OT: Great times on the Berlin Turnpike

[Steelerone]

One of the greatest things I remember about the Berlin Turnpike was a place named "Tom & Pat's". They sold grinders that you ordered by the day of the week. I believe that Wednesday was Genoa with lettuce, cheese, peppers and tomato. They did them in a big oven and they were the single greatest grinder I've ever had. Also had three drive-in's. And one of the greatest dance floors ever at the Beckley Gardens. Ahhh, memories.

"

 

[pspr11]

We would drive to McDonalds for a 19 cents hamburger and a shake that you could turn upside down and it wouldn’t pour out. Ahh, memories two

 

[Bigboote]

Geez, I thought you were gonna say that you'd driven on it with light traffic for the first time since 1971.

 

[DefenseBB]

I thought this was a recruiting thread and Geno thinking of a recruit in Hamburg and was traveling there...

 

[veryolddog]

When I went to college at UConn in 1961, I made some nice friends who brought me to Hartford to a place called Franklin Giant Grinder. I do not know if they still exist but I ordered a "capicola" grinder that must of weighed 3 lbs and all of the fixins and peppers and tomatoes, onions, lettuce and I think about 2 1/2 lbs of meat. What a "grinder" sandwich washed down with a six pack of beer. I cannot remember what it cost but it was cheap in price. Nothing like that in Albuquerque at that time and probably nothing like that anywhere anymore. Great stuff! Wish I could have that again, but not likely.

 

[Zanzman]

When I went to college at UConn in 1961, I made some nice friends who brought me to Hartford to a place called Franklin Giant Grinder. I do not know if they still exist but I ordered a "capicola" grinder that must of weighed 3 lbs and all of the fixins and peppers and tomatoes, onions, lettuce and I think about 2 1/2 lbs of meat. What a "grinder" sandwich washed down with a six pack of beer. I cannot remember what it cost but it was cheap in price. Nothing like that in Albuquerque at that time and probably nothing like that anywhere anymore. Great stuff! Wish I could have that again, but not likely.

Still there and still great taste and still giant

 

[cbraarj]

When I went to college at UConn in 1961, I made some nice friends who brought me to Hartford to a place called Franklin Giant Grinder. I do not know if they still exist but I ordered a "capicola" grinder that must of weighed 3 lbs and all of the fixins and peppers and tomatoes, onions, lettuce and I think about 2 1/2 lbs of meat. What a "grinder" sandwich washed down with a six pack of beer. I cannot remember what it cost but it was cheap in price. Nothing like that in Albuquerque at that time and probably nothing like that anywhere anymore. Great stuff! Wish I could have that again, but not likely.

Georges Terryville Ave. Market in Bristol Connecticut makes a grinder like you speak of. Ham only 6.99!

 

[rvwsleep]

When I went to college at UConn in 1961, I made some nice friends who brought me to Hartford to a place called Franklin Giant Grinder. I do not know if they still exist but I ordered a "capicola" grinder that must of weighed 3 lbs and all of the fixins and peppers and tomatoes, onions, lettuce and I think about 2 1/2 lbs of meat. What a "grinder" sandwich washed down with a six pack of beer. I cannot remember what it cost but it was cheap in price. Nothing like that in Albuquerque at that time and probably nothing like that anywhere anymore. Great stuff! Wish I could have that again, but not likely.

There's a similar one of those that I know of, and frequent occasionally (Oxymoron?)
It's Sal, Kris and Chalie's deli in Astoria, Queens.
They make 2 different kinds;
The Bomb and The Italian.
If you ever get a chance, I recommend it highly.
$10.75 and cash only.

 

[PacoSwede]

i don't associate any type of sandwich with "Great Times" in the context of the Berlin Turnpike. Not the first thing that comes to mind when Berlin Turnpike memories are mentioned

 

[Waquoit]

Let's face it, back in the day the highlight of the Berlin Turnpike was the Berlin Drive-in that showed pornos. I was so psyched when we were finally old enough and went some friends and a case of beer. We learned that pornos get pretty boring pretty quickly. I remember one of the actresses looked just like Chris Evert.

 

[Steelerone]

When I went to college at UConn in 1961, I made some nice friends who brought me to Hartford to a place called Franklin Giant Grinder. I do not know if they still exist but I ordered a "capicola" grinder that must of weighed 3 lbs and all of the fixins and peppers and tomatoes, onions, lettuce and I think about 2 1/2 lbs of meat. What a "grinder" sandwich washed down with a six pack of beer. I cannot remember what it cost but it was cheap in price. Nothing like that in Albuquerque at that time and probably nothing like that anywhere anymore. Great stuff! Wish I could have that again, but not likely.

VOD, it is still there. When it opened it was a little hole in the wall with one person taking orders and the other making the grinders. On paydays, usually Friday, it was nothing to stand in a line of twenty five or thirty people waiting for one of their enormous (and great) grinders.

 

[Steelerone]

i don't associate any type of sandwich with "Great Times" in the context of the Berlin Turnpike. Not the first thing that comes to mind when Berlin Turnpike memories are mentioned

Sorry Paco, like Dean sang, "Memories Are Made Of This" but not everyone has the same memories.

 

[Steelerone]

Let's face it, back in the day the highlight of the Berlin Turnpike was the Berlin Drive-in that showed pornos. I was so psyched when we were finally old enough and went some friends and a case of beer. We learned that pornos get pretty boring pretty quickly. I remember one of the actresses looked just like Chris Evert.

Waquoit, you have to get out more.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Let's face it, back in the day the highlight of the Berlin Turnpike was the Berlin Drive-in that showed pornos. I was so psyched when we were finally old enough and went some friends and a case of beer. We learned that pornos get pretty boring pretty quickly. I remember one of the actresses looked just like Chris Evert.

