People "bad mouth" Casa Bonita but, I always loved it.
There was a Casa Bonita on N.W. 39th Expressway. I remember asking for
some onion for my dinner. The waitress came back a few minutes later and
said they didn't have onions.

I didn't like the food at CB.

Here's a funny anecdote about CB. Around 1972 they had hired an Iranian
who played a Chinese guitar and sang Spanish Eyes in a Mexican Restaurant.
It was more like as few phrases of mumble, mumble then Spanish Eyes. The
display was very cultural.

There was a Casa Bonita on N.W. 39th Expressway. I remember asking for
some onion for my dinner. The waitress came back a few minutes later and
said they didn't have onions.

I didn't like the food at CB.

Here's a funny anecdote about CB. Around 1972 they had hired an Iranian
who played a Chinese guitar and sang Spanish Eyes in a Mexican Restaurant.
It was more like as few phrases of mumble, mumble then Spanish Eyes. The
display was very cultural.
================================================== =================
Man, that is some kinda weird....That guy worked for me a TG&Y at 74th St. His name was Houshang Ohadi:.....Great employee but was doing everything financially to finish his OU education and go back to Iran. Sad ending....He finish ....went back to Iran.....was a petroleum engineer for Who ever was in charge at that time...... next guy came in.....He was then executed.....don't
know why?.....His ex-wife still lives in the OKC area.....I had completely forgotten about him working part time at Casa Bonita.....Small world...

Man, that is some kinda weird... That guy worked for me a TG&Y at 74th St.
His name was Houshang Ohadi... Great employee but was doing everything
financially to finish his OU education and go back to Iran. Sad ending... He
finish... went back to Iran... was a petroleum engineer for Who ever was in
charge at that time... next guy came in... He was then executed... don't
know why? His ex-wife still lives in the OKC area... I had completely
forgotten about him working part time at Casa Bonita... Small world...
This is weird! I never knew his name. I just thought it was funny. Too bad
his life ended that way.

Casa Bonita is still open in the Denver area (Lakewood).

Casa Bonita is still open in the Denver area (Lakewood).

Do they still have the cliff divers?

I have no idea, we just drove by it when we were up there last month.

There was a Casa Bonita on N.W. 39th Expressway.
Here's a funny anecdote about CB. Around 1972 they had hired an Iranian
who played a Chinese guitar and sang Spanish Eyes in a Mexican Restaurant.
It was more like as few phrases of mumble, mumble then Spanish Eyes. The
display was very cultural.

I was a busboy at El Charrito # 1 on Paseo on and off from '67 to '70 (It sold out to El Chico sometime in there). We had two Iranian students from OCU working there as waiters: Asadoulah Davoudian (who we called "David") and Khosrow Ghasemi (who we called "Jack"). One day a guy came in with his date and tried to impress her by ordering in (bad) Spanish; he called enchiladas "on-chiladas" and tacos "tay-cos". "David" listened to him politely, nodding and smiling, and when the guy finished, "David" said in his clipped, accented English, "I'm sorry, I do not know the language. I am Persian".

Rick

I was a busboy at El Charrito # 1 on Paseo on and off from '67 to '70 (It sold out to El Chico sometime in there). We had two Iranian students from OCU working there as waiters: Asadoulah Davoudian (who we called "David") and Khosrow Ghasemi (who we called "Jack"). One day a guy came in with his date and tried to impress her by ordering in (bad) Spanish; he called enchiladas "on-chiladas" and tacos "tay-cos". "David" listened to him politely, nodding and smiling, and when the guy finished, "David" said in his clipped, accented English, "I'm sorry, I do not know the language. I am Persian".

Rick
El Charritos on Paeso...That brings back memories for me.

What happened to Long's paint and Body shop on S.W. 29th????

I was a busboy at El Charrito # 1 on Paseo on and off from '67 to '70 (It sold out to El Chico sometime in there). We had two Iranian students from OCU working there as waiters: Asadoulah Davoudian (who we called "David") and Khosrow Ghasemi (who we called "Jack"). One day a guy came in with his date and tried to impress her by ordering in (bad) Spanish; he called enchiladas "on-chiladas" and tacos "tay-cos". "David" listened to him politely, nodding and smiling, and when the guy finished, "David" said in his clipped, accented English, "I'm sorry, I do not know the language. I am Persian".

