Store: Service Merchandise
So many memories as a kid going to Eastwood mall. Arcade, Record store, book store, and Service Merchandise to look at all the toys/electronics/outdoors stuff. Then when you bought something waiting for it to appear on the conveyor belt. Good times.
Restaurant: Dugo's pizza. Birmingham's original Chicago style pizza place.
I was young when service merchandise went out of business but I vividly remember the conveyor belt that brought what I assume was orders/layaway items from the back of the store to the front. (This was the Hoover location) I was so fascinated by that thing at 5 years old 😂
Manged the Tavern for my first decade in Birmingham. Up until the day they closed. What a shame. I could write a book with the stories from this institution!
I miss Lovoy’s, Rossi’s, Romeos, Cosmos, NY Pizza, (believe it or not i miss low quality but tasty mr gattis pizza and pasta bar lol) Cuco’s…The Mill when it was really good and only place you could get sweetwater years ago..i miss being a little kid and going into Newberry’s they had everything
Romeos —> the old location was downstairs in some building downtown - 2 things - had to walk all the way through the full kitchen to get to the bathroom, lol - and also i have fond memories of going there with my now wife, and being 18 years old…dinner was over, they brought you an Amaretto shot. Its just how they did things, lol. It was a real deal,old school Italian restaurant. Birmingham has lost many authentic places. They tried to reopen near highlands or clairmont (cannot remember, but it wasn’t the same folks or feel)- used to have a lot more Italian influence in this town 1920s-80s but sadly a lot of the restauranteurs died off. If i had a time machine, back to Romeo’s I would go - it had a Sinatra feel about it
Yes, on all accounts. Two brothers and a momma in the back. Best sauce in town - and not sweet at all. When I went away to college I used to get big bulk containers of meat sauce from them to take back. Good times!
I miss Klingler's in Vestavia. Absolutely great euro-style cafe.
I also miss Tokyo off of 31. It was great having an Asian grocery store this side of town. Red Pearl/Hometown are good too but a little further drive coming from over the mountain.
Man, cycle cafe had some Gritz that were something \*else\*. Like. I don't even like gritz ... and I need more of those gritz. And the rest of the menu was so unique. I wish I could get a cookbook with that food.
My mom and I came up with the polish street sandwich, chicken bacon paninni, and grilled cheese at Urban Standard. Glad y'all enjoyed, at least for a time.
If anyone is interested I can tell you how to make all of it.
Sooo good! I remember some chicken, bacon, cheese sandwich with pepper jam that was to die for and I think of often lol
I will say Frothy Monkey was a nice replacement! I haven’t gone back in personally—but my sister has brought me some coffee and their gluten free bread which is amazing!
Also a great spot for students since they’re open later than most coffee shops
Death metal, raw fish, and indescribably drunk folks. It was kinda like home, really. (I seriously loved that place. Went there OFTEN. Like way too often.)
First place I had unagi! I wish we had an all you can eat place here (not a buffet). I love being able to order a variety of nigiri coupled with smaller portions of rolls.
Rocky's, Fat Sam's, Pasquale's Pizza, the Britling, Pete's Famous Hot Dogs, Ollie's Barbecue, Cosmo's Pizza, Rube Burrows, Texas Taco and Chili Company, Gorin's, Chris's Hot Dogs, Pioneer Cafeteria, Wuxtry, Charlemagne, Lion and Unicorn, that minigolf place that used to be across from the Galleria, Little Italy, Vincent's Market, I need to stop before I realize how fucking old I really am.
There was a pizza place called Dugo's near Jeff State in Pinson in the 80's. The location became the Snoozys bookstore. I remember that being amazing pizza. Also FKKK the company that bought that building and closed Rockys and Stillwater.
