Other historical posts:
- Historical photos of the Wards Corner Giant Open Air Market
- The PHR Center Shops at Wards Corner – Norfolk 1952
- Rice’s and Hofheimer’s at Wards Corner
- WC History: October 29, 1947 opening of Midtown Shopping Center
- Uncle Louie’s Restaurant, Wards Corner, Norfolk, VA
Wards Corner History:
Around 1910 Alfred C. Ward, who operated a grocery store in old Market Square on the southeast corner of Market (then Washington) and Brewer Streets, opened a general store on the northeast corner of Granby Street and what was then Sewell’s Point Road (now Little Creek Road). It was the only store in the area at the time, although it was said that a building of some kind had been in the vicinity since 1895.
Sometime after the business was started, Ward took on the Michellin tire line. As a means of promoting the tire line, the Michelin tire representative posted signs on converging roads that read “Meet Mr. Ward at Ward’s Corner.” Out of curiosity, people flocked to Ward’s Corner. While some property owners int he area were displeased with the name, it stuck. At that time, and for many years later, it was all farmland, as these pictures show.
In 1926, two brothers, J. Buell and C.H. Tegg, built the first “log cabin restaurant” on the southwest corner of Sewell’s Point Road and Granby Street, specializing in what they believed to be the first “barbecue sandwich” sold in Norfolk. It was a huge sucess, and in 1934 they added to and increased the size of their buidling. About 1940 the brothers leased out the restaurant. In 1950 the business closed and the site leased to Hofheimer’s Shoe Store, who erected the present building on the site.
-Carroll Walker, July 14, 1986
Wards Corner – Mason Creek map, 1812
Wards Corner map, 1892
Wards Corner Texaco – 1926, Carroll Walker Collection
Tegg’s Barbecue, Ward’s Corner, 1929, Carroll Walker Collection
This picture should bring back pleasant memories to many residents of the local area during the 1929-1950 period. It is a photograph of the first Tegg’s log cabin taken about 1930. Renowned in this area for its delicious barbecue, its specialty. It was located at Ward’s Corner on Granby Street and old Sewell’s Point Road (now Little Creek Road), where Hofheimer’s now stands. Old Residents of the area state there were only one or two other stores there at the time – A Texaco gas station on the northwest corner (still there) and a drug store of some kind on the northeast corner. THere were a few homes in the area, and there was still much farmland. The business was begun by two brothers, J. Buel and Herbert Tegg, in May 1929. They also operated a standard Oil gas station on the corner as shown in the picture..Ward’s Corner was originally just a nondescript country crossroads in a lush truck gardening area in the 19th and early 20th century. About 1910 a Mr. A.C. Ward opened a combination gas station and grocery store on the northwest corner of the intersection. Sometime thereafter, so the story goes, an enterprising tire dealer in Norfolk induced Mr. Ward to handle tires for him, and placed ad signs on the converging roads reading “Mr. Ward wants to see you at Ward’s Corner”. The name stuck..The Tegg’s could not have picked a better location. It quickly became a popular place for people traveling east-west and north-south. Ward’s Corner was on the verge of developing – it would take off in a few more years..Tegg’s business increased rapidly as Ward’s Corner developed and the effects of the Great Depression began to wane. In 1934 the Teggs tore down the old log cabin and erected a two-story building that had a large banquet room upstairs, enabling them to take care of large parties, meetings, etc., in a more efficient manner. The new building was ready in 1935. Prices for the time were most reasonable: a plain barbecue sandwich cost 15c, a combination 20c, a Smithfield Ham combination 25c, a steak dinner 60c, etc., as their menu, printed about 1935 and reproduced here shows. During World War II it was very popular with servicemen. For a short time the Teggs later operated a diner at the same time on the corner of Granby and 21st Street where Shoney’s now is..In the late Forties the Teggs decided to retire from the business and went to Florida. Although they continued to operate the business. About 1950 the restaurant was finally closed and the building taken down. The property was leased to Hofheimer’s Shoe Store who opened a store on the corner in 1953. Pictures courtesty Mrs. J. Buell Tegg and are from the collection of CHW.-Carroll Walker (undated)
Wards Corner – Tegg’s Barbecue – 1930, from the collection of Carroll Walker
Tegg’s Log Cabin / Academy Terrace, Circa 1932, Carroll Walker’s Collection
Tegg’s Log Cabin Barbecue – The first cabin built by J. Buell Tegg was in 1926. Around 1934 he enlarged the first building to the size shown in this picture operating it with his brother, C.H. Tegg until 1941 when the Teggs retired from the business and leased it to another party, who continued to run the Restaurant. In 1950 the property was leased to Hofheimer’s Shoe Store who tore down the building and erected their own.
Tegg’s Menu, outside
Tegg’s Menu, inside
Construction of Midtown Shopping Center at Wards Corner, February 17, 1947
Archivists at the Virginian-Pilot came across this photo folded up in their photo files. It is comprised of three photos that have been taped and glued together. They did their best to digitally correct the fold and glue lines. It’s of course Wards Corner looking south towards downtown Norfolk. The only date on the back is 1950.
Wards Corner – Midtown Shopping Center, circa 1953
Wards Corner – Midtown Shopping Center, circa 1953
Wards Corner, circa 1953
Wards Corner circa 1955 – from the Norfolk Public Library
Undated Wards Corner post card, “The Times Square Of The South”, Carroll Walker Collection
Wards Corner Aerial 1956
Mercury Roller Rink, Corner of Taussig Blvd and Granby St, undated
Wards Corner circa 1975 – from the Norfolk Public Library
Northeast corner of Wards Corner showing Peoples Drug, Regino’s, and Smith & Welton, April 3, 1982, Carroll Walker Collection
Wards Corner showing Barnett Hardware and Rice’s, April 3, 1982, Carroll Walker’s Collection
Hofheimer’s, April 3, 1982, Carroll Walker Collection
Norfolk Compass, July 8, 1985 – “Despite setbacks and increased competition, Wards Corner survives”
Wards Corner Now - Wards Corner, Norfolk, Virginia 
Great job with the constant enhancement of this website and digitally publishing these photos. They remind me again, why do we now call our area “Wards Corner” instead of “Ward’s Corner”. If anyone knows, please email John at john@bookexchangenorfolk.com
grammar – as today is dr seuss birthday – our family is part of this community – notes about the development are encouraging
The USPS has a longstanding policy of discouraging apostophes in place names, so they tend to drop out over time.
Grammar is a calling in every language !! Thrive on in spoken word
On Thu, Apr 19, 2018, 10:23 AM Wards Corner Now – Wards Corner, Norfolk, Virginia wrote:
> Sykes Five commented: “The USPS has a longstanding policy of discouraging > apostophes in place names, so they tend to drop out over time.” >
This is GREAT! Thanks for adding this — we’ll add a direct link from our web page!
We held a Chat w/ Suburban Plank Holders at our last general meeting (Suburban Acres) — and the information / history of our neighborhood, Ward’s Corner, and Norfolk that was shared was wonderful! It’s something we plan to do recurrently, as well as running a column in our newsletter. The first will be in our December issue, which will include excerpts from the chat in Nov. If you’re interested in seeing that, be sure to visit Suburban23505.com, and you can subscribe at the top right so that you will be informed when the newsletter is posted.