Rick

What a hoot! Phil Renteria who grew up working there was a good friend of mine. Lupe who was the best waitress ever gave me a memorable experience like that when she was working at Nino's on NW Expy. Windbag of a business associate was doing the same kind of show-off ordering in bad Spanish. She patiently listened to him and then asked if he wanted his "On-chiladas" boiled or grilled. He didn't get the joke and said she'd better behave or he'd see to it she was sent back to where she was from. She smiled really big and said "Detroit?" She was fully Mexican-American, but she was born in Detroit. What a laugh! (may not have been Detroit, but that's the way I remember it)

Jorge was the Maitre'd at the El Charrito on S. Robinson. I saw him about
10 years ago and he was working at Los Flautas on N. May.

I used to think he was really Danny Thomas.

Another place that might make this list soon is CROSSROADS MALL

Sounds like it is going through foreclosure and has a major vacancy rate with all the big anchor stores having left. Teen loitering I guess has become a problem too.

CROSSROADS MALL, I went to it all the time from its opening in early 1974. It was pretty cool place in those earlier years.

ROBERTSON'S must know how to smoke that meat the right way. Just checked out their website, you can even order their products and have it delivered, but wow, check out the prices. I guess you got to pay for the good stuff. Dang made me hungry for a good ham sandwich, pulling out some black forest ham to slap on some toast. Next time I come back to Oklahoma, gonna make it a day trip to go to Robertsons to savor the goodness in life! Make a day trip to Lake Murray or Texoma and a pit stop at that old wooden shack. Too bad the old Marietta cookie factory has gone out of business. Didn't know about the cookie factory closing. That's sad,
Our family use to stop there on trips to Ardmore and Dallas.

Fox and Horn restaurant on SW 64 Western, Rocket skating rink. Cooks Paint, Atlantic Mills on SW 29th and May, bought all my 45s there 50 cents each. Rahills grocery market on SW 29 and May also, I was a bagger there. Canadian country club on hwy 152 right thru wheatland ok. TG&Y on SW 74 and penn, if you could not find it there, no one had it. My ex lived in that place and so did my checkbook,

Was Rahill's on the N.E. corner of S.W. 29th street and S. May Avenue? Was
it before Atlantic Mills?

Canadian country club on hwy 152 right thru wheatland ok.

That was a really wild place. I wonder how many people were killed there over its life? Story was that it was incorporated as its own municipality so it was immune from the laws of surrounding ones. True? Who knows?

Canadian country club on hwy 152 right thru wheatland ok.

That was a really wild place. I wonder how many people were killed there over its life? Story was that it was incorporated as its own municipality so it was immune from the laws of surrounding ones. True? Who knows?

Yeah..I went in there a few times and it was pretty wild.

Yeah..I went in there a few times and it was pretty wild.

================================================== ===========
I had heard the same incorporated Story all my life....

Yeah..I went in there a few times and it was pretty wild.
That's where John Wayne always went to gamble when he came to Oklahoma City! The good ol' Canadian Club. My wife and her family use to go swimming there when it was half way decent many years ago, and it is or was an incorporated city. It was sold to the guy who now owns "Fireworks City" which is also an incorporated City of it's own, so I'm told!! I went there when I was young, but it was a good place to get hurt at...

Speaking of good places to get hurt, remember Lil' Abner's Bar?

Canadian country club on hwy 152 right thru wheatland ok.

That was a really wild place. I wonder how many people were killed there over its life? Story was that it was incorporated as its own municipality so it was immune from the laws of surrounding ones. True? Who knows?Yes, it was built on unincorporated land and as such, Mustang and OKC laws and zoning regulations didn't apply. It was the only afterhours club close to southside OKC.