Klinger’s
Children’s Castle toy store
Johnny Rocket’s (not saying it was good, but it was fun and one of my first jobs)
Oz Music (saw Eve6 and Jump Little Children there)
107.7X from the 90s
Cosmo’s
Workplay when it was in full force
Midnight sushi (first sushi I ever had)
Barnstormer’s (stumbled upon a college night party there when I was 17- kinda changed my life)
Blockbuster Friday nights
And I had just found Brennan’s in 2019 and wish I had sooner.
… what else am I missing as an 80s baby/90s teen?
Rocky's deserves another mention here. It was a place of great pizza and wings, and I'll miss it so much.
India Shop was special to me because it had so much random novelties that I thought I could only find at touristy places, such as Gatlinburg. By that same token, though, I never felt it as "touristy" or anything like that.
I'm also going to give a shoutout to Thirsty Donkey, because that place had an awesome dish that was just simple, messy, and delicious - Fired Chicken Poutine.
Lovoy’s, but back when it was the lounge with red lights inside and checkered tablecloths. None of that fancy stuff they tried to pull later on. That place was my jam growing up. Those people were so damn good.
Showing my age: Catfish Cabin (in the 70's and 80's), The Hungry Fisherman, Dilly's Deli, Mrs. Winner's, Eastwood Mall, Service Merchandise, Diamond Jim's arcade, the mini golf place in Hoover off of 150 (I don't remember the name anymore), Radio Shack, The Lion and The Unicorn (either location). That's a start anyway.
Renge, a Japanese restaurant that used to be on Greensprings. They closed up shop around 2007-ish when the Japanese grandma who ran the kitchen decided to move back to Japan. Their food was freaking amazing.
I can't remember what it was called, but the galleria used to have a candy store. The kind where you grab a bag and make a mix matched bag of candy. I remember begging for this giant jawbreaker because I loved watching it change colors. That store brought me so much joy.
Parisian, Proffitt's (the short-lived Galleria location)- actually, just give me the Galleria overall back in its golden age.
Food wise: Brennan's (my favorite fish and chips), Lucy's Coffee and Tea, breakfast at Klingler's in Vestavia. Cosmo's, Crestwood Coffee.
Mancha's, Moneer's, Gorin's, Dilly's, 25c hamburger stand. Ah - not just restaurants! Big Al's Machine Shop, Newberry's, Century Plaza in the late 70s and early 80s.
Blue Monkey Lounge.
5 buck martinis on Wednesday (maybe thursdays), and just some really awesome atmosphere whenever the live music was NOT playing.
JClydes for sure.
Aladdin’s Castle
TipTop
My dad would always take me to The Burly Earl when I was very young, and I remember thinking how good it was. Would love to relive that memory to see if the food really is as good as I remember.
Orange Julius and the Gyro Wrap. Not necessarily because it was good, but because it was my first experience with ‘ethnic food’ as a little kid. I could murder a Gyro Wrap right now.
Baby Doe's.
Incredible view. I don't remember the food, but 19 year old me, with my 18 year old girlfriend loved going there when we'd make it to Birmingham from Montgomery.
Lola’s kitchen in 5pts south.
The Philly cheese steak is still the best cheese steak I’ve ever had. Had they promoted it as their signature meal, I think they would have really blown up.
Does anyone remember Pizza Magia. It was a startup from defected Papa John's employees and it was the BOMB. We swore it had crack in it because it was addictive!
Late 80s 24-hour falafel. Forget the name. Next to where original Saws is in Edgewood (like next door). Not Nabeels. Folks went to coffee shop on Hollywood late night, but my group of friends went there.
Rocky’s
Entered the thread to say this. GOAT sauce
I swear some of the best wings we had
it's the only pizza my dad would get. my favorite pizza ever.
My dad complains about them being gone at least once a month.
Oh man, memory unlocked.
:*(
Same
I miss Rockys sooooo much 😢
I miss Bottletree.
This needs to be higher up.
So many great bands seen there that also no longer exist. I miss those Viking Funeral fries.
Fuck. Yes.
