Monday, October 7, 2019

The Rusty Nail

I've been waiting for this one. An exterior shot of the dearly departed Rusty Nail, courtesy of Jar With Most, in 1982.

1 1/2 oz whisky
1/2 oz Drambuie®
1 twist lemon peel



20 comments:

  1. Thank You! Thank You! Thank you!

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  2. Was the stage for the bands in the front or back of the bar?

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  3. There were three rooms in the Rusty Nail, the front room, with the bar and the jukebox, the middle room, where the bands played, and the back room, where the pool tables were.

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  4. Oh what memories...They had poetry readings and I read a poem about a guy who broke my heart...I got some applause for it...Sigh.
    But the owner was a asshat. Former cop I think. I was smoking a herbal ciggie (and no it was not POT) one time there and he htreatened to theo me out. I stopped going there after that incident.
    RoadsideDinerLover

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    Replies
    1. Yes, one of the many downtown bars (Doubies, Hats, etc.) we managed to kill off by having poetry readings in it. Loved the Rusty Nail -- it was also, until it closed, the home for the Flint Backgammon Club.

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  5. The memory is fading...where would Uncle Bob's Diner be in relation to this shot? To the left of the photographer, out of the frame?

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  6. Uncle Bob's diner was across the street from the Capitol, so it'd be kitty korner to Rusty Nail I think.

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  7. I have no memories of the Rusty Nail. The only reason I know I was there is from journal entries.

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  8. I think Uncle Bob's was kitty corner from the Capitol. Grandma's Kitchen, Drew's, et al was across Second St. Directly across Harrison where the bus station is now located was a massage parlor.

    Didn't the Rusty Nail used to sell overpriced six packs of Red, White, and Blue Beer to departing customers after 2 a.m.?

    Where was Schipacasse's in relation to this?

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  9. We used to go there on Saturdays to watch Michigan football games on big screen, in the room next to the bar. Also to hear jazz (and down tequila shots).

    Didn't there used to be a gourment food shop there, before the bar? Shapiro's, maybe? I remember it from when I was a kid.

    Funny I don't remember Uncle Bob's Diner. I mean, I remember that it was there, but not where it was, exactly.

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  10. I'm pretty sure Uncle Bob's was on the corner where the bus station is today.

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  11. Where was Drew's Shoes, again?

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  12. I'd have to 2nd Grumkin's sitop for Uncle Bob's. The only time I went into the Rusty Snail, I was bounced. I enjoyed Hats and Doobies more anyhow.

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  13. Uncle Bob's Diner (which later became the "El Matador")was on the east side of Harrison Street, across from the side of the Capitol Theatre, where the bus station is now. In relation to the photo, it was to the left, out of the frame.

    At about the time this picture was taken, in 1982, the Tokyo Health Spa was on the southeast corner of Harrison & 2nd., next to that, south on Harrison, was Mr. Speedy Print, and next door to that was El Matador (Uncle Bob's).

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  14. Ahhh... my beloved "green door"... Anyone? Anyone?

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  15. Does anyone happen to have a picture of Uncle Bob's from back in the day? My father in law used to be the pastry chef there back in the 60s & 70s. I am trying to make something for all the grandkids with Uncle Bob's in it.

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  16. Shapiro's was a small grocery store located on the NE corner of Second and Harrison, kitty corner from the Capital Theater Bldg. It would have been next to (or nearly so) to the Rusty Nail. I would pick up lunch there sometimes back in the days when I worked for Collection Service Bureau in the Capital Bldg.

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  17. The Rusty Nail sponsored my softball team in 1980. Our league was at Homes School. I remember playing the Jima Iron Works Slugger's. Every player on their team would put the ball on top of Home School, thus Slugger's! We would always go to the Rusty Nail after every game. The two daughters of the owner would always give us several free pitchers of beer, win or lose. Mostly lose. I believe the daughter's names were Jackie and Darlene. My name is Perry.

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Thanks for commenting. I moderate comments, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You might enjoy my book about Flint called "Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City," a Michigan Notable Book for 2014 and a finalist for the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Award for Creative NonFiction. Filmmaker Michael Moore described Teardown as "a brilliant chronicle of the Mad Maxization of a once-great American city." More information about Teardown is available at www.teardownbook.com.