When all the other clubs closed because of curfew, it was the only club that would stay open all night. I saw the sun peeping over the horizon many mornings while leaving after a night of fun there. I have many stories from that place...none good.

Speaking of good places to get hurt, remember Lil' Abner's Bar?I remember the name, but can't recall where it was. 29th?

Speaking of good places to get hurt, remember Lil' Abner's Bar?

Oh..Yeah!!!

I remember the name, but can't recall where it was. 29th?

There were two. One was on N. Western, just north of 10th St. A guy I met cruising Hollies, Coy Simpson, and I went in there one night after we had been to a bunch of other places. Coy was (maybe still is) a pool player supreme. We walked into Li'l Abner's and before our eyes even adjusted to the dim light enough to see the clientele, he said "we're going to whip every one of you S.O.B.'s"......"at pool". I about died before he got that last part out. This was in about 1969 and there were guys in there with tattoos on their faces, really mean looking dudes. Don't know if any of you remember the Blueback family, but several of them were in there that night. Sure enough, he did whip everyone who cared to play him and there we no hard feelings - THANK GOD! I never went back.

Yeah..I went in there a few times and it was pretty wild.

I went there often and seldom saw any trouble. I think its reputation was over exaggerated.

The Red Dog is the place where you needed to watch yourself.

Went there once, but I wasn't watching myself....hahahah

I remember a Li'l Abners on south western behind the old park terrace theatre. Had a good friend that played the drums in there with the Juke box. (some gig) The main thing I remember about the one on 10th and western was the first and only time I saw a nude dancer that was nine months pregnant!! Not a pretty sight!

I remember a Li'l Abners on south western behind the old park terrace theatre. Had a good friend that played the drums in there with the Juke box. (some gig) The main thing I remember about the one on 10th and western was the first and only time I saw a nude dancer that was nine months pregnant!! Not a pretty sight!

Hmmm. No dancers when I was there, just beer and pool.

Hmmm. No dancers when I was there, just beer and pool.

Same here. The one behind the Park Terrace became a biker bar. Was still a good place to go. Don't remember the one on 10th.

Same here. The one behind the Park Terrace became a biker bar. Was still a good place to go. Don't remember the one on 10th. It was a strip joint for many years towards the end. The City finally shut it down as a public nusiance.

It was a strip joint for many years towards the end. The City finally shut it down as a public nusiance.

================================================== ==========
They advertised "Lulu" from Hee-Haw would be dancing on such and such a night....Sheesh.....That kept me away forever....

================================================== ==========
They advertised "Lulu" from Hee-Haw would be dancing on such and such a night....Sheesh.....That kept me away forever.... I remember that but, did not catch the act...for sure.

Herford Heaven_____________packaged chicken fried steaks

"I heard" that there was a club where they had dancers, around the NW 39th and May area. It was called the "Beaver Trap". Someone I know went there once and they had a stage built really high up over the entrance. As he came in the door, he could hear this loud "boom - boom - boom - boom" which was this 300 pound woman dancing in a bikini up over the entrance. Yuk!

Herford Heaven_____________packaged chicken fried steaks
Was that the place on the N.E. corner of N.W. 10th and N. May Avenue?
Next door to Glen's Hick'ry Inn?

Was that the place on the N.E. corner of N.W. 10th and N. May Avenue?
Next door to Glen's Hick'ry Inn?
I get confused when I get North of Reno St. Ha! Ha! Actually, I'm not for sure exactly where they were, either 10th or 39th I think....................

I get confused when I get North of Reno St. Ha! Ha! Actually, I'm not for sure
exactly where they were, either 10th or 39th I think...
I remember a place on N.W. 10th. It had a Hereford's head protruding from
the building and with the company's name. I don't remember the name of the
place. Was is a meat locker? What were those places called? I think meat
locker is correct.

The only places I remember on N.W. 39th Expressway were the drive-ins and
the girls.

Remember Poncho's Mexican food? You would raise the flag when you wanted more. You went through a line to get your food (similar to a cafeteria). They had wonderful sopapillas!

The only places I remember on N.W. 39th Expressway were the drive-ins and
the girls.
I think your correct about the Herford Heaven location on 10th!!

