Miami, Where Art Though?

Special Request: "Oscar, how about a tribute to the "stuff I miss from the 70s and 80s Miami?" Stuff I personally miss: the putt-putt golf that had that big orange dinosaur, Castle Park, Polar Palace in Hialeah, Westchester Cinema, Plitt Gables, Dadeland Triple, Charlie's Pizza (super-greasy, but awesome) and (I know this is far from politically correct, so I apologize) Sambo's in Coral Gables."

Is Hot Wheels still around? There's probably a condo where Six Flags used to be. And remember the trippy merry-go-round at the Omni. Belks; Piggly Wiggly; Evelio my barbero on 37 Ave across from Coliseum; And the cobra from the Serpentarium? And my favorite: Planet Ocean, with the iceberg chunk.

What do you miss most about Miami from the 70s and 80s?

Comments

[nonee moose]

royal biscayne in the key...fire and ice... the garlic rolls at d'pizza (where the starbucks is across from UM)... the bushwacker lounge... trail bowl... the coliseum... helados san bernardo... dolphins camp at st. thomas... the sportatorium (hollywood)... steak and egg kitchen...

[Susie Davenport]

Lums in Coconut Grove. Remeber all of the faux Tiffany lamps hanging over each booth?
Casablanca restaurant on Calle Ocho way down. On your birthday, if you showed your ID, lunch was free.
Tropicaire -- a flea market by day and a drive-in cinema by night. On Bird and thePalmetto. Today, sadly, a Target mega complex like everything else in this country.
The old original zoo, in Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. Not the kindest treatment of animals back then with the small cages. In that respect it is a good thing that it is gone. Go there today for a flashback and watch out for the iguanas -- they've taken over.
The popcorn/peanut/candy island in Sears on Coral Way and 37th Ave.
La Glacier restaurant on Giralda -- great ice cream (my favorite -- banana oreo).
Westchester Cinma at Westchester Mall, where I saw Ghostbusters and Karate Kid.

[stargzr]

Since Hialeah seems to be fair game, here goes: Palm Springs cinema and the hobby shop, the "tencen"; the Jefferson's across the street; Farrell's, Spencer Gifts, and the arcade at Westland, original Piccadilly, actual thoroughbred racing at Hialeah Park, Miami stuff: 163rd St. putt putt (still there?), Space Transit Planetarium laser light shows, and Planet Ocean on a hot summer day was indeed the bomb! original Parrot Jungle, Rex Art, Taco Viva! the McDonalds McDLT (keeps the hots hot and the colds cold), Iris Chacon circa 1979 (gwao!); the King Tut exhibit.

[stargzr]

Thats the original King Tut exhibit from the 1970s (he looked alot younger then).

and remember, when you say Taco, say viva!

[a thought...]

Glad to see this caught on...Tropical Skating Rink, Midway Skating Rink, PIRATES! on Coral Way...the Button South (not Miami, but big part of my 80s) with all the great hair bands...give a hoot, don't pollute...(we need that one back)...the Sportatorium where I saw U2 in 1985(!)...Sasson baseball jerseys...and your name on a gold chain (across for girls, down for boys)...

[lulu losa]

I miss the easy bohemian feel of the Grove...the Rocky Horror Picture Show at Midnight at the Grove Theater. I miss Biscayne Baby"s, Paolo Luigi's and the Grove Bed Races. I miss the early days of South Beach when the Cardozo and the Strand were the only two places that were worth going to (and you risked your life going from one to the other because the neighborhood was so icky). And don't forget the Wreck Bar, now sitting under Oceania in Sunny Isles!!

[john]

I miss Miami Vice, Scarface, and the riots by the cubans and the negros. The fact that Chicanos understood their place in Miami. Real Americans who spoke English. When Miami Beach was entirely filled with "real" Americans. When there was no Cubans attempting to sell me crack cocaine on Washington. No Cubans driving foolishly on i-95. Little things like that.

