By Ricky Rieckert
Last week, we were still on East New York Street coming up to Lincoln Avenue in the recapture of Aurora business in years past.
On the northeast corner, in the Hill, was Don Walker’s Sandwich Center.
It was built into the Hill.
During the Winter, the large picture windows would be fogged up from the steamed French Bread.
I always wanted to write something on the windows.
He had hot dogs, beefs, etc..
His No.1 favorite, was the Gondola sandwich.
It was an Italian sausage patty, the shape of the French bread, that stuck out a couple of inches on each side, with melted American cheese, and grilled green peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Mmm good.
My dad would take me down there Saturday nights to pick up food for the family.
Don moved the business later, to a new location at West New York Street and Oak Street, which today is the site of the The Sandwich Center.
Back when I grew up, someone was always doing something extra to get customers such as a great sandwich, the biggest, what ever it took.
It was a pride thing.
People at restaurants really cared about their customers.
That building was torn down and there’s a medical building farther up on the hill
Roy Ballou owned it, and it had every kind of sandwich you could think of.
His Italian beefs were the best in Aurora.
Taking you back to Main Street and Lincoln Avenue.
A block south on the northeast corner was the old McCarty mansion, which later became Knights of Columbus Council # 736.
They held a fish fry every Friday for years.
They used to serve 350 customers on a Friday night.
Just east of there, the outh side of McCarty Park, was a hot dog truck, Jimmie’s Hot Dogs .
Used to call it Jimmy the jipper.
When I was a kid, they were five for a $1. and he had a special coney sauce that made them delicious.
Jimmy sold pop, popcorn, and candy.
Enjoy, and see you next week.