quote:

Originally posted by Bob Elber:
For those of us who had the privilege of growing up near Allerton and Olinville Avenues, Zimmerman's Candy Store was Disneyworld of Candy Stores for us. The store, probably no bigger than 200 sq. feet is retail space was always a place my feet could not walk fast enough to get to from the time I found this egg cream heaven. Abe & Morris and their wives, Helen and Florence always made you feel at home and knew us by name. Florence, the only American born owner was like a child therapist because she always took time to talk to me about my world. She was cool. Abe made the best egg creams and once I asked him why his egg creams were so much better than any other candy stores. He told me it was because he kept the milk ice cold. I look back now and realize that these 2 couples worked harder than anyone else I ever knew. Between selling newspapers, comic books Breyers half gallon ice creams and bottled beverages, they had little time for a breather while mixing up egg creams in between.

I remember when a hippie recod shop opened next door to them called Raven Records and I think it really scared Zimmie's, making them think that the neighborhood was going downhill.

I have yet to have an egg cream similar to theirs after they retired. I can still remember heading there on a warm summer night to be treated to their egg creams. You knew you were special when they were already making your flavor and size egg cream without even asking you. A large chocolate egg cream please. Thanks guys. You were the best Allerton Avenue had to offer.

It's really interesting how virtually every poster on BITB recalls how wonderful egg creams were in their childhood.

I grew up in the southeast Bronx, Westchester Ave and Evergreen Ave, and we had our candystore also; Koenig's. They too had incredible egg creams. I also asked the owners what THEIR secret was, and the answer was that they always ran the seltzer VERY SLOWLY down the side of the glass until the last second or two, which created the big head. Of course, it didn't hurt that they also used very cold milk (I remember that they took the milk out of the fridge EVERY time they made an egg cream), AND they used Fox's Ubet Chocolate Syrup, which they sold to the neighbors in large bottles.

Candystores were a special treat for Bronxites, and form such a SPECIAL memory for kids.

Alas, REAL candy stores are gone, leaving only our stories to pass on, like so many other things in the Bronx!

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by queenesheba:
I too spent many a delicious days at Zimmermans. Growing up in the coops, I walked to PS 96 and JHS 135. My walk home wouldn't be complete without a stop at Z. On the next block (think Barker) there was a luncheonette that made the juiciest hamburgers. I remember having lunch there often. We, of course, went left school for lunch. We walked home, walked back and had recess before resuming our studies. Those were the days my friends. With all the egg creams, hamburgers and french fries, you rarely saw an overweight child. Now they want to put children on cholesterol meds. It's insane!
Allerton Ave was the "Avenue" for everything, from soups to nuts!
Debbie