Mom's parents (my maternal grandparents) owned a store in the Junction section of Pueblo, Co. It was called the Record Music Company. The store (how we always refer to it) sold records (the vinyl kind) band instruments, T.V.'s and in back there was a repair shop for radios and tv's. There was an alley in back where we'd park and come in the back door. I remember walking by all the stuff to be fixed and the smell of soldering. Even more at the entrance to the alley was a candy store that I always looked forward to when we'd head over to the shop.
Mom grew up working in the store (after school and on weekends) along with her older sister (Aunt Corky). Aunt Corky and her first husband worked in the store, and when Dad got out of the Marines he worked there for a little bit. It was the first store to sell color tv's in Pueblo and Grandpa put one in our house so we could invite all the kids in the neighborhood to watch cartoons on Saturday morning which were the first shows to be shown in color. It was priming the pump as the kids started pestering their parents about getting a color tv.
Grandma came down with cancer and was given six months to live (she lived over thirty years beyond the doctor's expectations) Grandpa sold the store to my parents and my Aunt and Uncle.
It's a touchy matter, the store could only support one family not two and Mom and Dad were forced out. That's when we moved down to New Mexico.
During the summers I would spend them with my grandparents. We'd go fishing and camping all over Colorado and I'd help out at the store (basically to get me out of Grandpa and Grandma's hair for awhile). I learned how to change money the old fashioned way by counting it back, got to play records for the customers all day long. The only thing of real value we saw out of the store were our musical instruments (Bruce's trumpet and my clarinet) and all the 45's and LP's I wanted.
Above the store (Grandpa owned the whole building) were several apartments. I would stay in one of the efficiency apartments overlooking the street at night. It was one long summer between 7th and 8th grades that I read Tolkien's entire Lord of the Rings series.
Discount stores came in around that time and they could sell color tv's cheaper retail than Aunt Corky could buy them wholesale and the store went under. Grandpa sold the building and they lived on the payments from the buyers for the next thirty years.
7 comments:
You did pretty good. You left out the heart ache and betrayal. Also the store was moved to west virginia was finally sold.
I thought it best to leave that part out.
Interesting story and congrats on the link from C&L's. I got one too as you probably noticed. Kinda like being under par.
Ah, I see we both grew up around the old store concept that kids today never have a chance to experience. We treated customers to soda pop and coffee and endless conversation before a console TV was purchased. But always with goodwill an great friendships. When the customers died off, their children had little or no loyalty. The end of a wonderful era. But I'll always remember those times! Enjoyed reading about your family here, PM!
The reason grandpa let your Dad bring a Color TV home was your Birthday. We had a color carton TV party for your Birthday. Saturday morning cartons were in color. Did you forget your Birthday party?
Michael, yes good times for one generation are different for the next. Mom and Dad had such fond memories of listening to the radio shows and felt something was missing when we were watching them instead of listening to them.
No, I remember it quite well.
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