CALIFORNIA STREET LOOKING NORTH

THE CORNER STONE TO THIS PART OF CALIFORNIA STREET LOOKING NORTH IS THE FAIR STORE. MR. KARRON, A SHORT, STOCKY, CIGAR CHEWING SMOKING GENTLEMAN WAS CERTAINLY AN OUT OF PLACE APPEARING FELLOW. HE ALWAYS WORE A BOWLER AND VEST AND SUIT COAT WHEN IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. OFTEN SEEN IN THE STORE ( HE WOULD IF PRESSED WAIT ON CUSTOMERS) WITHOUT HIS SUIT COAT. ONE WOULD THEN SEE HE WAS WEARING SLEEVE GARTERS AS THE SHIRTS HE WORE WERE A LITTLE LONG.

MR KARRON WAS THE UNOFFICIAL BANK/SAFE FOR THE COMMUNITY. NOT WIDELY KNOWN WAS THAT THE FAIR STORE HAD THE BEST SAFE IN THIS PART OF THE STATE. MR. KARRON MADE IT AVAILABLE TO THE MERCHANTS AS A CONVENIENCE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE BANK WAS ESTABLISHED.


FIRST STATE BANK PURCHASED THE LOT THE FAIR STORE WAS ON AND TURNED IT INTO A PARKING LOT.


THE CORONADO RESTURANT AND BAR WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FAIR STORE. THE RESTURANT WAS FAMILY TYPE EXCELLENT FOOD AND A PLEASEANT ATMOSPHERE,

1959 THERE ABOUT COURTESY OF Don McKelvey's NMT Home Page





DAMIAN'S BAR OR AS IT WAS CALLED IN MY TIME "BUCKET O BLOOD" DAMIAN HAD A BUSY BUSINESS IN THE BAR, HE ALSO HAD A BRISK BUSINESS WITH THE POOL HALL (VACANT LOT
BEHIND BAR) THERE WERE OUTLAW SLOTS AND MOST OF THE HIGH SCHOOL WORKING BOYS WOULD
ON OCCASION DROP A FEW IN THE SLOTS.


SITE ACROSS FROM DAMIAN PADILLA'S BAR AND POOL HALL. ATENCIO FULL SERVICE SERVICE STATION OF COURSE IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS THEY ONLY HAD FULL SERVICE. THE WRITER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH ONE OF THE BOYS I THINK IT WAS SAM.





SUNSET BAR DIDN'T LOOK THIS BAD IN 1948 BUT I SUPPOSE IF ONE WAS SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME AND LEFT AND THEN CAME BACK IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED BAD.


SHIRLEYS CAFE ON NORTH CALIFORNIA ST. WAS AND EXCELLENT PLACE TO EAT. THE OWNER SHIRLEY GERARD GREW UP IN SOCORRO AND WAS IN THE RESTAURANT (CAFE) BUSINESS FOR HE AND HIS BROTHER JESSE WORKED IN THEIR MOTHER'S GERARD'S CAFE ON THE PLAZA.
SO IT ONLY STANDS TO REASON THAT HE WOULD EVENTUALLY ENTER THAT LINE OF BUSINESS.
THIS IS NOW A NAPA AUTO PARTS STORE


THIS WAS THE POSTER/FLYER SHIRLEY USED TO ADVERTISE HIS CAFE.


ANOTHER ENTERPRISE OF SHIRLEY GERARD WAS THIS DRIVE IN ALSO LOCATED ON NORTH CALIFORNIA STREET.


TO SOME A VACANT LOT IS A VACANT LOT TO OTHERS IT IS A MEMORY OF OTHER DAYS AND TIMES. THIS FOR INSTANCE IS THE LOCATION OF THE OLD CASA BLANCA BAR AND DANCE HALL. FROM OTHER TIMES AND SUCH.