Santa Claus to bring us. S&W had the best chocolate pudding in the world and they had a revolving door at their entrance that, to a child, was way cool. I miss the old Record Bar stores where you could go and buy your 45s. I miss the old section of St. Mary's Street that becomes Lassiter Mill Road. In the old days it was a poorly paved, narrow two lane street. We lived on that street and whenever we heard the fire truck coming down the road, we'd rush to look out and see the fireman on standing on the back of the truck, hanging on for dear life as the truck

mdoodle
GOLO member since March 1, 2008
August 28, 2008 12:42 p.m.

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Great topic for a native who's never left! I miss the old North Hills - the hobby shop, the Record Bar, K&W Cafeteria. I miss the old Cameron Village, especially the hobby shop there (see a trend?) I miss Darryl's and Scotty's Hot Dogs. I miss hearing Wally Ausley and Garry Dornburg call Wolfpack games. I miss "Ask You Neighbor" on WPTF. I miss the "country road" feel of Six Forks and Highway 50, complete with old country stores. I miss the smaller-town feel of the Raleigh of the past. There's not much left from those days but the street names.

dbass
August 28, 2008 12:45 p.m.

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CONTINUED: as the truck bumped its way down the old street. I miss the Ambassador theater and the old State theater that was on S. Salisbury street. I miss Captain 5 -- a children's show that came on in the afternoons on WRAL. I had a birthday party with Captain Five one year. Also miss Uncle Paul -- and here he is -- what great memories. I grew up listening to WKIX and all the greats that Bill mentioned: Charlie Brown, Tommy Walker, Steve Roddy, Rick Dees, Dale Van Horn and all the rest. Wow, I could go on and on, but this is plenty.

mdoodle
GOLO member since March 1, 2008
August 28, 2008 12:46 p.m.

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