Communications are improving with computers
Wonderful history and pictures preserved via the Sargeant’s Room’s Robert Hitchings. Robert’s dedication; diligence; research and seer luck completes each task as if it is for his own personal library. Kudos, on another job well done!!
good articles,but,nothing about the coal,wood and feed business my grandfather owned in the late 40s.,named chesapeake fuel co. business was located the train tracks between granby and sewells pt. road
I used to stop by Hofheimers when I was in junior high school to get free tickets to the Saturday “kiddie show” at the Suburban Theater. One week I got a ticket thinking they would show the kiddie show feature, and they actually showed “Ben Hur,” which was enjoying its first run at the theater. It would be great if someone could post a scan of one of those old kiddie show tickets.
Do you remember the monkey in the cage at Hofheimers?
Actually there were two of them at one time.
I really enjoyed reading this article and looking at the photos. My family and I lived in this area, and did a lot of shopping at Ward’s Corner. My parents told me about when Tegg’s Log Cabin and the trolley tracks were there, and there was still a lot of farmland between downtown Norfolk and Ocean View. They lived in Norfolk from 1946-48 and then from 1956-65. I came along in 1960, at DePaul Hospital. I can still remember going with my family to Ward’s Corner when I was little. My father had a real estate office on Granby St. in the 60’s.
Does anyone know when the trolley tracks went away? Was it an electric trolley? It would be nice to have them back now and be able to go up and down Granby from downtown to Oceanview!
I read in the green sheet that use to come in the newspaper that they stopped in 1948. That is the year I was born and I lived off of sewells pt road and never remember them. would of loved to seen them also. Donna
My name is John Tegg Redman Grandson of J. Buell Tegg. My Mother gave me the Tegg Name, because she loved her Father so much! I am proud to be a Tegg! Thank You So Much For This Website! My Grandfather and Grandmother were, ” So Wonderful People!” I miss them so much! I used to catch Fireflys at their house in Norfolk when we visited. God Bless You.
My father was a very young Marine and told us stories of the Navy and the Marines back in the day at Wards Corner and the Log Cabin. My mom was born and raised in Norfolk (Granby Park) and NEVER wanted to leave that area. Seeing the pics from the 80’s was great and the Wards Corner that I remembered and loved. Unfortunately, now it looks terrible. Would have loved to have bought my Granny’s house at 126 Granby Park before the Academy bought the back lot and an apt building was sold for a 2nd lot. Everyone back then LOVED the Log Cabin.
I worked for Haddaways Florist from 1981 to 1989 … I have fond memories of Wards Corner even before this!!
I LOVE THE OLD PICTURES!!!! If anybody has more of them, please post them. Great job on the history too!! Wards Corner was IT BACK IN THE DAY!!!
I was very curious about the “The Times Square Of The South” postcard photo, but saw that a lot of moire patterning was obscuring the image. I’ve cleaned it up in Photoshop, which I have uploaded to my website and which you can view here:
I would have emailed the webmaster this image, but I could not find any contact info on this site. Please feel free to download and use this adjusted image on this site.
My Father was Irving Postove “The Key Man” at Wards Corner from 1955 until 1987. He ran Wards Corner Key And Lock Company. No one could miss it because it was on a small island in the middle of the street in the Midtown side of Wards Corner near Little Creek Road.
My Dad loved Wards Corner. He would usually get to work 45 minutes early to have a second breakfast at Peoples Drug Store. There he would schmozze with the regulars, have a coffee or two, some grits, and relax before the long day at the shop. I doubt there was a day of work where he didn’t go to People’s first, then just before nine head on over to work.
There he would make keys, open locks, fix locks, open cars, dispatch the truck to help people locked out of their house or cars, and all manner of help for folks who needed it. In the summer, when I was older I went with him to work many times (not voluntary at first) and can say we had, perhaps, the best view of the whole shopping center. We saw traffic coming and going.
There were so many places, now gone, that I would visit while supposedly working for my dad. I remember Suburban News across the street which was run by Ruth for many years. There I would look through all of the comics and make sure i got all of monthly regulars. I would try and sneak a peek at the Playboys, but not too successfully. Ruth could be tough, but as I got to know her, she was a dear dear woman.
I would often slip into the Suburban Theater, if not for the picture, then just to cool off. I saw most of my movies as a kid at that movie house. There are too many places to name now, but I hope I brought back some memories, and maybe some old friends will see this post. Now that I know about this spot, I hope to come back.
Wards Corner was a glorious place!
Joe Postove
Israel
I remember your father. I was born in 64 and my grandfather used his service but knew him from peoples Drug Store as well. He used to go up to your father’s store (with me in tow) just to shoot the breeze. My grandfather was O.D. Leach and he worked at the downtown post office bldg. Later he worked at WC’s Wright Station and managed it for years before retiring. Your dad was always a very nice man.
Thanks, very much Kip! My Dad loved going to People’s in the morning for a half hour or forty five minutes before opening right at 9am. When I would work with him in the summer I would get a SECOND breakfast there. It was a great place to start the day, see friends, stay cool, and many times I would escape the summer heat of the key shop and hide away in Peoples. Sometimes K&K (it was closer) but peoples was nicer.
Another funny I remember about visiting your father’s place was my grandmother asking my grandfather (who was always punctual) where he had been on a few occasions. He had told her beforehand that he just had a few errands to run (grocery store and the like), but came home later than expected. He would say “I had to see about getting a key” or “I had to see a man about a key”, and she would give him that look and say, “Shee…….You’ve been standing up there talking and lost track of time again is what you’ve been doing.” It was always funny to see whether I was with him or not.
Just note on Ward’s Corner: My Aunt Harriet (not by blood-but by years of friendship) owned the Suburban News stand for several years and sold it in the late 50’s or early 60’s.
It is so painful seeing all of these old places disappear like this. I took dates to Suburban Theater and frequented many of the businesses there. Breakfast was awesome with my grandfather at People’s.
Kip, the Suburban News Stand was my favorite place at Ward’s Corner. If I still had the comic books I bought there in the 50’s they’d be worth a small fortune!
I went to the Suburban Theater often, especially to the Saturday Kiddie Show with free tickets that I got from Hofheimer’s Shoe Store. One Saturday instead of the usual kiddie show, the manager of the Suburban treated us to a showing of “Ben Hur” when it was on its first run!
Ward’s Corner–“The Times Square of the South!”
I remember seeing the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers and many others three. It was awesome.
I remember getting a key from your Father’s shop when I was 10 years old. It cost something like 35 cents. The island the store was on was where many people would get their bearings, after crossing over from the Ben Franklin side of Little Creek road. Then they would cross over to the Center shop stores. Pete Ivey
Joe your father made a door key for a Renault R10 that I owned, with no original key! A true craftsman! He covered the blank with graphite, inserted it into the lock, filing away the blank where the graphite indicated. Of course the key worked!
