Ed's Auto Supply, (across fourth from Grand Auto), Georges's Bar, maybe Schwartz mens clothing too.

Thanks Paul Penna (whose pic it is).

I was going to link it but the green magnify button didn't show unless I scrolled over it and I wanted people to see it larger.

But clicking on your link, the green buttons show right away.

I could spend hours looking at it. I wish I could just climb in it and walk around SR 1967 !!!

In case you forgot about this...

Also, SR City Hall has a giant pic like this from the 40's in the hall. It's fun to look at.
...and if you really need an answer about something. (great interview subject Jason)
stop by Cain's Tires. The owner who is easy to spot with long white hair, seems to enjoy
answering all my questions when I'm in there. He also has coffee mid morning at McD's]
on Miracle Mile, if you really want to corner him !
To scroll to the far right, to see 4th & E, first scroll to the bottom of thread to access bar, FYI





-- Edited by SteveC at 02:07, 2007-10-10

Stan Wisnes Honda after Bianco. Weren't both on the N/W corner with the S/W always being their car lot ?

I vividly remember La Petite Boulangerie's location because I was working there when the '89 earthquake hit! I was a senior at SRHS, so it was an after school job. I recall the floor actually rippling (we were practically below ground), the baskets shaking, the customers racing upstairs, and my boss shouting at me to get the H$%& out!

Marin Mama mentioned the store with the Betty Boop clock and that triggered a memory of being in there with some middle school pals (6th grade - '83 or so) and they were shoplifting. One of them had an obsession with Marilyn Monroe, so I think she was stealing postcards of her. It was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life.

There was a store way down on the Miracle Mile that sold jelly bracelets, but I can't remember the name of it. I loved going in there. Almost as much as Miscellaneous in San Anselmo.

Does anyone remember when the Marin Teacher's Store was at 4th and Grand, with Living Foods (or some health food store) next door? One of my classmate's dad's owned the MTS. I used to love walking there and then to Thrifty for cheap ice cream.

Rice Table was unique and yummy--it's a shame it closed. Haven't tried the new place but it sounds interesting.

Wasn't the Aquarium Beautiful up at about 4th & D at one time?

Also, I believe there was a Sir Speedy type of printing company in that area as well.

Anyone else remember?

OMG, I knew I was missing something. Milt Torn was a great guy and a great friend. After school every day I would stop by and he would always have some interesting imported candy to taste. I recall his wife and daughter also being there a lot. What a friendly and enthusiastic guy. I think he originally opened up down towards Lincoln and then got a shop space up towards the theater (if I recall correctly). I think they had a farm near Lake Elsinore where they grew some of the nuts sold in the store. I remember always having the roasted soy beans around at home. I'm glad to see that they still exist in cyberspace.

Yes, there was a newsstand next to the Rafael which morphed into a small bookstore with a used book annex upstairs. Sorry to see it go.

I'm rather amazed that downtown San Rafael can support that many cofee shops. On the block the Rafael is on we have Starbucks, Cafe Aroma and the Royal Ground, with Cafe Trieste coming soon.

Wasn't Rafael Camera on the northwest Corner of 4th and A street? Oh wait I have a label here:

The Photo Shop
1104 Fourth Street

... which puts it at 4th & A streets according to Google Maps.

Was the news stand next to the theater?

How about the old dog pound across the street....I remember the smoke from the incinerator...very politically incorrect these days,,,,

"La Petite Boulangerie was NOT in the current Il Davide spot. It was in a downstairs location in the building on the corner of 4th & A"

__________________
Howard Foster


I think you're right Howard, but I'm sure Il Fornaio was in the Il Davide spot.

Excuse me, I've got to run down to Egghead Software at 3rd & Grand.

I remember in the 50's there was supermarket at the top of the Macy's parking lot. I think it was a Purity. I also remember a wonderful hunting and fishing sporting goods store with wooden floors somewhere on a side street off 4th St. downtown.

The store that eventually became Macy's was, in my earliest memories (mid-50s, when I was 10ish), Albert's department store. In them there days, downtown San Rafael was where you went to do major shopping if you lived in Marin. (Of course, for truly earth-shattering shopping, you'd go to The City.) Mother didn't drive, so we'd take the Greyhound bus from Larkspur, pausing at the station in San Anselmo, where the driver would instruct those interested to "change cars for Fairfax and Manor." Albert's had a partial second floor that overlooked the main one, called the mezzanine. In fact, that's how I first learned what a mezzanine was. Up there was the hat department, run by a somewhat officious lady. Her little pinkish-pastel domain had an overall upholstered feel to it, with plush carpets and easy chairs, from which vantage points women could peruse the millinery at their leisure. There was always the sound of a bonging chime ringing out signals to the various departments and employees.