Actually the Berlin Drive-In wasn’t always X-rated. Was a typical Drive-In, like the Hartford Drive-In in Newington. After the Berlin Drive-In made the switch the end of my street became a favorite viewing spot of the big screen. Apparently hearing the dialogue wasn’t a requirement to watch the movies. Go figure.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Berlin Turnpike means "Makris Diner" at 3 or 4am after enthusiastic frat parties at Trinity.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Berlin Turnpike means "Makris Diner" at 3 or 4am after enthusiastic frat parties at Trinity.

Sorry I have to take issue with that. As someone who grew up a mile from the Turnpike, late night dining to “soak up” what we had consumed earlier that evening was always at Olympia Dinner (affectionately known as OD’s).

 

[JimGunther]

Funny....I always associated Berlin Turnpike with illegal street racing (a/k/a - incorrectly - Drag Racing). I don't recall ever attending (or participating in) one but, in my neighborhood (Savin Rock) they were legendary.

 

[j66kicker]

Actually the Berlin Drive-In wasn’t always X-rated. Was a typical Drive-In, like the Hartford Drive-In in Newington. After the Berlin Drive-In made the switch the end of my street became a favorite viewing spot of the big screen. Apparently hearing the dialogue wasn’t a requirement to watch the movies. Go figure.

So is the Grantmoor still there?

 

[Steelerone]

Sorry I have to take issue with that. As someone who grew up a mile from the Turnpike, late night dining to “soak up” what we had consumed earlier that evening was always at Olympia Dinner (affectionately known as OD’s).

I think Noah rebuilt the Olympia after the flood. Another one I remember was the Chinese Hitching Post. I also remember that they were closed three for four time a year for serving item not on the menu.

 

[Steelerone]

Funny....I always associated Berlin Turnpike with illegal street racing (a/k/a - incorrectly - Drag Racing). I don't recall ever attending (or participating in) one but, in my neighborhood (Savin Rock) they were legendary.

O Yea Jim. I took my Chevy Bel Air out there a few times. You can be stupid anytime in your life but I think you really work on it when you are younger.

 

[cohenzone]

When I went to college at UConn in 1961, I made some nice friends who brought me to Hartford to a place called Franklin Giant Grinder. I do not know if they still exist but I ordered a "capicola" grinder that must of weighed 3 lbs and all of the fixins and peppers and tomatoes, onions, lettuce and I think about 2 1/2 lbs of meat. What a "grinder" sandwich washed down with a six pack of beer. I cannot remember what it cost but it was cheap in price. Nothing like that in Albuquerque at that time and probably nothing like that anywhere anymore. Great stuff! Wish I could have that again, but not likely.

Being a Northender, I didn’t know about FGG until college. It was like finding grinder heaven. They expanded at some point from a real hole in the wall when they added the space from next door to put in tables. Haven’t been there in decades.

 

[cohenzone]

We would drive to McDonalds for a 19 cents hamburger and a shake that you could turn upside down and it wouldn’t pour out. Ahh, memories two

It was the only McD in the Hartford area for several years. 45 cents for a burger, fries and soda or a milk shake. It’s accurate that if you tried to drink a shake through a straw, you wound up with bulging mouth muscles. High school kids went from miles around. It was true fast food because originally they only had regular burgers and cheeseburgers, all pre-made and ready to go.

 

[JimGunther]

45 cents for a burger, fries and soda or a milk shake.

I still can hear the jingle, "45 Cents for a 3 course meal? Sounds to me like that's a deal"

Ain't early senility great?

 

[Huskee11]

Bowl O Rama is still there on the Berlin Turnpike. I have been there a few times in recent years and it is always mobbed. Closed for the time being, of course.

Still a lot of sad looking motels that are relics of a prior era.

My main attractions there now are Dick`s Sporting Goods and Stew Leonard`s.

I didn`t go to the Olympia Diner much (not sure why, it is a classic) but did frequent a chain restaurant near the bowling alley called Lum`s. That franchise was owned by the father of a high school friend, that explains why. Not there any more.

 

[JonathanXIV]

So is the Grantmoor still there?

Yes it is.

 

[cohenzone]

I still can hear the jingle, "45 Cents for a 3 course meal? Sounds to me like that's a deal"

Ain't early senility great?

Amazing the stuff that stick in our minds though. Not to digress from this thread, ok I’ll digress, but in the 60s when I was at UConn, there was a place up the hill past Huskies called the Varsity. Same deal as McDonalds cost wise. You went to the counter and filled out an order sheet. It was literally a mom and pop operation. I don’t think pop washed his sweatshirt all year. It was white starting the year and greasy black by year’s end. It was trouble for a Jewish guy like me. The owners were Jewish and tried to get every Jewish guy to date their daughter. I’m not sure she was ever there unless she was the one covered in grease.

 

[Fore!]

It was the only McD in the Hartford area for several years. 45 cents for a burger, fries and soda or a milk shake. It’s accurate that if you tried to drink a shake through a straw, you wound up with bulging mouth muscles. High school kids went from miles around. It was true fast food because originally they only had regular burgers and cheeseburgers, all pre-made and ready to go.

Some McD's history in CT: Where the Arches are Made of Gold

 

[White Dwarf]

We did a lot of street racing on the Berlin Turnpike when I was in high school. We called them local unsanctioned events.

 

[Waquoit]

Waquoit, you have to get out more.

42 years ago, that was out.

 

[phil sampieri]

I recall many Giants fans renting a room at one of the motels because we
couldnot get it here until I had a very tall antenna which you could turn to get channel 3