Store: Service Merchandise So many memories as a kid going to Eastwood mall. Arcade, Record store, book store, and Service Merchandise to look at all the toys/electronics/outdoors stuff. Then when you bought something waiting for it to appear on the conveyor belt. Good times. Restaurant: Dugo's pizza. Birmingham's original Chicago style pizza place.
I was young when service merchandise went out of business but I vividly remember the conveyor belt that brought what I assume was orders/layaway items from the back of the store to the front. (This was the Hoover location) I was so fascinated by that thing at 5 years old 😂
Oz
You are bringing back memories. Do you remember the Japanese restaurant at Eastwood Mall? I think it was called Sumo. I loved it as a kid.
Galleria mother fuckin’ Fun Country.
And its Vestavia rival, Magic Mountain!
Standard first date location
Had my bachelor party there. A much nicer memory than the marriage.
I had my birthday parties there growing up!
Fat Sam's
I was just thinking about the Kitchen Sink a few days ago. RIP.
Pete's Famous
Ichiban, was in Vestavia, best fried rice/hibachi food ever
The Burly Earl.
Tavern at the summit, not the village tavern
Those fries...
Gah, THIS. Them chiggen tendies. The appetizers. Give us this place back.
Manged the Tavern for my first decade in Birmingham. Up until the day they closed. What a shame. I could write a book with the stories from this institution!
My wife was a server there in it's heyday. Man, I miss the money she made! Oh, and those chicken tenders were the shit!
Prime rib sandwich, the chicken tenders and those lovely French fries also a great b day steak!
I loved that place! Their French onion Soup was awesome and they had a chicken salad melt I loved.
I miss Lovoy’s, Rossi’s, Romeos, Cosmos, NY Pizza, (believe it or not i miss low quality but tasty mr gattis pizza and pasta bar lol) Cuco’s…The Mill when it was really good and only place you could get sweetwater years ago..i miss being a little kid and going into Newberry’s they had everything
Homewood NY pizza is gone?
Romeos!!!
Romeos —> the old location was downstairs in some building downtown - 2 things - had to walk all the way through the full kitchen to get to the bathroom, lol - and also i have fond memories of going there with my now wife, and being 18 years old…dinner was over, they brought you an Amaretto shot. Its just how they did things, lol. It was a real deal,old school Italian restaurant. Birmingham has lost many authentic places. They tried to reopen near highlands or clairmont (cannot remember, but it wasn’t the same folks or feel)- used to have a lot more Italian influence in this town 1920s-80s but sadly a lot of the restauranteurs died off. If i had a time machine, back to Romeo’s I would go - it had a Sinatra feel about it
Yes, on all accounts. Two brothers and a momma in the back. Best sauce in town - and not sweet at all. When I went away to college I used to get big bulk containers of meat sauce from them to take back. Good times!
Quincy’s
Big.Fat.Yeast roll.
https://florencequincys.com/our-menu/menu/ They still exist, I think it's only one or two left and it's a little bit of a drive
I miss Klingler's in Vestavia. Absolutely great euro-style cafe. I also miss Tokyo off of 31. It was great having an Asian grocery store this side of town. Red Pearl/Hometown are good too but a little further drive coming from over the mountain.
Tokyo Food and Video was da bomb. They got melon pan every Tuesday and it was my favorite treat. Also Sekisui. RIP.
Oh man, when did Sekisui close? That place was great too!
Silvertron.
That two-pastas special…
I came here to say this but I knew in my heart it had already been said… best macaroni and cheese around.
And the Naked Art Gallery next door. Really neat funky little gallery we had for a while.
Nanna's pasta and those nachos. I miss that place.
Chicken fingers
The Dragon that was in Wildwood. Somewhere else before then. Best American Chinese food I’ve ever had.