[conductor]

I compiled a list of similar stuff a while back.

http://cubanamericanpundits.blogspot.com/2005/07/you-can-consider-yourself-miami-native.html

[john]

Conductor,

Thanks for a new Cuban Chicano site to post on, and spread the message of Miami Cuban.

Sincerely,
John

P.S.
Are there any other Cuban sites to post on?

[conductor]

ROFL, none of your inane ramblings will be allowed on my blog. Jackass.

[john]

Conductor,

Oh yah? Let me explain something to you, you arrogrant, censorship-loving, freedom of speech depriving lil twat!! There is a bedrock of American values called free speech. Which means as long as you post a website. I can go wallow around in it anytime i please. As long as my opinions are thoughtful and scholarly, i can post to your website. I plan on spending quality time in cubanamericanpundit. Be seeing you around.

Sincerely,
John

[nonee moose]

John:

Mighty big stretch on the "thoughtful and scholarly" postings you claim for yourself. "Incendiary" and "calculated", maybe... still, you should be able to confirm the intellect of the "real" American anywhere you can... it certainly makes me feel better about myself.

You know the old saying about opinions... you, my friend, are an opinion...

[john]

What the hell is a "nonee moose?" You gave yourself that nickname? How creative!!

[A native Miamian]

Conductor

Your site is brilliant.....I am a native Miamian...Let's not forget the rage over the "Miami...See it like a Native" posters, also the old movie theater on Lincoln, the one you paid $2 a movie for and got your butt bit by bed bugs in the seats.. Ah the good ole' days before Miami Vice and the models took over...When my relatives up North still called Miami "Un pueblo de campo" (That one's for you John)....

[conductor]

John,

what you don't seem to understand about freedom of speech is that the first amendment guarantees your right to free speech shall not be infringed upon by the GOVERNMENT. You are free to say whatever you want in your own venue but you are not free to come into my house and say whatever you want. Try to tell your boss he's an asshole and then sue him when he fires you.

And since you are a bigoted asshole I doubt that any comment you make to my blog will be thoughtful enough to merit publishing. So start your own blog if you want make statements but you aren't going to use mine which I've spent time and energy building up readership for as a bully pulpit for your hate speech.

Oh, and kiss my ass.

[Robert]

Here's a twist - how about some of the things that are still around, such as Frankie's
Pizza and Bird Bowl on Bird Road of course. Hot Wheels is still around. Lila's on Coral Way, Shorty's on South Dixie, Swanson's for ice cream next to Sunset Place.

The cobra from the Serpentarium shattered as it was being moved to my alma mater, South Miami High. It's replacement is still up at the school last time I checked.

BTW John, when are you going to start your own Cuban-bashing blog?

[Manny O.]

Come on mi gente, make love not war!

[Manny O.]

by the way, whatever happened to
generation-n magazine (How do you do an enye on the keybord?)? I loved that magazine, now I live in South Carolina and cant get my fill of cubaneo

[Manny O.]

Lets not forget about casablancas, pete and lenny's and of course sundays on the bay

[Manny O.]

Lets not forget about club-Z (shedding a tear).

[a thought....]

Never got to go to Ziegfield's....oh, and Luke's Club (Strawberries?)...plus, (this is very early 90s)when Baja Beach Club opened in the Grove, I saw everyone I knew from high school there...the Orange Julius at Midway Mall and when Dadeland Mall had that huge horse in the middle where now they have Santa and the Easter Bunny...anyone else remember that? Oh, and Yesterday and Today records...the best imports and picture discs ever...

[GhenghisJuan]

Y-N-T rulez dude.

I remember the horse at Dadeland. Por nada me parto el alma on that thing.

Do you remember the dadeland liquor store? The one next to the old cozzoli's. I hear a man was killed there once in an armed robbery.

how about the Pantry Pride? my mom used to stop to buy milk at the Dadeland Pantry Pride. I distinctly remember the stench of rotting fruits and vegetables from that place (if you've ever been to the Winn-Dixie on Coral Way and 14th you know the stink I'm talking about)

What about that crappy candy kiosk close to burdines on the west side of the mall. YUK! all they had was licorice and granola. What a dump!