Theaters & movie houses ! Expressions of a checkered past in Wards CORNER. Peoples Drug Store..hardware stores…funny FARM FRESH changed manes ? Francos is the spot for a freindly meal. Thanks 2015 2016 2017 2018
6 years too late on this one. Long story short, when I was a kid I looooooved keys…still not sure why. I’ve been cleaning out my old toys, things my grandparents had, etc and I came across a key made at Wards Corner Key Lock Co, so being only young enough to remember when Wards Corner was….bad, at best, I thought I’d do a little digging. Amazed to find how vibrant the location used to be…and I think it’s slowly on its way back. Thanks for the post.
I also have a question for all the HR historians out there…I found a bunch of keys stamped Cheshire’s (200 Bank St), which I believe is in the location of the MacArthur museum but I can’t find any records of a company there….
I’m looking for an old friend of mine named Dan. He and his family lived in wards corner and his brother worked at a lock and key there in wards corner. My friend would be between 58-60?
I remember the Key shop! My Grandma & Grandpa always used them. My Grandma was Howard Lambert who was the GM of Volkswagen on 26th & Granby.
Make that grandpa! Grandma was Anne Lindsay Lambert, youngest of the 12 Lindsay kids.
We are new to the Wards Corner area and one of the things that strikes us most is that the Bondale apts look like they could have been military buildings at some point in time. Does anyone know the history of the Bondale Apts and surrounding houses? We are curious. My husband is active duty and we like to learn a little history about the places we live as it helps to feel some connection to our home away from home. IF they werent military housing, did they have anything to do with the time when the Worlds Fair was hosted here??
Did you find out the history of the Bondale Apts? They do look like old military housing.
The bondage apts and houses around it were built preparing for huge number of people heading to the area prior and during World War II.Depression was fading and the money was here. My husband ran a Pure Oil Service Station on east corner of Granby and now Little Creek Road. Known as Crowder’s Pure Oil Station. Great memories of the area.
They have turned into the “Bondage” apartments by now, I don’t know, but I lived in the Bondale apartments in the early 80’s and always felt safe and secure.
I meant to say “They MAY have turned into the “Bondage” apartments by now, I don’t know, but I lived in the Bondale apartments in the early 80′s and always felt safe and secure.
I use to buy gas for my lawn mower at that station. I use to mow lawns for extra money in the summer months when I was a kid, good times!
My mom Anne Buckley lived in the first house down the first street on Wards Corner. Her sister Linda lived across the street. My mom worked at a bar called “The Spot”. Thats where she met my dad while he had liberty from the Navy. Then they moved to Meadowbrook Garden Appartments. I guess they are not there any more. That was in 1959. We lost momma this year after being a faithful Navy wife and traveling the world. I got to see DePaul Hospital where I was born. It made me cry. So thankful I came home to Virginia although I left when I was less than 6 months old. God bless Virginia
My brother and I used to vist my grandmother on Marcy St. on weekends around 1955 and 1956. I still have many memories of Ward’s Corner of that era.Going to Cunningham’s Drug Store or Peoples Drug for ice cream, then to the Suburban Theater. I recall how nice the manager Stan Williams always was. We would visit Rose’s Dept. Store and Center Shops and Ben Franklin’s across the street. There also was a nice hobby shop behind Hoffeimer’s shoes.This was Ward’s Corner in it’s heyday, a really nice time to be young. A world when people were quite different.
I worked at that Hobby Shop. Owned by Al Shoemaker who also owned the Old Virginia Ham Shop which I believe is still there across from the old Giant Open Air. Later on his brother Bobby who ran the shop bought the business and we later moved over next to Al. I worked for them when I was 14 and finally stopped helping Bobby out during Christmas in 1976. that was 13 years.
I remember a hobby shop called Zephyr Miniatures. Is that the one?
Yes, that was the one. My dad and I used to go there almost every Saturday, and purchase supplies to build a model railroad. That shop was where we bought our HO scale model of the Norfolk and Western steam locomotive 611, of which the real thing is currently in operation.
That’s the one. We later moved east behind the Ham Shop across from Giant Market.
I loved that hobby shop and bought many kits and supplies from there. First thing I use to do was to go check out the built stuff on display, always gave me ideas on how to make the next project better. Around 20 years later I went on to manage a hobby shop in Oregon for a few years, inspired by that very hobby shop. Funny how life’s lessons come back just when you need them the most!
You had the job I always wanted. I used to visit “Toy Craft Hobbies” that was owned by Ralph Bobbitt, and was located on Chesapeake Blvd., almost every week until he closed the shop in 2011. Ralph and I used to talk about Zephyr Miniatures, as he knew the owner. I lamented the fact that Norfolk had lost a great hobby shop when ZM had closed. ZM carried the HO scale brass steam locomotive models of American railroads, many of which are seen on Ebay today, and command high prices. By the way, Ralph had some of those professionally built and painted ship and aircraft models on display in his shop.
Another beautiful thing about Wards Corner was that you could jump on a bus and go the Ocean View amusement Park. Rode my first roller coaster there, loved that place!
Whoops, that was suppose to go at the bottom of the page. Oh well!
If you are a local longtimer, you went to Giant Open Air to get a Pizza. There was no delivery and everybody got their pizza there. My first job was a bag boy there in 1971. It was the Walmart of our times.
Had that pizza many times, lots of cheese and peperoni, good stuff!
My sister use to go there and buy several of those pizzas and bring them home. we loved them . I had an ear aid that I had to go to the doc in WC twice a week for weeks and my day would get me an my mom a pizza every day, we went there. So this was instilled in my blood and my husband and I would stop there and get a pizza and sat and watch the train go by when we dated. That was the best pizza in the world.
I always went for the slices with the chunk of cheddar cheese on them.
David, did you have brother named Peter.or did you know the Hograves family with the pink house? I was a bagger at the Giant in 68 most of the other guys bagging went to Norview. It was a great job , especially if you got to load the cars made great tips.
Giant Open Air was a wonder to me! It was like a little fair. You could pick out your steak and they would cook it for only the price of the meat. It was almost as good (for a shorter time) as Peoples was for seeing people you knew. People’s was of course the best place to get a quick snack or even a full meal, 24 hours a day. My Dad was the locksmith at Wards Corner and when I would work for him sometimes in the summer, many times we would get to the shop early and go on over to Peoples for a second breakfast. My Dad knew everyone there, and the atmosphere was wonderful. There are very few places I miss as much as Peoples Drug Store!
My parents went to Wards Corner every Friday night. My father would go to the old Seaboard National Bank, later renamed Virginia National Bank, while my sister and I would go with our mother to either Ben Franklin Five and Dime or Rose’s. If we went to Rose’s then it was a sure bet we would go to Center Shops. When time for a haircut my father and I would go to Owen’s Barber Shop down across the tracks on Virginian Dr. We would always visit my aunt and uncle who lived on the old Waco Street, long before I 64 came through and took their house.
Did Roses have a lunch counter? Ever?
I don’t remember Roses having but Ben Franklin and People’s Drug did. When I used to go to WC with my mother on the bus (what an adventure!!) we would have lunch at Ben Frankin and sit at the counter waiting to see the bus coming down Little Creek Rd. When we would see it we would go running out and hop on board. Great times and memories. Oh, by the way, lunch always consisted of “The Burger Basket”!!