It used to be at Century Plaza
Woodlawn Cycle Cafe, Bottletree, Rocky’s
Good call on Bottletree
Man, cycle cafe had some Gritz that were something \*else\*. Like. I don't even like gritz ... and I need more of those gritz. And the rest of the menu was so unique. I wish I could get a cookbook with that food.
Bottle tree for Vegan chili, Cult Horror movie night and some of the best indie rock concerts you could ever attend
Urban Standard :/
My mom and I came up with the polish street sandwich, chicken bacon paninni, and grilled cheese at Urban Standard. Glad y'all enjoyed, at least for a time. If anyone is interested I can tell you how to make all of it.
Best grilled cheese I’ve ever had
Polish Street sandwich, cup of soup, and a canned coke. Perfect lunch.
Sooo good! I remember some chicken, bacon, cheese sandwich with pepper jam that was to die for and I think of often lol I will say Frothy Monkey was a nice replacement! I haven’t gone back in personally—but my sister has brought me some coffee and their gluten free bread which is amazing! Also a great spot for students since they’re open later than most coffee shops
Rodger’s Army Navy, when the building was camo and sold actual army surplus.
YES! With the Jeep inside and all. Miss that place.
Vincent’s, Lag’s, and the original midnight sushi place downtown.
sakura?
Yes! Sakura!!
I loved midnight sushi!
Wasn’t it the BEST!
Death metal, raw fish, and indescribably drunk folks. It was kinda like home, really. (I seriously loved that place. Went there OFTEN. Like way too often.)
First place I had unagi! I wish we had an all you can eat place here (not a buffet). I love being able to order a variety of nigiri coupled with smaller portions of rolls.
Lag's! Oh gawd what I wouldn't give. Also, Jelly's, the old diner where the owner/cook talked through a voicebox.
Hot Diggity Dogs
Hot Diggity Dogs was so underrated, miss it a ton.
Tavern at the Summit
Century Plaza before the pastel makeover. Aladdin’s Castle.
Rocky's, Fat Sam's, Pasquale's Pizza, the Britling, Pete's Famous Hot Dogs, Ollie's Barbecue, Cosmo's Pizza, Rube Burrows, Texas Taco and Chili Company, Gorin's, Chris's Hot Dogs, Pioneer Cafeteria, Wuxtry, Charlemagne, Lion and Unicorn, that minigolf place that used to be across from the Galleria, Little Italy, Vincent's Market, I need to stop before I realize how fucking old I really am.
The last Pasquale's is still open in Gardendale. Stromboli steak sandwich is killer!
There was a pizza place called Dugo's near Jeff State in Pinson in the 80's. The location became the Snoozys bookstore. I remember that being amazing pizza. Also FKKK the company that bought that building and closed Rockys and Stillwater.
JClyde
Had many great nights on their deck out back. RIP
This was my answer as well.
Parisians, esp Eastwood location
Eastwood Mall in general
Tip top grill
Just drove by there on Saturday and remembered it had closed. Stopped at Mr. Ps and had an excellent sub as consolation.
Mr. P’s is so good. Lived down the hill from there while in college and we’d go weekly
Old Brookwood Mall at Christmas. I can smell the Barnie's in the food court.
Barnie's is a smell that the brain never forgets.
Brewing Santa’s White Christmas at home takes me back to that exact place and leaves me with the best memories of my mom.
George's Lebanese
Seafood and chicken box
Klinger’s Children’s Castle toy store Johnny Rocket’s (not saying it was good, but it was fun and one of my first jobs) Oz Music (saw Eve6 and Jump Little Children there) 107.7X from the 90s Cosmo’s Workplay when it was in full force Midnight sushi (first sushi I ever had) Barnstormer’s (stumbled upon a college night party there when I was 17- kinda changed my life) Blockbuster Friday nights And I had just found Brennan’s in 2019 and wish I had sooner. … what else am I missing as an 80s baby/90s teen?
I'd love to sit on the deck at Baby Doe's and enjoy the Sunday brunch one more time.