[a thought....]

Pantry Pride was nasty! Oh, I also remember going to the S&H Green Stamps store with my mom and grandmother because they had filled up those little booklets! I miss so many things that are gone now...but whenever I need to take a trip down memory lane, I flip through old photo albums or pop in my Que Pasa USA DVDs and laugh like a mental patient...."Juana, en donde pusistes las luces???" Rocky Echevarria was my first offical crush...with Shaun Cassidy a close second...

[Roland]

This guy John is truly a poster boy for South Florida - long on hate, short on sense.

John - you are a troll and a whiny bigot with too much time on your hands. I pity you.

[CableGuy]

Miami really sucks now. It used to be a nice place to live in the 70's and early 80's but it has turned into a disaster city. You cannot own anything nice and live there because of the worry that it will be stolen. You have to lock everything down, put security bars and alarm on your home and basically live in a cage. The population has grown so much that driving anywhere is a nightmare. The traffic situation is horrible and the people driving are no better. They have the worst attitudes. They will curse you out for anything. The cost of living is insane and the job situation sucks. Good luck finding a job if you dont have a proffession because you will have a hard time. I moved out of that crappy town after living there for over 26 years and I am so glad I did.

[jeni]

oh man...the S&H in the gables, sunday brunches at hialeah racetrack, the monkey jungle, the parrot jungle, trips to crandon park (watching my mom try her hand at roller skating), woolworths on miracle mile (my mom worked the soda counter there), the OLD dcyf, tropical park, santa's enchanted village, the tropicaire drive-in, the venetian pool.....man, i miss miami some days....

[Marilyn]

Having been born and bred in Miami...my parents..Cuban...I felt I was living in two worlds. The Cuban and the American. I moved out of Miami 5 years ago and Everytime that I go back to visit..there are more changes. It has gotten very stressful just to visit. People are rude and aggressive while driving, the traffic will drive you batty, and Miami Beach has been invaded by anorexic models, and superficial celebrity mongers. I truly miss Miami back in the old days. I miss Velvet creme doughnuts on 8th street(across the cemetery),Sambo's, Woolworth's and McCrory's downtown..and the pizza,the Plitt-Gables theater(I saw Grease there),The arcade at the Omni, Casanova's in Hialeah, G.C. Murphy's 5 & 10 store at the Central shopping plaza on 37th ave. and 7th St. I would go with my mom, and eat at the soda fountain.,Going to what were called open house....to see The Antiques, and Coke the local bands. Sending in letters to "El Show de Enriquito" con shampoo de cariño y Riki tiki de amor"..oh the list goes on and on.I long for those days.

[Don G]

Maybe you guys are too young to remember Jimmy's Hurricane drive-in on Bird near the Grove. When I drove down to Miami in 1960 I kept seeing signs for it along the old highway. I was disappointed to see it was just another Drive-In. How about the Hot Shoppes restaurant on Bird and Dixie in the Grove. Great Dutch Apple pie. Then there was a Thurmans Two Way on Red Road and Dixie. Now it is Sunset Place. And, of course, any Grovite will always miss the Taurus on Main Highway.

[orlando]

are there any websites or pictures where i can see these old places? or do i have to go to miami herald to find them .