``

I remember a place on N.W. 10th. It had a Hereford's head protruding from
the building and with the company's name. I don't remember the name of the
place. Was is a meat locker? What were those places called? I think meat
locker is correct.
You didn't ask me,but I think you are correct about 10th street..

I know we've discussed this before but how about a FRESH.....HOT ....Dennis Donut with a cup of Coffee right now???? Geralds is OK .... Krispy Kreme is over priced.....Now think about it....You youngsters don't know about Dennis Donuts......Gerald's is located at about 57th and South Penn....Go try it out....

I just remembered Two Pesos off of Northwest Expressway. Went there as a kid, and used to order peanut butter and jelly soft tacos. Sounds gross now, loved it back then.

We would go to the Two Pesos on I-44 & Western for lunch (our office was at Britton & Broadway), I always thought they were better than Taco Cabana. They were in OKC well before Taco Cabana.

Two Pesos pretty much went out of business from trade dress litigation by Taco Cabana, it went all the way to the Supreme Court and was found in favor of Taco Cabana. Cabana eventually purchased the Two Pesos chain after the verdict. The owner of Two Pesos approached the Taco Cabana owners about expansion and they declined, he then hired some ex-TC employees and opened up Two Pesos.

The thing is restaurant concepts are copied all the time all over the world. Molly Murphy's was pretty much a direct copy of The Magic Time Machine (http://magictimemachine.com/) which still has locations in San Antonio and Dallas, the Austin location closed right around the time that I moved here from OKC (2003). There just really aren't that many "unique concepts" as everything is just an amalgamation of a bunch of different concepts.

We would go to the Two Pesos on I-44 & Western for lunch (our office was at Britton & Broadway), I always thought they were better than Taco Cabana. They were in OKC well before Taco Cabana.

Two Pesos pretty much went out of business from trade dress litigation by Taco Cabana, it went all the way to the Supreme Court and was found in favor of Taco Cabana. Cabana eventually purchased the Two Pesos chain after the verdict. The owner of Two Pesos approached the Taco Cabana owners about expansion and they declined, he then hired some ex-TC employees and opened up Two Pesos.

The thing is restaurant concepts are copied all the time all over the world. Molly Murphy's was pretty much a direct copy of The Magic Time Machine (http://magictimemachine.com/) which still has locations in San Antonio and Dallas, the Austin location closed right around the time that I moved here from OKC (2003). There just really aren't that many "unique concepts" as everything is just an amalgamation of a bunch of different concepts.

Commented to by brother-in-law recently. You drive the interstate in any direction and see all the same business's. May not be in consistent order
but it's the same ones......

Southside Harrigan's was great. Always great. Anyone remember the waiter, tall guy with a mustache that worked there for pretty much the entire time the place existed? He was great.

That would be Larry Lowry, the guy who trained me. Larry would always work section 7, which had 5 tables instead of the usual 4, and he would go on a wait most nights. By that I do not mean that the restaurant was on a wait, but at least one or two parties would tell the hostess, "No thanks, we'll wait until Larry has a table open."

I had the privilege of working with Larry for a few years in the early 90s. Last time I saw him was a year or two before that Harrigan's closed.

1) Does anyone know where Larry is today?
2) For those Harrigan's fans who travel to West Texas...the original Harrigan's is open again in Lubbock. Has been for 3 or 4 years. The Mrs. and I have been to Lubbock a couple of weekends since then, and have hit Harrigan's an almost embarrassing number of times each trip: Friday for happy hour, Saturday for dinner, and Sunday for brunch.

OKC Love to all,
Stellis

I remember as a child going to Harold's Shoes (I think that was the name) which I think may have been located near Bethany or maybe in Bethany.

Inside the store there was a raised platform with chairs that were built to resemble various animals. I remember always wanting to sit in one of those chairs to have my shoes fitted.

I also recall that my mother thought that store was about the only place to buy my shoes and get the "right" fit which was extremely important to her. I think I was wanting something a bit more trendy which for the time wouldn't have been much.