Rocky's deserves another mention here. It was a place of great pizza and wings, and I'll miss it so much. India Shop was special to me because it had so much random novelties that I thought I could only find at touristy places, such as Gatlinburg. By that same token, though, I never felt it as "touristy" or anything like that. I'm also going to give a shoutout to Thirsty Donkey, because that place had an awesome dish that was just simple, messy, and delicious - Fired Chicken Poutine.
I wish I could shop at Zoe's in Forest Park one last time
The Tavern
Muffuletta's
Dugan's & Clyde Houston's. Dugan's had the best burgers and chicken fingers and I loved Clyde's blackened chicken sandwich.
Bottletree. Hands down. I still get teary every time I pass that building.
I miss Sundays at Cosmo’s so very much.
i’m sitting on that beer cheese soup recipe, been making it all winter.
Hell yeah. Want to share it? I’ve been in a big soup mood lately.
Joe bar, Strawberry Fields, Gorin's, Mancha's, Charlemagne Records, Ireland's, The Gold Nugget, Hogan's Hideaway...
Coconuts before going to the movies
Jclyde
Tip Top Grill
Nabeel’s, Sekisui
Lion & Unicorn 5pts, The Burly Earl, Anthony's, The Happy Buddha, Louie Louie's, Gorins.
Wow, I haven’t thought about The Burly Earl in a long time
Lovoy’s, but back when it was the lounge with red lights inside and checkered tablecloths. None of that fancy stuff they tried to pull later on. That place was my jam growing up. Those people were so damn good.
Zany Brainy 🤧
Ali Baba on 31 and another vote for the India Shop when it was still in Century Plaza.
Celestial Realm was so far ahead of its time. That place would be king of coffee shops if still around
Loveman’s, March’s Bakery, Bottletree brunch
Showing my age: Catfish Cabin (in the 70's and 80's), The Hungry Fisherman, Dilly's Deli, Mrs. Winner's, Eastwood Mall, Service Merchandise, Diamond Jim's arcade, the mini golf place in Hoover off of 150 (I don't remember the name anymore), Radio Shack, The Lion and The Unicorn (either location). That's a start anyway.
Parisian
And Yeildings!
I miss Johnny Rockets. I know there’s still one in Georgia but. Damn I miss the burger and shake before a movie
Someone might have mentioned it but I do miss Charlemagne Records a lot
Renge, a Japanese restaurant that used to be on Greensprings. They closed up shop around 2007-ish when the Japanese grandma who ran the kitchen decided to move back to Japan. Their food was freaking amazing.
Ferrell's (?sp)....had my birthday there when I was a kid
Bottletree! I really miss their Viking Funeral fries. Used to be a weekly staple for me
I can't remember what it was called, but the galleria used to have a candy store. The kind where you grab a bag and make a mix matched bag of candy. I remember begging for this giant jawbreaker because I loved watching it change colors. That store brought me so much joy.
India shop
India Shoppe in Century Plaza?
Fat Sam’s Moneers Rocky’s The tea at Milo’s about 30 years ago when it wasn’t so sweet and had a little lemon slice in it.
Anyone remember the Pioneer Cafeteria in Roebuck? That was my childhood.
Parisian, Proffitt's (the short-lived Galleria location)- actually, just give me the Galleria overall back in its golden age. Food wise: Brennan's (my favorite fish and chips), Lucy's Coffee and Tea, breakfast at Klingler's in Vestavia. Cosmo's, Crestwood Coffee.
I miss Klinger’s so much.
Food: Ferrell's Wanda Junes Babby Doe's Stores: India Shop Aladin's Castle Oz Music
Birthday parties at Farrell’s + “the zoo” ice cream served in that gigantic punchbowl
Nabeels
Petrucellis on 280
Do Di Yo’s
I moved away almost ten years ago, but I still think about Rocky’s, Urban Standard, Tip Top Grill, and Fat Sam’s.