I encourage all to check out the wall mural at the new Firehouse Subs when it opens there. You will see how the corner looked with Peoples Drug, Smith and Welton and the Turtle airplane
I am afraid the turtle was not at Wards Corner. It was up on Hampton Blvd.
The Turtle was at Ward’s Corner about where the interstate crosses Granby now.
Ah Yes.. the Truculent Turtle on Taussig Blvd
More on The Turtle can be found here. http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2011/01/truculent-turtle.html
As a Navy brat of a Norfolk born 21 one year career man, I have happy early memories of “The Turtle” when driving in and out of the base gate. I remember smiling its way every time seeing it and talking about at home on Hampton Blvd. between Lewter’s Terrace and Ben Morel elementary school. Long before my vocabulary included “Truculent,” my references were simpler than its whole name. What a happy memory to come my way more than six decades later.
Is “The Pancake House” still over where the A&P used to be? I worked for Jerry who owned “The Barn” and “The Pancake House” as well. The Barn was attached to the Admiralty Motel near Janaf
Hi Joe,
Admiralty Motel was torn down years ago (late 80’s maybe) as was the Barn – now there is a Walmart there in it’s place. Pancake House was a favorite haunt of my grandparents in their later years (90’s) and they ate there often. As of about 7-8 years ago it was still there. Ate there one last time in their memory.
Yes, The Pancake House is still near where the A&P used to be. Back in the 60’s and 70’s it was open at night and many of my friends and I would eat there after work. Now they close at night.
Hi Kip,
I moved away from Norfolk in late 2011. When I did, Wards Corner was in a sorry state. They had even torn down my Dad’s little shop! I worked at the barn in the early 80’s and remember when it was torn down. I know that Jerry Renisis (sp) who owned that and The Pancake House and a little bar near the Chinese place (near the old Hofheimer’s) passed away some time ago.
Took my wife that Chinese place a few years ago. I remembered my mother taking me there when I was young. It was not how I remembered it – and she prefers not to remember it. It was not very good at all. I remember the little bar that was there too. Barnnet’s hardware, A&P, the little Kayo station……….. I even skated at the Mercury to meet girls as a teen. My god I’m feeling old……..lol
The Chinese Restaurant you are referring to was the Sai Gai, next door was a bar called the Blue Parrot and later Jerry’s. (Jerry Rensis)
I recall a very nice record shop called Edlestein’s on Little Creek Rd. next to the magazine stand. This would have been somewhere in the mid 1950″s
James, Edlestein’s was a great record shop with personal service that was pretty rare at the bigger stores like “Track’s” down the street.
I remember when I became a giant fan of The Who in the late 60’s one of the girls who worked there gave me all of the promotional material that the record shop had received when their album “Tommy” was released.
A really wonderful place.
I understand there is a Chinese buffet in the old A&P building.
Reginos was the best place for good eats at Wards Corner. My Dad and I would eat there a lot. He never ordered Italian food, but always the same thing; chopped steak, smothered in onions and a salad and baked potato. I can still smell it. It was a great place!
Let’s not forget the old Burger Chef located next to the Giant Open Air. Also the Firehouse Subs opened today. You can check out Peoples Drug, Smith & Welton, and the Turtle airplane on their mural. There also numerous old Firefighter photos hanging on the walls there.
The Turtle was not at Wards Corner. It was on Hampton Blvd.
The Turtle sat at the North-West corner of Granby and Taussig. It may have been moved there at some point during construction of these roads, but it was definitely at Wards Corner.
There was also a Burger Chef at the east end of the Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach. At the time Carroll’s and Burger Chef were the “fast food” burger joints.
David, I had a friend who worked at the the Burger Chef. Is the building still there. I can’t remember the street address.
The Turtle 100% started at Wards Corner. It was moved to build the interstate
They moved it a few times during the 60’s but I recall it at Taussig and Granby as well for a few years.
How about the vertical experimental rocket jet that supposedly killed it’s pilot.
That was the Pogo by Convair which is now in a museum in Maryland. No one died from the program.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_XFY_Pogo
You are correct. The Turtle is visible in the photo “Wards Corner Aerial 1956” (left edge of picture about 2 thirds up–Taussig Blvd and Granby St).
Is this when there was an airfield along side of Granby Street?
Love the pictorial history. Grew up in Daniel Gardens in the 1950s and 60s, and Wards Corner was wonderful and exciting. the Suburban Theater and the Mercury Roller Rink plus the newsstand that sold comics, the Ben Franklins with it’s toy section in the back, and the pharmacy next to the Suburban theater with it’s great soda fountain section and popcorn machine. It was a great place and time to be a kid. Hi Jeannie and Connie Jones, Jimmy Finley, Michael O’ Toole, Bucky Johnson, Wesley, Larry Swain, Charlie Everett, Perry and Chester Long, James and Martin Loving, Larry Sullivan, Mark Goodno Sharon Mills, Robert Wilson, and many more of the great kids from that time.
In the mid 1950’s there was the “Snowbird” soft Icecream store with sugar cones, a block from the railroad tracks, on Little Creek road across from the ABC store. Sometimes,people would be in line to get served.
I have photo of my Dad in Alfred’s Bar, Ocean View dated December, 1945. Is the name by any chance a reference to Alfred Ward?
I am looking for a picture and history of the big house at the corner of Grandby St and Lafitte (sp?) which was torn down some years ago. It had 56 rooms and a big porch on the front, owned by the Joynes family. My grandmother was the sister of Bony Joynes. Thanks!
Would love more information about the Bondage Apts as well. My family moved there in 1954 -56 and they were called Sussex Apartments. I remember the A&P , the Suburban Theater and especially the Hofheimer Store with the monkey and the playroom upstairs.
Brenda Highton
Brenda, While there may have been some “bondage” activities going on, the name of the apartment complex was Bondale. I lived there from 1981-83. 🙂
I lived there in the late 60’s. They had coal fired steam heat at that time!
BONDALE APTS … SORRY !
Ah…I posted too quickly! Sorry!
I lived in Oakdale Farms in the late 40’s and early 50’s and my brother and i would walk to Ward’s Corner each Saturday morning for the kiddie show at the Suburban Theater. We would always stop at the drug store nearby and buy peas for our peashooters which we used during the whole of the kiddie show. Eventually they started to frisk us at the door of the theatrer and our peashooters would be confiscated,along with our ammo. We also used to go to Hofheimer’s to watch the monkey in the window and to obtain tickets as others have mentioned.
There was a new department store built in Ward’s Corner during that period and they had the first escalator we had ever seen. Our game would be to run down the up escalator and up the down. Hmmm. Seemed like fun then. I loved my days in Ward’s Corner.
The Dept store was Center Shop, it had a door that connected to a Roses five and dime. Now I know who was hitting me with the peas at the Suburban Kiddie shows. Do you remember the raffle for dollars based numer on popcorn box. I won it once a felt like a king (a dollar was a lot o money for a kid in the 50s). nice to know others share those good memories. Pete Ivey
I remember going to see Santa every Christmas on Granby Street in WC. So many good memories.
I remember standing in line at Ben Franklin’s to see Santa.
