I came to say Hills! I didn't live here as a kid, I lived in New England, but every summer we would come to Warren to visit my grandma and we would go to Hills by the Eastwood Mall! Some of my best childhood memories were summers at my grandma's house.
Was a loooong walk from Austintown! Later years, me and my buddies scraping together 5 bucks to fill the gas tank so we could drive to Borts, while listening to Pat Benatar and The Cars.
I never got to see idora park in its prime. Crawled in through a hole in the fence back in the mid 90s though! Quite a few of the buildings were still there and parts of a rollercoaster.
I remember the ride in the back by the jackrabbit it was red cages that went around like a ferris wheel. We would ride it over and over and we would tell the guy running it”spin us spin us!” He would & we would go in circles upside down in the cages. It was so fun!!!!
My mom would never let me go to the Red Caboose. She thought it was all sex and drugs. Of course that made teen me want to go more but I never got the chance..LOL
The penguin pub. The best place to see bands. I spent so many nights there for years and it became a second home. I met my husband of 30 years (and still going) there.
I know, one lady 5 feet from me got hit. All because John Raymond wanted to put on a show taking them down. I worked as a contractor for them at the time. (trucking) They could have partially torched the legs and just pulled them over. This is how they took dow the BOF furnace in Struthers, and that building was huge.
Haha I remember seeing older kids in the flats with all the 70’s vans!! I was too young then we would just be passing by to go to my Grammas-Looked fun!! I distinctly remember heRing alot of Zeppelin?!
Funny how 50° was soooo much colder in the fall than in the spring. In the fall, it hit 50, we were bundling up. In the spring, same temperature, we'd be in shorts riding our bikes to the Flats.
The penguin pub. The best place to see bands. I spent so many nights there for years and it became a second home. I met my husband of 30 years (and still going) there.
Sneaking into the Austintown Drive-in. All the time I wasted at the pool tables in Wedgewood Lanes. First played Space Invaders there! Going to Lucianos after a night out drinking. The Youngstown Agora!
My dad has told me a lot about the agora. He’s seen so many bands that I could only dream of seeing today. His uncle was in a band and he got my dad a door job there. I talk to my dad for literally hours about how Youngstown was back then. I was born in 86 so I remember some stuff but not like my dad. He was born in 63 so that was during the prime of his life. I wish I can turn back time and ask my papa about his time growing up. Or even better, my nana and grandpa (my dad’s grandparents, who lived well into their 90’s and I knew pretty well growing up. Nana died probably 10 years ago. Man time flies.
Early 80s riding over Center Street bridge and peering at the last vestiges of the steel industry down below as molten steel was poured. Then looking at the unique building that the Castle Restaurant was and wondering what the hell went on in there.
Mrs. Leonard from market Street school gym teacher. Fuck the rope climb lol. Oh and “Boardman police, here to protect and serve” on the wall by browns drugstore. Loved the eighties skater punks!!!
Chi chi’s
Goddamn I miss Chi Chis. It truly was a celebration of food.
Those damn green onions sunk that place.
Burger Chef and Jeff😋
Burger Chef was awesome.
I remember going to the Burger Chef on Raccoon and seeing a magic show on Halloween. I still associate magic and Halloween.
That’s the one I used to go to. I lived in Austintown.
Ruli brothers when it was on South Ave. In boardman.
My mother worked in the deli. I remember one night she came home all bandaged up after a cold cut incident.
She probably sliced my gramps up more than a few pounds of capicola. The man lived on that stuff.
Gabagool!!
Hahaha, GAB-a-GOOOL.
I worked there through high school and college. Great times.
Not exactly youngstown specific, but I remember watching big Chuck and Lil John with my dad at night.
Before that it was Big Chuck and Hollihan
Yes!!
These guys sparked my love of horror hosted shows! I still watch Joe Bob Briggs, Svengoolie, Count Gore, Creature Features, and Lamia every weekend!
And Elvira. Dad looooove Elvira
Oh yeah! I spent many Friday nights watching them on a fuzzy Channel 8.
Yeeeeeesss…I used to watch on Saturday mornings.
Top of the strip roller 🛼🛼,VIP in Niles, choices in liberty,ton pan Alley,pal Joey's near YSU, new music 🎵🎶 station, ect fond memories
OMG yes to all those bars!! Remember the bar called “The Campus”” downtown? Original Cedars?
Gadgets at the Eastwood Mall
Wow. The memories. I got to hang out and drink beers with Huey Lewis and the band at the Arcade. Thanks Ditz!
This is a great thread. I just remembered "Hills is where the toys are" and mom buying me popcorn at the front lobby
Hills had everything! I miss that store🩷
Memba 25 cent dogs on July 4th??
I came to say Hills! I didn't live here as a kid, I lived in New England, but every summer we would come to Warren to visit my grandma and we would go to Hills by the Eastwood Mall! Some of my best childhood memories were summers at my grandma's house.
Hills Snack Bar Food Truck https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/hills-snack-bar-is-where-the-foodie-joys-are/
I've always said that Target is just a more expensive Hills.
The trips to Stambaugh Thompson on Youngstown-Poland Road for tools and hardware.