[Michael Cruz]

I Miss the arcade at the Omni back in the early 80's... I am currently 29 and back then I must have been about 6 or 7 however it was an amazing place to be as a child. I also miss the old pier where fishermen would bring in all the days catch ... This is now known as Bayside shops... The hardrock cafe in bayside is actually a structure that has been then since I was born... It used to be an old restaurant back then.... I also miss seeing the Miami River is it used to be back in the early 80s where it was much less congested with comercial ports and now nasty ellement. I also miss the Youth Fair how it was way back when I was a child... Now the fair is so packed full of people it makes it annoying to even go anymore. Not that I am getting old and miss the past but just how things were in some places might have been better then then now. Just my 2¢

[juan]

I grew up in Hialeah from 1970-2001. Remember Water-Boggan? Concrete Surf skateboard park.
El Indio ranch.. the best tamales ever!!!
My Pi Pizza across from UM. Royal Castle and their Feastburger! Riding horses up the side of the Palmetto. Boogaart's. Concerts at the Miami Stadium. Lum's on Miami Beach. I was a busboy at Lila's the first year it opened and the line went around the restaurant. I also worked at Farrell's in "Wasteland" Mall for a year and a half. Remember the waitress
with the long, beautiful hair that reached her ankles? Her name was Anne. Great girl!
I'll write more as they come to me.
County Seat for Levi's.

[Rob]

This is Great! Remembering Old School Westchester! Here are my two cents; Zayre on Coral Way & 87 with the aquarium cave in the back!, Mister Donuts which is now the McDonalds, Charlie's Pizza, Lum's, Wags, Grand Union which later became Varadero Super Market, The Photo-hut,Food Value next to K-Mart, Lindsley Lumber, U-Totem, J-Byrons, The Chinese Laundry mat Next to the Old Canton by the Movie Theater, Arbetters, Loraine Designer, Tropcaire Flea market/drive-in, Does anybody remember the skating competitions at the snack bar on top of the hill at Tropical Park?, Midway Mall, Midway Sporting Goods, West Miami & Rockway Middle school rumbles!, The Quick Pick on 79 & Coral Way, the Bar/Strip Joint on south side of 78 & Coral Way (only 200 feet from West Miami Middle School! Nice!) Cocaine Cowboy shoot-outs, WOW! Seems like only yesterday! What's happened to this town?!

[eric Austin]

Mister coney island, Cloverleaf putt-putt, Vibrations records, Yesterday and today, Planet ocean, The arcade at 163rd St., Farrels, Bottle cap inn, Midway mall,Bagel Fare,

[Gracie Baquet]

Yea! Everyone has pretty much covered many a "days gone by" and including shops, restaurants, night clubs, etc., However, I would like everyone to remember the summer days and holidays (including Memorial Weekends and July 4th's)at Marco Polo, The Castaways and The Waikiki. I remember Lifter's Marco Polo owned the Waikiki - so everyone that would stay in one hotel would walk barefoot down Collins in heat to the other hotel. I remember the summer of 1985 at the Waikiki where everyone started chanting "The roof The roof The roof is on fire (you know the rest) - What fun times! I was fourteen at the time and was having the time of my life! So let's go back a little more. How about the beach parties that the old radio station I-95 used to throw at 81st and Collins (81st Park)? That was about 1982-1984! It was all good except when the gang related issues began and the parties were stopped. The last beach party I went to in the 80's was thrown at the Shelbourne Hotel by 96X (Cox on the Radio) hosted the party; and it was stopped due to massive bottle throwing.
Those were the days - Miami's for me! No, Miami was for me.

[Mr Robert]

Oh my, old Westchester. Not technically Westchester but what about Midway Mall? Every friday my family would go to Burger King before going grocery shopping at Winn Dixie (Home Depot now).

Let's see if I remember the stores:

Woolco, Richards, the twin theaters, the coin laundry, Midway sports, the arcade, Midway pet store, the Piano store, Walgreens with the eatery that had the salsbury steak, Woolworth with the crappier eatery, Butler and Baker shoes, Three Sisters (my mom would force me in there), Just Pants (with the size 72 pants pinned to the wall), JB Hunter, Orange Julius, Cy Clyde, Yepremiams tie shack, The wig shop down the scary corridor, the card shop that had a glass case with all the cool die cast cars (not matchbox crap), the neighborhood bank (it was always closed on Friday nights and had a big drop box we used to mess with). Kinney and Thom McCann Shoes, fall into the Gap (with the red light, green light fitting rooms and 10 foot high stacks of corduroy jeans), Radio shack, Walden's bookstore (before Barnes and Noble gobbled them up), the dueling jewelry stores (I think Gordon's was one of them), the loudest water fountain on earth, the smoke shop, the hosiery store and fancy shoe store next to JB Hunter,

[Mary]

A little off the subject, but I have one of those "Miami--See it like a Native" posters. Any idea what it's worth?