Do you remember that there would be a band from either Granby High or Northside Jr. High doing Christmas songs in the Parking lot in Front of the Suburban theater.
I remember Wards Corner and all the stores there. My mother use to take us there for shoes at Hofheimas’s and we would shop at Smith & Welton. But does anyone remember the name of the restaurant over the Giant Open Air convenience store?
I can remember being afraid to go up there. It looked too fancy! 🙂
I’m looking to see if I can find a picture of “tracks records and tapes “. It was a record store store I believe in that area circa 1977. Wondering if a pic exists on the internet. I don’t know exact address of the store. I know it’s no longer there. Please let me know if you know of anything. Thanks
Tracks records and tapes was on the corner where the Harris Teeters is now. I shopped there all the time in the early 80s. What was the name of the deli in Wards Corner.
I don’t have a photo, but I remember in the early to mid seventies they built a good size records and tape store. I think they renovated the Crossroads resturant and put the tape store there. It was sad to see, because, I think it put the little record shop next to the newsstand out of business. It was quite a deal a big deal when it opened.
Hi Pete,
My Dad owned the key and lock shop at WC for many years from the 50’s till the 80’s. I think the first music store where the Cross-Roads restaurant was, was Tracks. The little record, which was really a great place with wonderful personal service that Tracks did not have was (I think) down from the newsstand and either close to or next to Melvin’s Deli. Ward’s Corner was a truly great place to hang in the 60-80’s!
I THINK that the Cross-Roads closed around 1969. Then they either built a new building or refurbished the old one and open a “Hub” men’s clothing shop. Someone here should know the history of that site.
Bought my first 45 rpm record at that little store! All the cool stores from back then are long gone, very sad to see.
Any idea of who owned Cross Roads? Thanks
There was a tiny indoor news stand right along the sidewalk nearby a bus stop just around the corner the from the Suburban theater. I remember adult magazines placed high enough out of the reach of kids. After seeing Saturday matiness movies, I’d walk over to the news stand to sneak peaks of the covers of such off-limits periodicals as Confidential featuring naughty celebrities. I wondered what could have been on the inside forbidden for kids to see. Always tall for my age with gawky long arms, I actually could have reached up to take down one of them, but didn’t dare. As it was such close quarters, someone would have surely caught me. And, who knows what would have happened way back then in 1955 to this ten year for such unheard of behavior for that time.
Amen Joe, skating rink, kiddie shows, monkey and upstairs play area at Hoffimers, the amazing Giant open air with a pizzaria, bowling alley with pinball machines, a Pancake House with silver dollar pancakes, a model shop, Highs ice cream, Naas bakery, Ben Franklins with a toy section in the back of the store, etc etc. Plus it was a safe place. Adults loved and kept kids in line ( most of the adult men were war vets). Base ball fields for neighborhood kids in Suburban acres and Daniel Gardens. Great place and time to be a kid. Joe what were your favorite places, besides the key shop?
I hear that the Pancake House is still there. Do you know, Pete? They also had a nice bowling alley down at the end of that strip by the railroad tracks. I escaped the key shop lots of times to go there to play pinball. I wonder what’s in that building now?
It’s now a gentleman’s club called Highlights. At one point in time it was a bar called Finally Sandys owned by Sandy Folty(sp).
People’s was my favorite. I could spend hours there, while I was supposed to be working for my Dad. I could make a Tab cola last for hours while reading the magazines and talking to the other customers, most of whom I knew. Regino’s was the best place to eat at Ward’s Corner. I started going in there from the age of about 4 with my parents and sister. We hardly ever got Italian food, and my Father always ordered the same thing, Chopped Steak smothered with onions, baked potato and iced tea. They all knew him and didn’t really have to take his order. The knew what he wanted. Gosh, there were so many places. I hung out at the news-stand for hours (seems like I spent less time at the key shop than anywhere else 🙂 and tried to get a look at the nudie magazines, usually unsuccessfully. Ruth was the owner and she and I could go on for hours talking about nothing in particular and having a great time. She was so super! And the comic book selection there was supreme! I would, every month get my new supply, usually “the Flash”, “Superman”, “Action”, “Adventure” “Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen” “Lois Lane”, “Batman”, “Detective” and as many more as I could afford at 12 cents a piece. I usually bought some Archie books to cleanse the palate. Life was great at WC. I really loved the place. More memories later!
I started going to the Ward’s Corner newstand in the 50’s when I was a pre-teen to get Superman comics. In my teen years I also found a great magazine called _Magic Handbook_ that taught how to make and form all kinds of magic tricks. I have many fond memories of visits to that store.
Don’t you wish you still had some of those old comics. I still have the original Flah vs Superman comic were they raced each other. Which elementary school did you guys go to? I went to Suburban park. My dad was the janitor at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. he had been discharged from the Navy for type 1 diabetes. I use to go to Sunday school there. I would walk up to the church with him on Sunday nights when he would close the church and other buildings up. I remember walking past the car lots along the way with the huge cars from those days. We would stop by a Highs ice cream or the drive in next to the church and get a drink on the way home. Forget the name of the drive in, but it was popular in its day.
Pete, I had over two thousand of those babies for many years. All from the 60’s (except a few from the 40’s which I sent away for) and early 70’s. Man, if I had them today…YIKES! But when I moved to California in 1977 I lost them.
We lived in Thalia in Virginia Beach most of the time my Dad had the shop (we lived in Riverpoint Apartments behind DePaul Hospital when I was very young) and so even before the interstate, my Dad made the trek out to WC about 7:30 every morning, which gave him some time for another little breakfast at People’s. He loved People’s even more than I did. He knew absolutely everyone, and basked in the friendship that was to be had there. Than at about 5 till 9, he would walk over to the key shop and open for business until 6 o’clock.
I remember Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, it’s still there, no? It was where the interstate passed over, right. We were Jews and went to B’nai Israel Synagogue in Ghent.
I can’t remember a drive-in at Ward’s Corner. Also where was the High’s?
The drive in was Burrough’s and High’s was next to Nazz Bakery.
Where was that? Maybe it was before my time. I can’t remember it.
You’re right Steve Burrough’s. I ger a drink there called a cherry smash, what was cool is they but a Maraschino cherry on a small plastic toothpick sword in the drink. I saved those little plastic swords forever, they were cool. The High’s started out on Burrough’s side of the tracks, just pass the little shopping area that had the small barber shop and diner run by Hati. It later moved next to Naas bakery. Great little bakery. I use to get this devil cake thing covered in a chocolate shell with a whipped cream like topping inside, really good.
Joe you are right about Wesley’s location. Although when my dad worked there the interstate hadn’t been built. Joe did you ever go to the JCC near Granby High. My wife worked several summers there as a summer camp counselor, and I got recruited for the men’s softball team those summers.
Pete, when the JCC opened in the early 70’s, I would ask my Dad about 2:30 if I could go over to the gym. I would swim, play basketball, it was a great place. About 5:30 I would come back to the shop, so that I would be there for my Father to take us home, or as was often the case to a baseball game. We would eat at Regino’s (there seemed to be no other restaurant for Dad at WC) and then go to an American Legion Baseball game. My Dad was a “bird dog” for my Uncle Harry who was a professional baseball scout. While he was on the road six months of the years, my Dad would scout out local talent for him and write up a report. It was all fun and I thought it would last forever.