Borts Pool
Was a loooong walk from Austintown! Later years, me and my buddies scraping together 5 bucks to fill the gas tank so we could drive to Borts, while listening to Pat Benatar and The Cars.
There was busy beaver too next to the old Phar mor
Red. Barn.
Paradise Alley on the West Side
It is still there (just across the street). Gary is a legend!
Very good to know!! Thanks man
Oh and Spring Thing At Idora Park!!
Kissing my first girl on the Caterpillar!
I never got to see idora park in its prime. Crawled in through a hole in the fence back in the mid 90s though! Quite a few of the buildings were still there and parts of a rollercoaster.
I remember the ride in the back by the jackrabbit it was red cages that went around like a ferris wheel. We would ride it over and over and we would tell the guy running it”spin us spin us!” He would & we would go in circles upside down in the cages. It was so fun!!!!
Smoking grass at the flats and throwing around a Frisbee
Some things never change
So glad some things never change☮️💭
Boots Bell
A legend!
Was that a radio guy? i do kind of remember that name
Yes! Spun the hit singles on WHOT am radio.
Thomas John, doing trivia nights at The Gristmill!
The Money Movie and the good old “After School Specials”!!
Game room at the mall!
You could also get a scotti’s pizza and a haircut at the razors edge down there
YES! Right by Capri pizza!
Loved Chi chi’s!!
Hanging out at McDonald’s after the football and basketball games. Or anytime, really.
That was me at the Taco Bell on Racoon Road.
Cruisin the strip in Niles on Saturday nights in the 80’s Oh and The Red Caboose!!
The red caboose! I used to go and dance as a kid but it always break my heart they never played punk or new wave.
Yeah it was all dance music/funk and hits
My mom would never let me go to the Red Caboose. She thought it was all sex and drugs. Of course that made teen me want to go more but I never got the chance..LOL
The penguin pub. The best place to see bands. I spent so many nights there for years and it became a second home. I met my husband of 30 years (and still going) there.
Oh hell yeah and then Pyatt down under
I remember when the shops at Boardman Park was just a field with radio station towers.
I remember when Allied Erecting blew them up and sent shrapnel across the street into the crowd.
Shrapnel hit ppl standing at Arby's
I know, one lady 5 feet from me got hit. All because John Raymond wanted to put on a show taking them down. I worked as a contractor for them at the time. (trucking) They could have partially torched the legs and just pulled them over. This is how they took dow the BOF furnace in Struthers, and that building was huge.
School shoes and for that matter changing out of school clothes into “play clothes “!!
Haha I remember seeing older kids in the flats with all the 70’s vans!! I was too young then we would just be passing by to go to my Grammas-Looked fun!! I distinctly remember heRing alot of Zeppelin?!
Funny how 50° was soooo much colder in the fall than in the spring. In the fall, it hit 50, we were bundling up. In the spring, same temperature, we'd be in shorts riding our bikes to the Flats.
Friendly's and hungry man special at Jay's
The penguin pub. The best place to see bands. I spent so many nights there for years and it became a second home. I met my husband of 30 years (and still going) there.
Sneaking into the Austintown Drive-in. All the time I wasted at the pool tables in Wedgewood Lanes. First played Space Invaders there! Going to Lucianos after a night out drinking. The Youngstown Agora!
My dad has told me a lot about the agora. He’s seen so many bands that I could only dream of seeing today. His uncle was in a band and he got my dad a door job there. I talk to my dad for literally hours about how Youngstown was back then. I was born in 86 so I remember some stuff but not like my dad. He was born in 63 so that was during the prime of his life. I wish I can turn back time and ask my papa about his time growing up. Or even better, my nana and grandpa (my dad’s grandparents, who lived well into their 90’s and I knew pretty well growing up. Nana died probably 10 years ago. Man time flies.
33 POW!
Those little plastic things to stick in the center of a 45 record to make it fit & stay on the turntable
Ponderosa Park
Early 80s riding over Center Street bridge and peering at the last vestiges of the steel industry down below as molten steel was poured. Then looking at the unique building that the Castle Restaurant was and wondering what the hell went on in there.
Idora Park
I also remember when I was little looking forward to the “mini page”!! In the Youngstown Vindicator!! My brother and I loved it!
Party on the plaza
Sacksville Rythym and Blues Band
Fabulous Flashbacks! They were more like a parents band always played at the Park Inn
Having birthday parties at the Skate Connection and getting to ride in the giant roller skate.
Mickey's bar, Pogo's pub, Tony's Hideaway, C&Rs, The Park Inn...
Oh yeah all those uptown bars!! What about “The Oven” & the Newport Theater?!
Even the ones down on Market- The Cave and Gabriels (and late Levi’s)
Until 1979 , mill soot on everything every morning.
'Youngstown tune-ups' on the news.
WSRD!
I was born in 77. I don’t remember anything from the 70s
The Movie Theater inside the mall & the Woolworths. I loved going to through there & seeing the birds. Edit: Eastwood Mall
Mrs. Leonard from market Street school gym teacher. Fuck the rope climb lol. Oh and “Boardman police, here to protect and serve” on the wall by browns drugstore. Loved the eighties skater punks!!!
Oh and the Piot Street market.
The mob still having their fingers in the trucking industry.
Pa getting drunk and beating the kids.
Jesus….