[Bmack]

All day skates at hot wheels. Town & Country mall on friday nights. The falls, Flippers arcade, Specs Music!, Allens drug store in coral gables. Remember Neighbors resturant at 107 & kendall. And how bout that big round dome house of the 874 extension (looked like a palace)

[Damian]

man you guys are bringing back mad memories.I remember the Zayer across from the flagler dog track y el pulgero(the flea market) LOL! The Pirates on Coral Way,Midway mall in the 80's with Woolorths(remember the lil' diner they had there?) great Sundaes.The Lionel Playworld on Coral way,I gotta a good one if you're Cuban...what about Villa Clara? it's still there on Flagler and 20 something ave.here the 2 old Cuban guys follow you around the whole store so you don't steal anything.Man those were the days.

[Damian]

man you guys are bringing back mad memories.I remember the Zayer across from the flagler dog track y el pulgero(the flea market) LOL! The Pirates on Coral Way,Midway mall in the 80's with Woolorths(remember the lil' diner they had there?) great Sundaes.The Lionel Playworld on Coral way,I gotta a good one if you're Cuban...what about Villa Clara? it's still there on Flagler and 20 something ave.here the 2 old Cuban guys follow you around the whole store so you don't steal anything.Man those were the days.

[Damian]

Oh my god i almost forgot a couple more.The farm store on 7th street and 30 something? I remember my mom calling it "la Vacita" and does anyone remember the Casablancas restaurant? not the yellow one with the red letters,but the one that was like a block before that had a wall with a bunch of famous people on it,I remember it Michael Jackson with the silver glove and Madonna? & Batman.It was right by my Elementary schools,Shenandoah and Lincoln Marti.holy crap i am a ref LOL!

[Damian]

Oh my god i almost forgot a couple more.The farm store on 7th street and 30 something? I remember my mom calling it "la Vacita" and does anyone remember the Casablancas restaurant? not the yellow one with the red letters,but the one that was like a block before that had a wall with a bunch of famous people on it,I remember it Michael Jackson with the silver glove and Madonna? & Batman.It was right by my Elementary schools,Shenandoah and Lincoln Marti.holy crap i am a ref LOL!

[ENRIQUE LOPEZ]

I WASBORN AND RAISED I MIAMI. BORN IN 69 I REMEMBER ALOT ABOUT THE PAST. I REMEMBER THE OLD CONCORD SHOPPING CENTER BOY HAS IT CHANGED, THTAS WHERE I GOT MY LEARNERS PERMIT. NOW REMEMBER ALL THESE PLACES? ROYAL CASTLE(BIRD ROAD AND 107 NOW A PEP BOYS), LUMS, GRAND UNION, MIAMI STADIUM, CASTLE PARK, JEFFERSON WARD(MIDWAY MALL), WOOLCO, TAMIAMI GUN SHOP, MR DOUGHNUT, PLAY WORLD, TROPICAIR DRIVE IN, TRAIL BOWL, SUNSET WESTERN BOWL, THERE WAS A BURGER JOINT ON BIRD AND ABOUT 107 ITS NOW A CITGO GAS STATION IF ANYONE CAN REMEMBER THE NAME LET ME KNOW. HOW ABOUT THE SKATING CENTERS AND RIVER BOAT PLAY HOUSE. MAN TO MANY PLACES TO MENTION TO MANY MEMORIES. YES I DO REMEMBER THE SKATING RINK IN BIRD BOWL. I CNAT LEAVE OFF 6 FLAGS ITS NOW GONE THANKS TO HURRICANE ANDREW. FINALLY I ALSO MISS THE OLD CHANNEL 6(WCIX)

