Aug 30, 2008
20 ways to know you’ve lived in Concord a really long time
Categories: Concord Feature News
Written By: Mayor Concord California
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...I wanted to write a guest post for the Claycord site highlighting some of these but that didn’t work out. Over the years, Concord has gone through many changes. It made me realize I’ve been here for a long time when I can remember this many things. I can’t imagine how much more will change in the next 10 years. especially when the Naval Weapons Station starts getting developed. The face of Concord will change drastically. As long as nothing spoils my view of Mt. Diablo from the backyard.
by stargonautone
- Centre Concord was “Roller World”.
- The tallest structure in Concord was the Park n Shop sign.
- Kohl’s was a Montgomery Wards (I know that’s a stretch.)
- A plane flew into the center of the Sunvalley Mall near Christmas.
- There was a Chuck E Cheese in the Willows Shopping Center. (I’d get lost in the cheese maze)
- Century Theaters (the dome) had a line wrapped around Montgomery Wards for the opening of T2
- The Sunvalley Mall had a movie theater.
- Olympic High was a real high school and the kids could smoke in class.
- There was a movie theatre in Park n Shop called Capri that played “Ghost” for like 2 years.
- The Sunvalley Mall had a full ice skating rink.
- You believed that Walnut Creek is full of snobs and Clayton is full of cowboys.
- Marsh Creek Road was where the kids went to party on weekends.
- The Hot dog palace in Todos Santos was family owned and had a roller skating drive up up on Clayton Rd.
- The Sunvalley Mall had a fountain in the middle.
- There was a miniature golf course where the retirement apartments are now.
- There was an A&W on Clayton Rd. where the Chinese restaurant is now.
- Brenden Theaters was an IHOP.
- Taco Acapulco (on Clayton) used to be Taco Bell
- Concord’s area code was 415.
- The community Center in Todos Santos was an X rated movie Theater.
I know I am missing some and feel free to remind me.
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August 31st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I remember…The A and W on Clayton had car hop service, Jessica’s night club was in the Willows, The community center at Todos Santos was 2 theaters before it, the first one was called the Enean the second one was called the Showcase…the dome was the only theater in Contra Costa worth going to…Concord Auto Movies in Concord Avenue where Concord Airport Plaza is now…Pleasant HIll Automovies were at Monument at Contra Costa Blvd is at..Treat and Clayton were rural 2 lane roads. Before IHOP there was the Contra Costa Water District offiices and a water tower behind the buildings…Ynez Avenue was the name of Cowell Road up until 1956…OK thats before my time but I have a map that says it and a friends parents house deed says it was Ynez!
August 31st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
@ Radar, there was a night club in the Willows?!? Too bad we can’t get photos of these things.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Big Fat Tony used to have a Blog with a “You know you’re from Concord, CA, if” list. It’s long gone, but he still has the list on his MySpace page: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=3784808
And I’ve been here long enough to remember TWO Anna Miller’s in Sun Valley Mall.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:33 pm
@Cowellian, thanks. I had never heard of Big Fat Tony before and his list is pretty funny.
Mayor of Concord’s last blog post..Announcing - New Concord Job board
September 1st, 2008 at 11:24 am
There are some photos around but I don’t have any. Remember Tony the Barber? Bosco the barber…Beede’s variety stores on the corner of Galindo and Salvio, Treat and Clayton and CV Shopping center. Fry’s grocery stores…Hilson’s for boy scout uniforms and other accessries…Wentling’s for cameras and other photographic products.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:18 am
You only remember the Sun Valley’s ice rink, theaters (midnight movies and, earlier, all the Disney first releases), and the fountain? When it first opened they had parrots, macaws, and other exotic birds in cages down the middle. Does anybody else remember that?
September 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Jessica’s had female mud wrestling– lots of cops to break up the fights
November 6th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Don’t forget the bowling alley and the great entertainer (lovely billiards, arcade and bar) where the Lucky’s shopping center is now at. (4 corners.) Man, we had some good times there!!!
November 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
So much before my time. I wonder if mud wrestling will ever make a comeback? I never hung out near 4 corners but I remember hearing a lot about the Great Entertainer.
Concord Blogger’s last blog post..How local blogs shaped the elections in Concord
December 12th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Oh! I must be getting old, how about the carnivals across from park n shop, the old field now called gate way.
william sawyers’s last blog post..Welcome To My Blog Site-Scroll Down
December 13th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Oh my god! Yes, I remember the circus there too. My grandmother lived right near there and we would walk to the Circus Vargas.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
How about when the canal that runs next to Detroit Ave (let’s out near Treat BLVD) was just a creek and it used to flood out? Riding BMX bikes at the sweet track at Nature Park. Getting shot with salt rock on the ranchers property over on Cowell Rd and Ygnacio. I miss Concord!
March 17th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
dang i have lived here for about half of these thats kinda scary lol
March 28th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Concord’s area code was 415?! good grief.
April 1st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Boy-oh-Boy was this jerk wrong…..
John Says:
October 17th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Read the complaint. It explains everything. When the city settles for millions of dollars some will have alot of explaining to do. I will feel bad for those who try to do their jobs. Mr. Koka isn’t the only one who has worn a uniform. Whether your in the military or law enforcement that uniform is supposed to be a constant reminder of what you represent it’s not just a piece of clothing.Telling the truth isn’t always popular but it’s the honorable thing to do. That seems to have gotten lost in todays society. I have heard of these surveys. I have asked my friends if they know anything about them. Amazingly not one person has ever seen one. Most of my friends are people of color as am I. That may explain why we don”t receive them. I am a small business owner too. I will continue to report what i see and hear. If my truth bothers you go stick your head in the sand. I care about my community and i want the best for it. I can assure you there are 2 America’s. The treatment i receive from a local official may be different than what you may receive. When i report that difference it doesn’t make it any less true. What is allowed to go on in minority areas of Concord would never be permitted in white areas. If you think this is unintentional, i can’t help you.