I sure wish it could have.
Swam there year around for many years, played a little basketball there as well. The Virginia Squires use to practice there too!
Great time and place to be a kid. Think about the freedom to walk and go to all the places we did as kids. Things were different. If we were acting “stupid” any adult could tell you to “straighten up” and you did. Wow, your uncle was a professional baseball scout. Did you follow baseball back then? If so, do you remember the 1968 Detroit tIgers St Louis Cardinals World Series? What an amazing come back. You collected comics, did you collect baseball cards to? Remember how big Little league ball was in our day. Pete
Yeah, Uncle Harry was a scout for the Chicago White Sox for many years, and then for a few other teams until he died in 1999. It was a big deal to have a major league scout in the family.
I remember the Tigers-Cardinals series in ’68. It was a real nail biter! I never got into baseball cards. Comics were my game. And back then, I think, you were either a Marvel or a DC man, and never the twain shall meet. I was a DE devotee and also Archie, for fun. I was a serious collector; and I mourn the day the movers lost them.
My Dad and I would also eat at Giant Open Air’s restaurant. You could pick out a steak and they would cook it for just the cost of the meat. It, to me, was even more fun than Regino’s. I really miss all of those supermarkets that had restaurants in them. It seems like they all did at one time.
Joe, when you dined at Regino’s did they still have the jukebox? Did they still have the little selection boxes for the juke at each table. When we ate there I was a kid, and enthralled with selecting three songs for a quarter. Other than the lasagna , it was the highlight of dining there for me. Pete
Loved the Giant Open Air. That was a great deal with the streaks!
I also knew your Uncle Harry through my dad who grew up with him and thought a lot of him. . Loved talking baseball with him at the Norfolk Sports Club luncheons He knew all the old Norfolk players who made the bigs…Hank Foiles, Chuck Stobbs, Al Gettle , Bruce Howard and had a lot of great stories to tell..
At times hard ball is a wall builder-soft ball is a bridge builder and no comments at all? perhaps a state of apathy ? out of state and in prayer
My friend and I locked ourselves together in handcuffs when we were about 10 years old.
Your dad unlocked us. 1969 or so.
I think the banquet room at the Ward’s Corner Giant was called “The Terrace Room.”
The Norfolk chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians held their annual banquet in that room back in the mid-1960’s.
Wow, that is an interesting fact. I worked at the Giant as a bagger/ cashier from 1968-69 (then Uncle Sam requested my help). Can you visualize the painting of the Monitor and Merimac in the room. I can because as low ranking employee I ended up setting the room up and breaking it down on several occasions, along with a little help from other peons. Thanks for the interesting info Amado. Did you do magic?? Pete
I started doing magic around 1963–learning from books i found at the Bookmobile and at the Norfolk Library on Freemason Street. Shortly after that I joined a magic club for teenagers that met at The Magic Shop downtown. You can see some samples of my magic performances here:
http://tinyurl.com/sonny-magic-promo
Amado, we had a kid big into magic in my old neighborhood. he started with one of those boxed kit with several tricks in it. I was 7 or 8 years old when he did a show for a bunch of us little kidss. He had this capsule he would open and there was a creepy looking eyeball. He close it and tap it a few times and vuela, no eyeball. Still can picture it in my mine. Could not access your link. Checked on Facebook, are you the Amado at Bayside High?
Pete, when we ate at Regino’s they still had a jukebox and the little ones on each table. My folks would always play “Moon River”. Do you remember Dave (who managed the place) and George (who was the chef and owner I think). I had some fine meals there. When my Mom would come with us she would usually get Italian food and a pizza for all of us too. Dad would stick with chopped steak smothered in onions!
I remember faces but not names at Regino’s, it was a rare dining stop ( mom liked Italian), my Dad paid so we usually went to Mason’s seafood in months with Rs for oysters ( I got a hamburger). Mason’s didn’t have the friendly ambiance or Jukebox. I liked Regino’s but in those days had no vote. Pete
Just for fun, can anybody guess what movie is playing at the Surburban theater based on the stars listed on the Marque. If so what year was it released, and did you see it in the theater? Pete
PETE: The Marque at the Suburban Theater listed the 1955 movie “The King’s Thief” also starring Ann Blyth and Roger Moore. Typical 1950″s sword and sandal epic.
Regino’s had the best pizza ever!
Britt, Regino’s still exists. They moved east on Little Creek Road, near the Amphib. Base. I thought they had gone out of business. I was shocked to find them. They have the same sign. The interior is plain but the food is the same. I still love their pizza and have found none better.
Pete,
I taught German at Bayside High from 1970 to 1983.
Amado, Did you know the PE instructor Mr. Peters by any chance?
Pete
I went to P.A. from 1970 until 1975. Bayside had the reputation (I don’t really know how deserved it was) of being the “bad boys” school. I know we had a kid come to Princess Anne from Bayside because he tried to burn down the bathroom 🙂 I know that we had Coach Verspirelle as an assistant football coach after having a really hard time at Bayside.
I remember there was a police drug/marijuana sting near the Bayside school grounds one year.
That likely contributed to Bayside’s bad rep. The police rounded up not only some of the kids buying marijuana, but also some innocent student bystanders as well.
You are right James! Loved that old theater. Saw Ben Hur there, was packed, kids sitting in the aisles. Good job James.
My mom took me there to see ben hur also!
Like the posted stories of others which bring for me both a twinkle and a tear, I’ve so many special memories of that area. A Navy brat of a Norfolk native, that’s where things began for me in Oakdale Farms where a now very tall tree was planted at the time of my birth seventy-one years ago. Living in a trailer park off Hampton Blvd, the Hampton movie theatre was my first. And the drive-in atop the family Buick with a pillow to watch the double feature including the dancing weinie countdown between shows when the refreshments and the upfront playground were enjoyed. Later I felt so sophisticated riding the bus with a friend to the Suburban theatre at Wards Corner and even downtown by way of the Riverview (Ten Commandments, Sound of Music) to the Granby (King and I, Giant) and huge Lowe’s and Norva theatres. Beyond a cool summer escape from hot, humid weather, this was the start of my lifelong love of movies, Hollywood, the Oscars. I never quite worked up enough nerve to sneak a peek between the tantilizing covers of the then extremely adult Confidential magazine which I at the Suburban Newstand. Hurds for seafood was way back in the woods as I remember it when dining there with my parents. Peoples, Owen’s Barber Shop, Ames and Brownley where my Mom was in charge of the Santa photo section each December, Rices, Smith and Welton, Rices , PHR, Hofheimer’s with the x-ray vision shoe fitting machine and upstairs merry-go-round for kids. My Mom and I were there as my flat feet grew and/or she purchased red heels to assuage her melancholy whenever my Dad shipped out for as short as three months or as long as eleven. Thinking myself a favorite of the wandering Mr. Peanut with top hat, cane, and monocle, he was revealed many years later as my well-disguised namesake Uncle—the same one who helped build the fortress-like post office in connection with the WPA before then working there ’til relirement. Ocean View with the roller coaster and insanely laughing lady above the fun house terrified me. After moving to Virginia Beach during my Princess Anne H.S. days, I didn’t much go back to the areas of so much childhood fun other than to commute back ‘n forth to Old Dominion College/University. Thereby contributing to ravaging affect of the inner-city, I moved away from Virginia with happy memories. And, returning occasionally to see ever dwindling old family and friends, happily notice a resurgence in some hot spots from days gone by. If not the same as before, I’m happy for the younger generation creating what in years to come will be their own brand of equally fond recollections.
i am 69 and as a kid every year when my aunt came from WVa. we would go to Hurds
Restaurant (all my moms brothers and sisters. ) . I loved going there and the food was great. I was young and everyone is gone that may remember it. One day I tried to look it up and couldnt find and thing about it. where was it located. and I am so glad that someone else remember it.
