Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Gosh, what memories! I grew up in Floral Park...there was a "back-way" through some lots and woods and a sandy road all the way to Great Eastern. We would hike there to buy our Beach Boy albums, Beetles, 45's, etc. We LOVED it!!
I moved out of Elmont in 1962. I remember hanging out at Gouz farm as a kid. We used to go in the barn and milk the cows. Once I got kicked by a cow there too. My dad used to come and get free manure for our vegetable garden. We also went to Walcliff Rink & pool. We used to wear the locker keys on our ankle while we were swimming and there was a pavillion where we could dance. It was so close to where we lived on Audrey Avenue but it seemed like it was so far away. In those days we used to walk everywhere. We went to Valley Stream North but we would meet people who went to Elmont Memorial and Alva T. Stanforth/Swaniken. We used to hand out at the candy store on Dutch Broadway next to where they built the Police Station after I moved. I think it was Julies? I went to Howell Road and we used to walk from school to lunch at the other candy store in Valley Stream on Dutch Broadway. On our way to VS North there was another candy store called Hymies on the corner of Dutch Broadway and Mechem Ave. We used to stop there before school and be late and after school. Wow do I feel old like the other poster but it was a fun time to grow up. Lots to do always and places to go.
What fond memories!!!!! I worked at the supermarket in Great Eastern during my high school and college years and made several great freinds there. Joe I, Micheal and John S, Sam and Gearge, C, just to name a few.
Ok, I am probably dating myself, but I worked at Great Eastern from about 1972 to about 1978. All of the departments in the store were owned by other companies that basically leased the space. I worked in the pet shop from 73 to 78. In 1971, I worked in the Lighting Department until that company went out of business. This was a great place for kids to work at the time ($1.85 an hour), and I met some very good friends there. In fact, 30 years later, I still keep in touch with some of them.
We had some great times there, breaking into the Candy Department's stockroom, and eating cashews by the pound. One time we put about a dozen snakes and 5 or 6 mice through a hole in the pet department's back wall into the beauty parlor. There was major grief the next day when the manager of the beauty parlor opened up and found the place full of garter snakes and mice. Of course we denied everything! We were all betweem 16 and 21, and had a great time, and even made some pocket money. Other things that went on: drinking Boons Farm Strawberry Wine in the stock room, making out with the cashiers in the stock room, crashing flats of car batteries so that the acid leaked on the floor, letting birds go (on purpose) so they could fly to the curtain department, sit on the curtains and mess them up.
Some of the employees: Pete from Pets, Big Joe, and Hal in Housewares, Diane in the Pet Department (She was a very hot blond!), Marie in the Smoke Shop, Grace who was a cashier, Liz (skinny cute blonde in Stationary), Steve in Pets, Owen in Occasional Furniture, etc. In the 70's, this was where we shopped in Elmont, unless you could go to Green Acres or A&S in Hempstead. It was a great time that I'll always remember!
Check The Elmont Expedition Team site on Yahoo - theres many scenes of Elmont Landmarks ranging from present date to 15 years back and some older ones too. A shot of the old TSS, I believe is there, as TSS.
If you are on Facebook there is a page called The Elmont NY Project. Lots of old time friends and neighbors have reunited. Old pics shown. If you lived in Elmont please join the page.
I remember going to that store in the late 60's/early 70's before they converted it to Times Squares Stores. I remember the flashing neon sign at night. That was the only thing I can remember about the store since I was pretty young back then.
Grew up in Elmont, I remember when GEM (later became just Great Eastern) was built, I was a real little kid back then. I remember the Milk Maid as well, the "big kids" would drive there summer evenings, it became a Thom McAnn in the early 70s after sitting empty and boarded up for a good number of years. I remember Jerry Vale made an appearance at Carrol's across Hempstead Turnpike from GEM when it opened, We went even though we didn't have a clue as to who Jerry Vale was. He handed out copies of his 45s.Found out. Yikes
I worked at the Rustler Steak House that popped up in the GEM parking lot in the 70s while in high school (Sewanhaka). My sister worked that summer as a cashier there, the summer they went under. On the first day of the closeout sale, I remember running her some hamburgers so she could eat, the place and that massive parking lot (where everybody learned to drive Sunday afternoons in the blue law days) was mobbed that day! Discount qwap discounted! That store sold some godawful qwap. I do remember so many trips there...... your first sign of "adulthood" was being allowed to go there on one's own....buying records there....album of the week, $1.79. Still have a good number of them. It quickly (matter of months) became a TSS (Times Squares Stores, there was on in Hempstead a few blocks from A&S). Haven't been to Elmont in 25 years. Is it still standing?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Great Eastern Mills
