A 1977 view of the corner of South Saginaw and First Street from the parking structure of Genesee Towers. Smith-Bridgman's looms in the background to the right, behind a wall of bricks. (Photo courtesy of Jar With Most.)
Buckam Alley complete with a dusting of snow, a couple nice vans, and the Torch in 1977. (Photo courtesy of Jar With Most.)
1977 picture of Saginaw St. and 1st on your blog you can see the old Book Stall and in my mind I went around the alley to the Sports Bar and had a Scotch. My drink in those days.
ReplyDeleteI remember the old Book Stall...I loved the little upstairs balcony.
ReplyDeletemy biggest memory was going to the optomitrist in downtown at the CB building. It may have been Dr. Kehoe (yes, Mr. Kehoe's father). I can remember the looking outside for the first time from the 10th floor and the bricks from the street leaping into focus.
ReplyDeleteThe Book Stall must have been before my time, I don't remember it. I do remember when Young & Welshan's opened in downtown. I loved that old store they occupied. I was sorry to hear they couldn't compete after moving out to Miller Road.
So does Flint have a decent, independent bookstore these days?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about an independent bookstore, but my family certainly spent a lot of time up in Dr. Kehoe's office! Does anyone remember a large old-fashioned elevator complete with a wood interior, metal gate and HUMAN operator (imagine that!)? The one I'm thinking of led to a furniture store, or perhaps a floor in a department store where furniture was sold. Maybe they were relatively common in downtown Flint, but this is the only one I can remember.
ReplyDeleteWow, I've been looking for any image of the Book Stall. I have such fond memories of that shop. Gladys Tate ran, owned (?) the store for some years, a good friend of my mother. I was always checking into that little shop, still one of my favorite independent bookstores, alas gone. I remember too the balcony that ran around the front part of the store. They had a children's book section in the second room. Fiction & non-fiction in the front downstairs. Music, cookbooks, etc. up on the balcony. There used to be an art supply store outside and downstairs.
ReplyDelete