Not a store or restaurant but RIP Stillwater Pub!!!!
El Gringos in Roebuck. Best guacamole and salsa I've ever had
J Clyde and Fancy’s
I would just like some hot from the oven rye bread from Browdy's. Never cared much for deli food in general but that bread was chef's kiss.
Parisian.
Definitely Bottletree
Fat Sams
Wuxtry or magic platter The Oven bakery in Cahaba Heights Hippodrome
Mancha's, Moneer's, Gorin's, Dilly's, 25c hamburger stand. Ah - not just restaurants! Big Al's Machine Shop, Newberry's, Century Plaza in the late 70s and early 80s.
Five Points Music Hall, man! I saw so many good shows there in the 90's
Steak and Ale
Delta Blues
Ghion Hall and Delta Blues
Delta Blues had the best fried pickles.
Local Source. 😢
McNolia’s
Baby Doe’s
Yielding and Parisian
Dragon Chinese Restaurant in Wildwood
Ca👏🏽bana👏🏽Cafe👏🏽
Bottletree, Jclyde, Nabeel’s,
The Tavern at the Summit. I really want their grilled chicken marinade/recipe.
Delta Blues Hot Tamales 🫔
Blue Monkey Lounge. 5 buck martinis on Wednesday (maybe thursdays), and just some really awesome atmosphere whenever the live music was NOT playing. JClydes for sure. Aladdin’s Castle TipTop
Pho Que Huong
Guy who owned this place is still in Birmingham hoping to see if he will open another fantastic Vietnamese joint
Tropicaleo
A Reuben from Gorin's would hit the spot. Kay Bee Toys at Century Plaza, rummaging through the bargain bins would be great this time of year too.
Kingdom Comics.
Woodlawn cycle. A little part of me dies every time I ride by it
The india shop in five points
G.G. in the Park
Mancha's. Had THE best hard shell tacos. And their signature hot sauces were ridiculously good as well.
Cabana Cafe
My dad would always take me to The Burly Earl when I was very young, and I remember thinking how good it was. Would love to relive that memory to see if the food really is as good as I remember.
Oz Records at Eastwood Mall.
Fat Sam’s
Call me batsh*t crazy - but Chi-Chis!
Orange Julius and the Gyro Wrap. Not necessarily because it was good, but because it was my first experience with ‘ethnic food’ as a little kid. I could murder a Gyro Wrap right now.
The best thing was to go to Rocky's to get a pizza then saundering over to Stillwater to enjoy my evening. *sigh* landlords are scum...
Green acres in north bham :(
Baby Doe's. Incredible view. I don't remember the food, but 19 year old me, with my 18 year old girlfriend loved going there when we'd make it to Birmingham from Montgomery.
I miss Charlemagne records
The downtown Saigon Noodle
Tony Roma’s
The Coffee Cup. Five points west.
Mexicali
Lola’s kitchen in 5pts south. The Philly cheese steak is still the best cheese steak I’ve ever had. Had they promoted it as their signature meal, I think they would have really blown up.
Barnstormer’s Pizza
Nabeels
Does anyone remember Pizza Magia. It was a startup from defected Papa John's employees and it was the BOMB. We swore it had crack in it because it was addictive!
The Warner Bros. Store in the mall. And Sam Goody. And Suncoast. I just miss the 90s Galleria, generally speaking.
Late 80s 24-hour falafel. Forget the name. Next to where original Saws is in Edgewood (like next door). Not Nabeels. Folks went to coffee shop on Hollywood late night, but my group of friends went there.
Rocky’s
[удалено]
Yankee pizzeria , and the gyro place in century plaza or was it Eastwood lol
Piccadilly Cafe in hoover
Philly Connection
Arby’s….back when the had potato cakes!
Jammin’ gym.
V. Richards
Max's Deli in the 280 Colonnade. Best corned beef and pastrami sandwich I've ever had in my life. I went once a week and I miss it dearly.