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Tag: Vinzant’s Variety

  • May 28th in Seal Beach History

    On this date in 1950, a teeny, tiny ad appeared in the Gift Shops section of Long Beach Independent for the Friendly Nook at 137 ½ Main Street offering 24 hour service on hemstitching.May_28_1950_Friendly_Nook_adI received an e-mail from Michelle (Ward) Williamson in 2017 with a little more information about the owner of the Friendly Nook:

    “My grandmother Grace Marie (Ward) Knighten was a longtime resident of Seal Beach until her death in 1986. Her first marriage was to Kenneth Lenton Ward. Her second marriage was to Sperry Knighton, who eventually became the Fire Chief for Seal Beach. She told me once that she had a store called “The Friendly Nook” it was probably open around 1940 to 1949.”

    Ms. Williamson also believes it’s possible the store may “have been a craft store centered around Native American beading, rugs and such.”

    I can confirm that the Friendly Nook was around from at least 1950 (when these ads ran to 1954 (when a news story about three juvenile burglars on a minor crime spree broke into Vogler’s Market at 1510 Pacific Coast Highway, Joe’s Market at 216 Main Street, and the Friendly Nook.)

    Here are two Main Street photographs that include the Friendly Nook from the same era as the one included in this May 15 post.

    – Michael Dobkins

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  • Greetings From Seal Beach

    Main Street Mondays – 1956

    Main Street in Seal Beach  has been a favorite subject for photographers throughout its 95 years of history.  Every Monday between now and the end of the Seal Beach Founders Celebration, we’ll be posting a different image of Main Street.

    This is Main Street 48 years ago, not last year’s Seal Beach Car Show.

    On the right, Marina Cleaners occupies the current location of Seal Beach Music.   On the side of the building where Endless Summer operates today,  a painted advertisement tells us, “Bathers Welcome,” apparently to come inside and enjoy “cold drinks” and “malts” and “sundaes” made from delicious “Mountain View ice cream.”  Next door is Seal Beach Music, followed by the Edgewater Pre-School.

    Further down, you can visit a rock shop,  Vinzant’s Variety, and John’s Food King. In the distance, we see Brock’s Drugs (better known to many of us later as the Corner Drug) and further down, the Bay Theater.

    On the left, it’s a little harder to make out the details.  The Irisher Cafe now occupies the Bob And Chet’s Cafe and Cocktail Lounge location at 121 Main Street,  Further down a Rexall drugs store occupies a familiar spot, but it’s probably a few years before it becomes Bob’s Rexall.  The Walt’s Wharf building hosts the long gone Marina Market, and a cafe sign hangs in front of what was once the Green Pepper Mexican restaurant (and then BJ’s Pizza and now Woody’s Diner).

    Be sure to check back each week for more historical photos and stories of Seal Beach.

    – Michael Dobkins

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