Seems like the store might have still been there in the late 1970's but not sure.

I remember as a child going to Harold's Shoes (I think that was the name)
which I think may have been located near Bethany or maybe in Bethany.
There was a Bate's Shoes in Bethany on N.W. 39th Expressway. A Kinney on
N.W. 23rd just west of MacArthur. I don't remember a Harold's but I don't
remember a lot of things. LOL!

I just remembered Two Pesos off of Northwest Expressway. Went there as a
kid, and used to order peanut butter and jelly soft tacos. Sounds gross now,
loved it back then.
I make peanut butter burritos and quesadillas. The cheese and peanut butter
go very well together.

Was that the place on the N.E. corner of N.W. 10th and N. May Avenue?
Next door to Glen's Hick'ry Inn? There was a ice house on that corner for years, but I don't remember the name.

I know that "Pizza Planet" has been mentioned here many times but, does anyone know anything about the owners? Who they were or what happened to them?

I know that "Pizza Planet" has been mentioned here many times but, does anyone know anything about the owners? Who they were or what happened to them?

Don't know who the owners were, but have many fond memories of the place. My wife and I ate at the one in Edmond on our first New Year's Eve together in 1970. They really piled the toppings on. I loved their pies. One cold blustery January evening we called in for a home delivery pizza (1973) when Pizza Planet was the only pizza place in Edmond that delivered. We waited and waited and when the driver got out of the little truck with the oven on the back to keep it warm, he held it up on his hand like they do in the restaurant and the wind caught it and blew it out of his hand. The pieces of pizza scattered all over our front lawn and he saw us looking very sadly out of our front door when he yelled "I be back!" We got another hot, fresh pizza an hour later.

Don't know who the owners were, but have many fond memories of the place. My wife and I ate at the one in Edmond on our first New Year's Eve together in 1970. They really piled the toppings on. I loved their pies. One cold blustery January evening we called in for a home delivery pizza (1973) when Pizza Planet was the only pizza place in Edmond that delivered. We waited and waited and when the driver got out of the little truck with the oven on the back to keep it warm, he held it up on his hand like they do in the restaurant and the wind caught it and blew it out of his hand. The pieces of pizza scattered all over our front lawn and he saw us looking very sadly out of our front door when he yelled "I be back!" We got another hot, fresh pizza an hour later. Thats funny! Tragedy and Triumph! Great memory! I also have alot of good memories of PP.

They had the best shrimp and onion pizza......

They had the best shrimp and onion pizza......

Stop, you're killing me...

They had the best shrimp and onion pizza...... Agreed!

Agreed!

honest injun

the only place to find one now is in norman

make them at home on occasion.........

I've read through these threads right along with everyone on this forum and have found it humbling to realize that this thread is about what Businesses? But, how many of us still remember the guy at the Service Station that pumped your gas....Cleaned your windshield...checked under the hood and many times topped off the radiator or brake fluid and said Thanks....Ya'll come back! ??? how many businesses can you still remember that did those kinds of things because they WANTED your business?....Today's grocery store doesn't carry your groceries out unless you ask very sternly....You have to wait on yourself and still pay silly prices......Not complaining just wondering if any of you guys or gals have any stories like this????

... Today's grocery store doesn't carry your groceries out unless you ask very
sternly... You have to wait on yourself and still pay silly prices... Not
complaining just wondering if any of you guys or gals have any stories like
this?
We shop at the commissary at Tinker. The sackers work 100% for tips. It
doesn't matter the weather or where you park, although we'll drive up.

All grocery stores should adopt that plan. $3 or $4 for service or $5+ for
great service.

Do you remember when the salesmen at Sear's and other stores worked for a
commission? They'd run to get you and show everything you needed to know
about the TV, washer, etc...

Nowadays they just stand around and do their best to ignore you. That is
unless you happen to be a cute girl walking into Bass Pro. One of the last
times we were there, 5 guys were drooling over this one girl while we needed
help. I finally went up and asked for help and they all looked at each other
as if to say, "who's going to do it?"

Commission sales would help stop that noise!