My favorite 4th St. store was the Cottage Bookshop, where I bought my Pogo and coin collecting books. One of the most tragic events of my childhood came in 1957 when a huge fire destroyed most of both sides of the 1400 block, taking the Cottage Bookshop with it. We'd heard about it while on vacation at our summer place at the Russian River, and drove past the remains on our way home. I felt like I'd lost a friend.

I frequently succeeded in pestering my mother enough that we'd stop at the fountain in the Webb & Rogers drug store. I found you could get a Coke, a cherry Coke, or a lemon Coke. Naturally, I decided that thereafter, I'd always order a cherry-lemon Coke. My mother could roll her eyes all she liked, but that's what I was going to have. Sometimes we'd need to go to the shoe repair place nearby. It was filled with the constant whir of machinery and the odors of adhesive, leather and shoe polish. Later we'd sit on the concrete bench on the street in front of the Post Office and wait for the bus to take us home.

-- Edited by Paul Penna at 04:28, 2007-03-19

Stores on 4th Street. Some of the ones mentioned in this thread. The toy store (I think it was call the Toy Box, or something similar) it was in the location that is now the expanded version of San Rafael Joes. It had a back door that accessed the store from the Lootens parking lot. Speaking of Joes, before it expanded twice (the expanded dining room, and the bancquet room) Joes used to be in just the portion where the front door and kitchen sit now. The kitchen however was along the west brick wall (the left wall as you enter the restaurant) with a long counter with stools.

Woolworths was located either in what is now the Nautilas building or the one to the right of it. Jc Penny's was at the north west corner of 4th and Lootens in the newly remodled buidling. In fact the Penny's building used to be a movie theatre called the El Camino Theatre which closed down in 1953. On fourth at Cijos Street on the North side used to be Grand Auto (I can't picture what is in there now) that had a rear parking lot and entrance from the rear as well as front. Across the street on 4th at Cijos (south west corner) was Ed's auto for many years. it is now a furniture store. In the building to the right of Georges Bar (yes a former 3 or 4 lane bowling alley), was Merrill's drug Store (it was another brand name drug store before that but I cannot remember the name. It could have been Thrifty's before it moved/opened in Montecito).

Acquarium Beautiful was in the building where the Deli was (and since nobody could remember that name i have it) It was Diller's Deli. But the Pet store was not in the Deli portion it was in the two far right sections of that building.

Macy's (although this is very recent and most would remember) was forever at Fourth and Court (the new building). When Penny's closed, Macy's expanded into the Penny's building. Macy's also for a time occupied the Nautilus buidling with its home store downstairs and the electronics department in the upstairs portion. They then expanded that Nautilas building into the building to the right and expanded the homewears section. If I remember correctly, both those portions closed as Macy's was dying on 4th Street and they continued to just operate in the original Macy's and Penny's building until leaving 4th street for good.

Modern Eve dress shop and the Courthouse Creamery both occupied the building on the south east corner of 4th and A Streets. (my grandmother worked at Modern Eve for many years). Years later the "Roast House" Hof Brau occupied a spot in a portion of where Modern Eve was. Roast House and Modern Eve both later moved to Northgate Mall. Roast House to Northgate 1 (where Safeway is) and is still there. Modern Eve moved to Northgate 2 (Emporium/Macy's) and sat in the area across from Rite Aid. Anyway the 4th street building that housed Modern eve burnt down in the mid 70's give or take, and that fire was suspicious as Arson was suspected but never proved.

Across the street as mentioned in the Starbucks location was Saraah's Dress shop. My grandmother worked there as well until her retirment. When the owners retired the business was sold but never lived up to it's reputation for fine womens clothes coupled with the changing times it just couldn't make it as a specialty dress shop and closed down. (The original Owner, Saraah is buried at Mount Tam Cemetary at the end of Fifth Avenue).

Willow Street Brewery (I cannot remember what the name is currently) in the 900 block of 4th Street used to be a Radiator repair shop. D&S Garage at 718 Fourth Street which is still there but now up for lease has been there since the early 60's if not late 50's. The owner actually owned the entire block (and may still) from Tamalpais to Lincoln Avenue. It used to have really neat old fashioned gas pumps (2 of them) in front where the yellow zone sits today. In fact an interesting note, the owner of the D&S Garage also owned ALL of the property that the County Civic Center and Marin Center and Embassy Suites sits on. (Wow that's a lot) He sold it to the county whenever the civic Center was built. (Can you imagine the money it would be worth today).

Across the street at 4th and Lincoln where Jennifer Convertibles sits, was a Chevron Station for many many years.

Now another interesting piece of 4th street trivia that I don't think too many people even know of or would be aware of (not store related but very interesting). In the days before the police officers had portable radio's on their belts, the walking officers were notified of pending calls for service by RED lights along 4th street. When the dispatcher had a call for the walking officer she would turn on the red lights. The officer would go to any number of "call boxes" where he would pick up a phone receiver and be connected to the dispatcher. There are two of these red lights left (for some reason never taken down). One is on the top of a street lamp pole on the north east corner of 4th and B where the coffee shop is. The other is hanging over the intersection of 4th and H Streets.

