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Good bye five and dime

Thursday, June 10, 2010


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Even though we live in a huge city (and we actually live in the city not the burbs), there are parts of our city that make it seem like a small town. One such thing is the five and dime in Rice Village. I have been taking Will there since he was baby. He loves "Junk" or as he called it when he was little "zshunk." When we moved to Virginia, Will would often reminisce about the old five and dime back in Texas. When we moved back two years ago, he was so happy to have a visit.

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Well, after 61 years of business, our local five and dime is closing. So sad. I took all three peanuts for a final visit yesterday and let them pick out a few things. I am not gonna lie, I was a bit teary. I am very sentimental about things like this.

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Kate was so funny. She chose a sword/light saber type of thing which suprised me because there were lots of more girly options. We also got her this cowboy hat because this was where I came every year to get the peanuts hats for "Go Texan Day!" I have to make sure this one stays safe until March.

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Harry, being the sugar addict that he is, chose some old fashioned (and maybe really old) candy. He also got a little basketball hoop for his room.

Will got a cowboy hat too (for Western night at sleep-away camp) and a little old wooden vintage-y play gun. He said it would remind him of all the times he looked around when he was a little boy. He wanted the "potato gun." He had coveted it for years and I would never let him get it and now they were sold out. Bummer. Will is like me. He loves traditions and he is a bit nostalgic. He is sad about this too.

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They had everything at this place from Halloween costumes to toys to hardware items...you name it....



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We will miss you ole' five and dime!

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27 comments:

  1. So sad to see community treasures go and likely be replaced by generic businesses. No wonder you're feeling a sense of loss. Glad you and the peanuts got to make one last visit and say goodbye.

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  2. Oh how sad! That definitely looks like it was a great & fun place!

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  3. It's so sad when Mom and Pop shops like that go under. Glad you got to go say goodbye (I definitely would have been teary as well).

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  4. Oh, that is sad! We had a little store like that in Milwaukee that also had a diner counter. I went there many times as a little girl to browse, buy junk, get candy for the movie theater next door, or have a grilled cheese. It was an icon in the area before it closed.

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  5. We had one of those until just a few years ago. *Robert's Variety* was the name of it. It took me the longest time to find a *go to* store for all those fun little things...like the cowboy hat! Some things are hard to let go of....Glad your three got to experience it!

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  6. I grew up in a town with 2 5&10 cent stores--I still recall the way they smelled it was a distinctive smell!!! Ours have since closed and are now chain drugstores-ugh! But seeing your post I could still recall the "smell" those 5&!0's had!! BTW LOVE the "Liberty" dress on Kate--we did not have that one or at least not in my daughter's size!
    BA

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  7. Your trio is the cutest ever!!
    About the store it is sad but, it is the price we pay for living in a world that changes so fast.It is amazing that even though this store has survived for more than fifty years.

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  8. So, what I wanna know is.....did you wear clothes to the five & dime?

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  9. :( So sad! :( Did I say :( ?

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  10. gosh, the boy are really growing up Kim! they really are.

    very sweet post.

    Lea
    xo

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  11. We still have a 5 and dime and it looks just about the same as yours. It is honestly the only place I can take the girls and get them two or three wonderful little treats that bring huge smiles to their faces...all for about 35 cents. Most of the fun comes from going up and down the aisles looking at literally hundreds of things as they try to find just the right treasure to bring home with them.
    Sorry yours is closing. There is nothing quite like them and it must be so sad to see it go!

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  12. What a bummer! I love junk stores too! Cute picture of the peanuts!

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  13. I LOVED that place - so sad that it's closing :( I would walk there & just browse in the afternoons when I worked out of the house and needed a break.

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  14. So sad... I love stores like that.

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  15. Love those old stores -- so fun and so sad it's closing!

    Have a great weekend.

    janet

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  16. I get the same way when local icons close. It's been happening so much lately- and it really is so sad.

    Our most recent good-bye was to Ukrop's- oh, I do miss them so!

    So glad you got to capture the memories one last time.

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  17. We have one in my home town called "Wilson's 5 and dime" . I would be so sad to see them go. Good tribute to the small business owners :) The kids look adorable as always!

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  18. I hate to hear this, too! Rice Village is one of my favorite Houston spots. Before we were married, my husband and I visited Kahn's deli every Saturday. The family that owned it for over 50 years has since sold it, and when we went back to visit earlier this year, I almost cried because it was not the same at all!

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  19. Oh that is sad! My childhood friend and I used to walk to this quaint little five and dime (near our homes) growing up! It closed when I was an adult and I remember what a sad day it was! Cute pic of the 3 peanuts in the store front :)

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  20. I so understand that feeling. I grew up with a Ben Franklin and Woolworth's and LOVED them even as a kid!! We have nothing like that here, so everytime I go to Branson, MO I always go down to old town Branson to Dick's 5 and 10to get my fix!! Sweet memories!!!

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  21. Oh Kim...I would be so sad also...I just LOVE little stores like these! You could spend forever walking around touching everything!!!!!

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  22. Things like this make me very sad!! I can still remember what it was like at the old North Hills Mall in my hometown! That place held YEARS of memories!

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  23. Just found your blog! Excited to be following- your kids are DARLING. xx

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  24. i loved these old sotres too Kim
    great post loved the wonderful pics and the kiddos are beautiful!
    Glad you got to reflect one more time! HUGS!
    Cindy

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  25. We had a lamston's 5 and dime and I loved it... had so many wonderful things!

    You've been tagged btw... not a bad one... I promise!! :)

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  26. So sad to see these old stores go. What a treat that your children have great memories of it though!

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  27. I dearly loved that place - I remember many conversations with the patriarch who has since passed. It was a lovely bit of time travel every time I visited! Thank you for the photos and the memories!

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Thank you for your kindness.