When I was growing up my parents lived on two ends of Allentown, first the south side and then the west end. I was fortunate to have experienced two great independent markets of Allentown's past.
The Lehigh Super Market had a great section of small inexpensive toys for a small boy. An easy walk from Little Lehigh Manor, I could keep my Hopalong Casidy six shooter in caps, and replace my lost water pistol each summer. The ice cream fountain featured hand dipped Breyers. While the kids took a cone, the parents would have a quart or gallon scooped and weighed to take home.
Before Food Fair was built farther west on Lehigh Street, my mother would do all her shopping, except for meat, at Lehigh Market. Although I didn't pay too much attention, I do remember the cookie selection.
In the late 1950's my parents moved to the west end, and my times at Deiley's West Gate Market began. Although too old to notice the toy selection, the soda fountain became a hangout.
In addition to numerous corner markets, every section of Allentown had a popular larger independent, like Lehigh or Deiley's. A few like Hersh's Market, have survived to this day.
photo of Deiley's Market in 1938
reprinted from April of 2020
"I could keep my Hopalong Casidy six shooter in caps ..."
ReplyDeleteI love this line. Thank you for your memories and your style.
I used to go into the Market at 31st and Lehigh . I forgot it's name
ReplyDeleteMichael, I grew up in the Mountainville section of Allentown. I remember going to the neighborhood Economy Store called Watson’s. It was at the end of a group of row homes, right across the street from
ReplyDeleteSt. Marks Cemetery, and down the street from the Roosevelt Elementary School. It was run by a husband and wife team. Got my penny candy, baseball cards with a stick of gum, and red delicious apples at their store. My mom would send me there for bread, eggs, milk and lunch meat,
Good Memories!