Well this POST obviously sparked my memory banks and my fingers are tired. I hope that this sparks more memories for you all.

Someone mentioned Isaac's breakfast shop. I just want to let anyone who remembers Isaac know that he is still alive and kicking. He is a good friend of my Uncle.

How about the trampolin center next to Georges Bar and Check cashing in the fabric center, the bowling alley in Georges, the bowling alley at the corner of 3rd & Irwin. There was also a barber shop in the front of Georges. Then there was the Lincoln Bait Shop at 3rd & Lincoln. I remember the man wraping up sardines in a shoe box with sawdust in the bottom and newspaper wrap. Dad was getting beer and sodas at the bar, it pretty much had everything. Bianco Pontiac, corner 4th & E with the HUGE stuffed grizzley and polar bears in the showroom!! When you were a kid they looked 20ft tall!

As far as I remember, only 2 of the stores on 4th street have been there since my childhood, 50s and 60s: See's Candies and Joes. (I can't remember when Joes opened but I clearly remember See's shopping at See's in the 50's. Sarraes was on the corner where Starbucks in now and had the most expensive mom-type clothes, right across the street from Netboys where my mom bought all her shoes. I got my 7th grade grad dance dress at Sarrae's , I remember it in detail. A short prom dress--wish I still had it! Modern Eve was on that block, too. My first job was at Modern Eve in Northgate when it first opened. Oh, that was my second job; before that I worked at the City of Paris branch in Northgate in the Teen Dept.

There were cheaper dress shops, too. Mode o' Day was where got our school clothes,besides Macy's and Penny's of course. My mom bought her expensive shoes at Netboys but bought ours at Barneys, on Francisco Blvd ner Bermuda Palm.--I think it's a furniture store now. We got to stick our feet in the X-ray machine to see if the shoes fit. Radiate your feet--such fun!

The Candy Jar was near the theater so we could run in and get peanut brittle while waiting in line for the kiddie matinee, to give us plenty of time to stock up on more junk once we got in the theater. The owner, Neal Sorenson, made the peanut brittle right in the window so it was irrestible. It was a little place, I think it is a sports store now. The Rafael would pack the kids in, with the littlest kids sitting in the spaces BETWEEN the seats. So they could fill the theater plus and extra 30%! Good business. As long as there isn't a fire. The kids went crazy, the boys thrw sour balls around. Our moms would leave us there on Saturdays so they could shop. One neighborhood mom would take a carload of kids. Cheap babysitting-- and a treat because few of us had tv--a cartoon cowboy show fest at the Saturday matinee. I suppose it cost 25 cents plus a couple of nickles for all the candy.

it had a HUGE wedding cake and was painted PINK

Was there a bakery (maybe Lady Baltimore) next to the current See's on Fourth Street back in the 70's. It seems to me there were two sweet shops right next to each other.

Also, does anyone remember a couple of toy stores in that area of fourth street as well. I seem to remember one was called 88cents (and was right across frm the 888 club).

the place I really miss was Rafael Book and News By the Theater. The Theater I miss also. I haven't been to a movie in the new Theater because there hasn't been anything I've wanted to see. Oh yeah I forgot Issac's for breakfast ( not on 4th street but 5 doors away) and Royal Frank which is still there.
James W.

Oh, that does sound familiar - memory out of the past. Wasn't Fur, Feathers and Fins next door to Hellers. It was in the building that later became a school supply store - the one that later moved to C Street.

i think you might be right about the name. it definitely was where the deli is now.

Speaking of pets. Does anyone remember the pet store on 4th & D ? There was a parrot in there by the name of Mr. Hook or something like that. He only had one leg and they kept him by the cash register. He was mean !!

In addition to J.C. Penneys, there was a Macys as well. One of my favorite shopping with the family stories when we first moved her in the 60's was when my whole family went probably Christmas shopping.. my Dad took half of us and my Mom took the other half. My brother wanted to go find my Dad. My Mom said to tell my Mom we were all in J.C.Penney's. The message ended up being Mom said to tell you that they were in J.C.Macy.

The Woolworths was wonderful. We used to always go to the back of the store under the stairs where they had some small pets - birds and fish.

I used to enjoy going in the Glens 5 and 10 with the wooden floors and everything imaginable. Wasn't it a Rasco's before it became Glen's.

How about the Courthouse Creamery?? That was a wonderful place to gather as a family after Mass at St. Raphaels!

There was a fabric store with a big ramp up to the parking lot... I think it became Burger King and whatever it is now.

Remember going to the Courthouse building when it was the annual Halloween Haunted House before it was burned down? That haunted house scared me to death!!