[brenda]

Lets see maybe I can mention a few more memories. Pirates World theme park in Dania, The Machine Shop game room in Coral Way & 27th Ave., Playworld toy store, El Yayo cuban cuisine on 8th St., Ho Toy chinese food on 8th St., Victoria Station,
Japanese Garden boat ramp,Polar Palace skating rink, The Castaways on Collins, Anthony Abraham, Jordan Marsh, Gold Triangle across dadeland mall,Chicken Unlimited, Black Angus, Luria's, Service Merchandise,Captain Video, Richards Department, Gulf gas station on 27th Ave & 21st, The Haunted House at Dog track 37th Ave., The Forest, Casanovas. Wow I re-lived
my life again.

[Joey79']

Here is a gay spin of Miami in the 70's. My favorite bar was Uncle Charlie's of Downtown, right in front of Miami-Dade College Wolfson . . .damn I had fun there, and I was only 16, but back then no one was asked for I.D. Oh and who can forget the girl's bar Las Lechusas in Miami Beach by 21st Street Beach and the Wolfie's on 21st. I remember being in las Lechusas surounded by girls and dancing closely with a sailor I met from Key West to the song "Wishing on a Star." I believe they had red leather booths. One of my favorite dance clubs was "13 Buttons" by the Miami River. For those of you who are straight and didn't venture into the gay scene in Miami 1970's you missed a really freaky trip, but I know that some of the straight places were wild too. more later. . .

[Kim]

ok how about the roller rink near midway mall? had my 9th Bday there, Skipped school at FIU, Worked across the big cagged bridge from West Miami, Cozzoles pizza in Sweetwater, The Huhge abandoned buliding in Sweetwater near lagoona oh god i swam in those lakes, Midway mall Dine and dash at walgreens, And smoking in the food court at International mall...

[Kim]

ok how about the roller rink near midway mall? had my 9th Bday there, Skipped school at FIU, Worked across the big cagged bridge from West Miami, Cozzoles pizza in Sweetwater, The Huhge abandoned buliding in Sweetwater near lagoona oh god i swam in those lakes, Midway mall Dine and dash at walgreens, And smoking in the food court at International mall...

[KimOBoyle]

ok how about the roller rink near midway mall? had my 9th Bday there, Skipped school at FIU, Worked across the big cagged bridge from West Miami, Cozzoles pizza in Sweetwater, The Huhge abandoned buliding in Sweetwater near lagoona oh god i swam in those lakes, Midway mall Dine and dash at walgreens, And smoking in the food court at International mall...

[Eddie]

I miss the Omni. The merry-go-round, the theatres, too. I just miss that place. Miami is just not the same without it...but then again Miami is just not the same, period!

[esmeralda]

Conoci a un hermoso cubano en Palm Desert, CA hace 2 anos, fue una relacion por telefono, su nombre es Manuel tiene 39 anos, y tiene una perrita que se llama linda y es su adoracion, no se donde se encuentra en este momento y lo estoy buscando, es el amor de mi vida, lo ultimo que supe de el es que vivio en Indianapolis, despues se iria a Bufalo ese fue su ultimo mensaje. Por favor si algien lo conoce, digale que lo estoy buscandolo mi nombre es Esmeralda...el tiene familia en Miami

[Jason Wilson]

I distinctly remember Midway Mall before it changed to Mall of the Americas, all the Fun N Games that were in all the old Edward Debartolo owned malls...Cutler Ridge, International, Omni, Dadeland...

I remember the Plitt Gables and the Wometco on Coral Way near the old GRand Union that became a giant mall with Bally's and other places, only to be left in shambles.

Pirates on Coral Way was amazing. Don Carter's in Kendall, Die Hard Game Club, New Focus, Flipper's. Microplay, everything is gone...