Being a Roosevelt Grad, I spent a lot of time on Fordham rd. Shopping, eating and going to the movies. What I think I miss most was having the access to all that without needing a car. My kids all grew up in Westchester and I would either have to drive them to everything or worry avout them when they were driving themselves. I think that is why they migrated back to the city. Only one has a car and she only uses it to come up here.

Schwartzie, I am older than you are, I graduated from Roosevelt too, and I remember walking all the way from 187th st up Fordham road to Botells, and Plymouth shops, and Alexanders. Remember the shoe stores with flats for like $2.99? hahah We were always at the Paradise movie theatre, my friends were ushers and we all sat in the balcony. Those were the days my friend, unfortunately the young people will never know neighborhoods like that.

Barb, I don't think your older. When did you graduate? Yes I too remember the $2.99 shoes and Getting my first pair of mini heels at Thom Mcans.

Age again. I know how old she is but I'll let her tell you

No one mentioed Hom and Hom chinese restaurant just past jeome ave on fordham rd. That was the only retaurant we ate at---everything else was at home.

I lived at the other end of Fordham Road at Decatur Ave. The Dynasty on Elm Place was our choice for Chinese dining.

DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER CIRO'S ON THE CONCOURSE AND 183RD?

quote:

Originally posted by schwartz:
DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER CIRO'S ON THE CONCOURSE AND 183RD?

Ha, I remember Ciro's. Although I never went in the place, I remember the night it got all blowned up. It was late at night and I was with a friend outside and we heard this big boom. And within seconds the firemen from Jerome were on their way up, they too must have heard the blast. We headed to the Concourse from Creston and the firemen were already passing us as we got to the Concourse and we could see flames towards Fordham on the other side of the Concourse.

The whole store was in flames, as well as the cars that were parked outside the store. The apartment building above seemed untouched by the blast.
Apparently one of the two brother owners of the store died in the explosion. From what I heard, they were having problems and I'm not sure but either the one who died killed himself in the blast or the other brother killed him, I never found out how it happened.


PS, I'm not trying to be a "Know-it-all" but Ciro's wasn't on 183rd. It was either Field pl or 184st, I believe it was Field Pl. I kinda remember seeing the car repair garage at the dead end side of field Pl. when watching the firemen.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Yvonne,

It could have been on 183rd or 184th because I lived on Field Place. When did it blow up?

I can't remember exactly when,,,, probably mid 70's.

Edit, maybe it was earlier, like 72 or 73.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Yvonne,

Thanks, my only memory of that place was that we could not afford to eat there when we first moved to Field Place. We did go back there once after moving to Blackrock ave. Very disapointing experience. That had to be 1969.

Wow, if you couldn't afford to eat at Ciro's then my family couldn't even afford to look in the window. The Paradise diner was about as much as we could afford, even then it was only on special ocassions that we ate there.

Back in the day, hmmm that will date me I'm sure
but Fordham Road was a shopping macca, ladies shops, movie theaters, shoe stores, yes, I remember the ballarina shoes, ha, today you can find them in target but not for $2.99 now like $10.00, I wore mine till the soles wore through
shoot, for $2.99 I could buy a pair a week.
And of course, I don't think anyone who ever went to Alexander's ever walked out empty-handed, remember the bins with the shoes you had to sort through to make sure you had the right sizes. I loved the jewerly counter and of course the record dept. Sadly, Fordham Rd of the past is no more, just a bunch of junk shops
and outside vendors.

NYC in its " wisdom" has kept all the big Mall stores out. At one time the best bargins were to be had in NYC; Alexanders; Orbachs; Masters; Koevettes. Now you can olny buy junk at a high price. Thank God Walmart will never be allowed in. Thats one reason people shop in NJ.

I have some recent photos taken on Fordham Road between GC and Webster Ave. I cannot believe the trash lying on the sidewalks and all the vendors....not the Fordham Road I fondly remember!

WHEN JOE AND I FIRST GOT MARRIED WE DIDN'T HAVE A POT TO P I S S IN. IT WAS 1965 AND WE BOTH MADE $65.00 A WEEK AND LIVED IN A $90.00 A MONTH APARTMENT. GOING OUT WAS A LUXURY.

Does anyone remember the Wig counter as you first walked into Alexanders?You entered on the GG and it was right on the left. They had beautiful girls who worked there.They were always styling the hair.

I had almost forgotten Ciro's. It was definitely fancy. I remember they had an awning and a very fancy neon sign that was set against a dark blue or turquoise enamel like facade. I don't remember eating there, but that was probably because it was out of the area we usually went to.

The whole Fordham Rd. Grand Concourse area was a mecca for food. Everything was so convenient, just a short walk away. I have such fond memories of taking a stroll up to Fordham to catch a movie or go shopping. It was always bustling, even at night.

I know I've said it before, but we really didn't know how good we had it, because I don't think any of us ever thought it would be so changed so as to be unrecognizable.

Very well put Billy

I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes while reading this entire thread. Like all of you, I have such fond memories of Fordham Road! It was all we did every Saturday. My father would drop off my mother, my sister and me at Fordham Road where we'd spend the entire day, stopping only to break for lunch. **sigh**

It was either Gorman's hot dogs or the place near Valentine Avenue to have burgers. I might be wrong but the place that you all are calling Big Burger I remember being called Hamburger Express, unless there were two different stores. Hamburger Express had only counter seats and a toy train wrapped around the counter. The train stopped right in front of you where it stayed until you picked up your order! Kids loved this place; it was the wildest thing I ever saw in a restaurant at that time!

We also went to Corky's luncheonette opposite Alexander's, for their awesome tuna sandwiches or burgers. But my favorite place to eat was at Krum's on the Concourse, opposite the Paradise Theatre because we had ice cream after we ate. I always ordered grilled cheese and bacon sandwices there with a black and white ice cream soda for dessert.

There was also a buffet Chinese restaurant on Fordham Road, down the hill on the right side, near Kresge. It was the first Chinese smorgasboard type restaurant at that time in the area. What a treat to be able to taste things you only dreamed of ordering.

As for Woolworths, does anyone remember their steak-umm sandwiches?

Fordham Road had more shoe stores than you could count! Remember Kitty Kelly, Bakers's, Thom McMcan, Miles, gee I can't remember the names of the other stores but if you paid $9.99 for a pair of shoes back then, you were crazy! Wish I could get a pair of shoes now for ten dollars!

But nothing could outdo Alexander's. My Mother, sister and I spent hours in that store. My favorite place was the basement. I was mezmerized by the tables of shoes, hooked together by the white pricetag. And all reasonably priced too, so that I was able to buy two pair of shoes on the same day! Who needed their more expensive Captivator's line, up in the mezzazine area, only to be reached by a set of scary looking open stairs, when you could stay downstairs and try on any imagineable style you liked plus browse around in the record department on the same floor. I saved my allowance each week to buy one 45 record in Alexander's. Oh, the memories....