Our family did as well. Great big seafood platters. Original was a log cabin in the woods, burned down twice then they built the concrete building.
Born in Portsmouth near the end of 1945, I grew up in the area until finally moving away for the last time in 1970. Oakdale Farms, Hampton Boulevard, Norview, Riverview, Willoughby were the places my Mom, Navy Dad, and I lived — ending up finally along the water at Broad Bay Colony in Virginia Beach. Attending several elementary schools, I graduated Princess Anne H.S. in 1964 and Old Dominion C. in 1968. I taught at Seatack E. and Norfolk State College. Wards Corner Subruban Theatre, Heffheimer’s, haircuts by the train tracks, Ocean View, downtown Norfolk along Granby St. with the Granby, Lowes, and Norva movie theatres are among my fondest memories — as well as the seafood platters back in the woods at the Hurd’s log cabin, pies at the little Toddle House, the hoagies with the Coke bottles pulled from the case at George’s French Bakery, B & B truck stop, Lewter’s Terrace, High’s milkshakes with strawberries that clogged up the straw and shopping at PHR with the walkover, Smith and Welton’s, Ames and Brownleys where my Mom snapped Christmas photos of kids on Santa’s knee, Rices and on and on and on. To this day, I feel a better person for having grown up my first on ‘n off couple of dozen years in such a special area.
Loved reading this ! Thanks for the memories of Wards Corner our shopping paradise in the late 50’s early 60’s. We lived in Sussex apts and moved to Lake Terrace behind Janaf. Such wonderful flashbacks of growing up in Norfolk!
Where in Sussex did you live? I lived at 512 Birmingham from 1950 till 1968.
Warren, my dad had the key shop in the middle of the parking lot near the gas station and across the street from K&K. I spent many great days there at many of the same places you mentioned. We lived out in Thalia, so it was a good commute for my Dad every morning (especially before the interstate). I too, as did my brothers and sisters went to P.A. I graduated in 1975.
Just very vaguely remembering a little key shop there at Ward’s Corner, I lived not far from there in Oak Dale Farms and through the years off Hampton Boulevard, Norview, Ocean View, Riverview, and finally Virginia Beach before relocating to Michigan and now along the Atlantic coast in Central Florida. In Virginia I attended Benmorel, James Madison, Jeb Stuart, Norview elementary schools, Princess Anne H.S. (class of 1964), and ODU (class of 1968). My four decade teaching career started at Seatack Elementary and Norfolk State College. Moving around so much up ‘n down the Eastern seaboard and even overseas in Turkey due to my Navy career Dad, I was born in Portsmouth and happily ever after considered the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area home turf no matter where else lived through the years. Living such a vagabond life here there and everywhere, my Tidewater roots left the most lasting impressions. Whenever I happen to come across things concerning my first years in Virginia, it brings back so many (approximately 1945—1970) actual memories or stories from parents and other family members of growing into my adult years. As they apparently still float around in my now ancient noggin’, it’s always a pleasant surprise when they come back to me as if I’m right back there all over again.
Warren do you remember the beanies the ODU freshman class of 1968 had to wear during orientation?
I grew up on Blake rd next to Winn Nursery. My mom worked at Moore Travel next to BE_LO by Suburban Theater. My friend and I locked our selves together with a pair of real handcuffs
Had to go to the key shop to get them unlocked. 1969 we were about ten years old. NO CHARGE!
I think the laugh your dad had was enough. Many fond memories of Wards Corner.
.
🙂
Back in the 60’s and 70’s we lived on Yorktown then over on Newport Rd. Wards Corner was my mecca during those times, K&K, the Suburban, People’s Drug Store, Giant Open Air Market, etc…. We loved living there and never thought I’d leave, I still remember the smell of the bowling alley and the skating rink, the pizza from Regino’s, and the little sub shop that I believe was called Jim’s Sub Shop. I saw James Bond movies (Sean Connery) at the Suburban, bought my first record at the little record shop on Little Creek Rd, and my first big fire! A storehouse and drugstore fire in the early 70’s which woke everyone up in the middle of the night, that was wild! It sad to see it now, Google Earth and street view allow me to revisit and show me the change, somethings should never change and Wards Corner should have been one of those places.
Britt, it seems as if everyone who grew up there (back when) has only good thoughts. Kids were kids and adults acted like adults and Ward’s Corner was a little piece of Heavenn on earth. Reading your comment takes me back to all those great spots. PeteO
I recall going to Rice’s to buy Boy Scout uniforms and Levi’s jeans, that place had it all for clothing! One of my other favorite memories was of Giant Open Air Market. We use to go there and pick out a steak out of the fresh meat display and they would cook it for you over by the big fire pit. For a kid, that was totally awesome to watch! We also watched them make donuts and bake cakes, the cake decorating was done to that all could watch the magic unfold. It was the first place I ever saw a can of chocolate covered ants, so funny to see my buddies reactions when I pointed that one out. I also learned to skate at the Mercury Roller Rink, such good times will never be forgotten!
Can anyone remind me the name of the little bitty newspaper/magazine/comic book shop and dime store? What about the not too far away barber shop near the train tracks on the same side of the street? Later there was a stand alone clothing store whose name also baffles me. It was in the corner or the parking lot up near but a bit to the side of the Suburban movie theatre.
I think the dime store was originally a Ben Franklin but I remember it as K&K 5 & dime. I don’t recall too much about the area by the tracks except my Dad took me to get my hair cut there and down on the end was a shoe repair shop. I’m recalling possibly an electronics repair shop in that section as well but I’m not sure. On the other side of Virginia on Little Creek was the sub shop, long gone now. I wish there were more pictures of that whole Wards Corner area shot in the 60’s and 70’s.
I think it was called the Suburban News Stand..and was operated by Mr & Mrs Calleran at least for awhile. I went to school with their kids
The News Stand was “Suburban News” and for many many years faced Little Creek Road near the corner with K&K. Ruth Callaran (sp) ran it and was a very good friend. I would hang out there looking at comics (and trying to get a peek at the peek a boo magazines before they put them behind the counter).
I probably spent more time there than “working” for my Dad across the street at the key shop.
Wards Corner was a glorious place in the 60’s and 70’s. My Dad’s shop was perfectly situated for us to sit out front and watch the girls pass in the summertime. Yummy!
I miss it, my Dad, and all of the great characters who made Wards Corner into a great place. It will be a part of me forever!
