We used to call the tiny store "Dirty Johnies" place-it was a wee candy store on Argyle near Bannantyne...it always smelled bad but Big Johnny was always great to us kids...he had Tools,Mojos,Dots (those weird strips of waxed paper with candy "dots" on them to lick off of the waxed paper) and those always gross wax cigars with koolaid in them...green leaves and black babies as they were called...none in packages...but you count get a good batch of candy for 10 cents back then in the 60's!!!Anyone remember that very small store?
THANKS for stopping by, I do my best to acknowledge when someone leaves a comment,you do not have to be a member here & everyone is welcome. Ps: This site is monitored but not actively posting on a regular basis. Mostly these are stories & some photos saved from a defunct site known as Verdun Connections which was on MSN Groups initially then on a social network called Multiply.
8 comments:
i used to go there all the time. i hated asking johnny to get anything as he could barely move behind the counter... his ice cream cones were terrible.. they were the preformed barrel shaped that he peeled the cardboard off of.
hi! Thx for writing back-i thought I was the only one who remembered that tiny little place-do you remember that he had those weird popsicles...they weren't the ones with the paper covering them-he got them from the freezer and they has suspicious "freezer burn" marks on them-they were ROUNDish...almost like he froze coke and 7-up in plastic cups and sold 'em.....with sticks shoved into the middle.....things that make ya go.....hmmmm.... I'm sure that in this day and age that store would have been busted....for a few reasons!!!welll-I have great memories of that place...and still alive to tell!!! (It was one of the few little stores I was allowed to bring my dog into....although she could barely turn around or wag her tail in there! lol... aw...dog hair,dust and crappy ice cream and popsicles...what a great little place it was!God bless old Johnny-at least he was ok with ten kids crammed into that wee spot...not like at Savards on Woodland where you were looked at as if you were about to steal something!!!hee hee...great memories!
Cathy Johnnies on Argyle was a store that was visited by the guys in my gr 8 class walking back to the annex from the high..we had to take a shop class there. Now this goes back to 64..but I know what you mean about the place. He never did like to see us. I had an interesting talk about politics with Mr. Savard when the first referendum was going on..He told me what he thought and how he felt it would come out. Told me not to worry. Some great insight. Lad
Hi, Cathy, I remember Johnny very well. Such a big man to turn around in such a tiny store. From what I remember, he was a kind man. Once—oh, I must've been 10 or so—I think I cracked his window. He came over and had a nice chat with my foster parents on Melrose Avenue. Thanks for the memories, Jack
Hi Cathy, I remember Johnnies very well. Used to go there daily. Used to love the Prince of Wales popsicles he sold until I got a toe nail in one. You would think that would turn me off, but we still went back to that stinky old store. He opened up another store far from Verdun, I remember visiting there with my Dad once. Do you remember the shoe repair shop right next door to his? Wendy
Hi Wendy! Ewww-that toenail incident sounds really gross! Ha ha! Yup I remember the shoe repair place-didn't that guy end up opening the one on Bannantyne near the library where you had to walk down below street level to get to it? There was a hall above it where there used to be a lot of dances, darts and stuff going on for the Verdun soccer club...geez I wish I could recall the name of that hall!
I use to go into Johnnys all the time. His daughter and I were good friends and I often went to her house. He was a really kind person and he would always kid with us. I thought she was lucky to have him as a dad. Besides he use to give me free candy sometimes. Her name was Cheryl and I think the last name was Anticole. Her uncle owned a clothing store up on Wellington.
Sandra
Thats so funny. I never thought about the preformed ice creams since then but I remember them. I thought they were pretty unique.
He did have a lot of trouble getting out from behind that counter.
Sandra
Post a Comment