The Barber shop was Wards conrners barbers, there were three good ol boys who worked there. Next to the barber shop was a little luncheonette, it was run by a little lady called Hattie. She served nickel cokes in a coke glass and would give you a hit of Cherry syrup for free. The store was originally Ben Franklins. The one next to center shops was Roses. I am not sure but I think the comic shop was called Wards Corner news. Can’t quite recall the sign cause never really saw it from the street.
Most people went to 15 barbers on the main strip.
My Dad, Irving Postove started taking me to Mr. Tyner (he had the first chair at 15 barbers) when I was very young and we were living in Riverpoint Apartments. They had to give me a booster chair so he could cut my hair.
It is like a dream, now….my Dad talking sports and stuff with his good friend Mr. Tyner, and me, trying not to squirm too much. It Itched! After giving me a flattop, Mr. Tyner would spread some shaving cream on the back of my neck and pretend to shave me like a big boy!
Then he gave me a penny for the gum machine, and it was back on My Father’s shoulders for a ride back to the key shop!
Anyone remember a ice cream shop near the 15 Barbers Shop?
There was a Highs Ice Crean on the other side of Granby street where the Chinese resturant was. it was next to Naa’s bakery. This was in the 60s.
I got my first taste of fancy, (to me, age 7-ish) ice cream at Highs Ice Cream. It was vanilla with real cherries in it, I was amazed!
Check out the mural in the ward’s corner firehouse subs. It is a replica of that shopping center.
I would like to see more 60’s and 70’s photos of the area, that was my time in the area and some great memories came from back then.
Highs had the very best strawberry milkshakes I’ve ever tasted. The huge fresh strawberries would clog up the straw, but that’s not a complaint.
Wow forgot about the strawberries getting stuck in the straw, they also used real milk and real ice cream. Did you ever do the pop a balloon for the price of your banana split at Ben Franklins. The prices ranged from 1-39 cents. You would point to a balloon and they would pop it and your price was on a piece of paper inside. Even at 39 cents a banana split with a scoop of real Chocalate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream and the works was great. Thanks for the great memories.
We moved to Norfolk in the 1950s. My mom was born there. My dad was Glenn sandifer. He was a hearing aid man. His first hearing aid office was in wards corner. He then moved it into our home on princess Anne rd., where it was for years, until he died in 2000. I remember mama taking us to hofheimers there to get our shoes. Seems like I remember mama taking me to the movies at a theatre in wards corner.
Did your dad’s hearing aid office on Princess Anne Rd. have a sign that said “Hear Hear”?
Do you remember the monkey at Hofheimers?
That theatre you remember at Wards Corner was called Suburban. It had silver metal doors.
I remember seeing Ben Hur and also Gone With the Wind there. It is bittersweet remembering days gone by, isn’t it? The memories are great but then I yearn for those times and know I can’t go back…..
Nostalgia–Greek origin.. ( nost) return home + algia ( pain)
The bittersweet memories of days gone by are offset by a positive attitude about making new memories for the future.
Way back in 1964 I was among the very large first graduating class of Princess Anne H.S. After my birth in Portsmouth, we lived in Oakdale Farms, Hampton Blvd., Norview, Riverview, Ocean View, and VA Bch during my high school and college days at ODU. That is, when not traveling to various out-of-state locations such as Massachusetts, Florida, SC, and even overseas to Turkey along with my Navy Dad. Our ship ahoy home base was always the Norfolk vicinity.
I have lots of great memories made at NAS Norfolk, played baseball at the Norfolk Amphibious Base too!
What was the name of the sub shop in Wards Corner, and is it still there?
It was called Mr. Jim’s. It was later sold, and the new owner just got rid of the “J” on the sign and renamed it Mr. im’s.
I recall one time being stuck with my Dad in the cat trying to get out onto Little Creek Rd but being stopped because of a train. He gave me money and I went into Mr Jim’s and bought two subs. We were able to eat them before the train started moving again! Sadly Mr Jims is long gone according to Google’s street view.
Auto correct strikes again. Car, not cat!
One on Battlefield Blvd south of Cedar Rd. is only one left. Closed the Great Bridge location after a fire four years ago. Of course, the one at the ocean front was also gone long ago.
Wonder how many people got hit and hurt/killed trying to cross the street with all the different corners and unmarked crosswalks in the old days? No walk signs, nothing …like the Wild West for pedestrians! A lady and her two children were killed by a soft drink truck in front of the Texaco station … really sad!
The soft drink truck killing the mother and two children in front of the Texaco station sounds as if it should be extended into a story. Sad and really sort of whacky, if you thing about it.
I seem to recall a lady getting hit and killed by a bus at the crosswalk by the K&K where it crossed Little Creek Rd. in the late 60’s.
I found this cool video about the history of Ocean View Amusement Park. Enjoy!
Thanks for the video Britt, great memories. Moved from Wards Corner to Willoughby in 1963, spent a lot of 10 cent day Saturdays at OV amusement park. Pete Ivey
We use to jump on the bus on Granby St. and ride it to Ocean View. Spent many a summer days there, my first roller coaster ride was there. I remember the clown and the old woman figures as well, the fun house ride was quite something too. Loved the ferris wheel and those chairs on the cable that took you across the park, I felt like I was flying!
Brit do you remember the putt -putt golf course near the train and picnic are? Pete
HISTORICAL ONE moment at A TIME ICONIC Organized for capacity to build roads to come together as a Community + Family after prayers
I was a sailor in the early ‘80s and always liked Melvin’s Deli. It was the best pastrami in town! They had great imported German beer too. Mel would always ask if I liked the new mustard he’d just made; his wife always said it was too spicy. They seemed to always be bickering over something! He packed up and opened at Waterside when it first opened. Does anyone know how they fared at Waterside? Any history or photos of Melvin’s to share?
What was the name of the record/music store? 1970s and 80s
Tracks
Not sure think it was something like music Warehouse. I went to the little record shop close to Suburban newsstand
Tracks was the music store.
Love all the memories of Wards Corner. We lived in Monticello Village and Oakdale Farms from 1944-1952. I worked at Ben Franklin during high school (Norview). Spent a lot of time walking to and from Wards Corner. A wonderful time – Mercury Roller Rink, Suburban Theater, bowling alley, shopping.
Noticed middle name Bishop, did you have a younger brother John Bishop. Lived all over Norfolk, but spent elementary school years living in Daniel Gardens. Went to Suburban Park Elementary. Kid in band named john Bishop played cornet. Junior high went to Northside, do did John. Great band teacher, Mr.Derieux. Do many good memories ie marching in Oyster bowl parade, Christmas concerts in parking lot close to Suburban theater, and spring concerts at school.
Sorry, not related.
I’m a descendent of AC Ward. I have a great photo of the grocery store he owned which has a Michelin sign hanging on the front. AC is in the photo. I’ll happy to share if you give me a way to upload it. Found the photo while going through some old photo books my folks had.
I worked at the Mister Jims Jumbo Submarine shop (was ma first job)..”Would you like hot or sweet peppers? Something ice cold to drink or fresh chips?”
I worked at Radio Shack, then Wards Corner Sporting Goods between 1982-85. Great place, great memories.