ADVERTISEMENT

OT: Morgantown things that are no more

Vernon

The Legend
Staff
May 29, 2001
173,149
265,949
718
Beyond The Sun
wvsports.com
While reading the recent thread on favorite Morgantown drinking spots I thought of this link I ran across about all the things that were once well known in the area but are no more. Check out the list below. What would you add?
------

Morgantown things that are no more....

Gina and Erin initially helped me out with this list, in the summer of 2001 I believe. Others who have contributed are mentioned above the list of things they sent.

New additions appear at the end of the list.

  • Ali Baba's in Westover
  • The Underground Railroad/Underground
  • Morrison's coat store down town
  • Second Ward Elementary (and annex)
  • First Ward Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Mistakes at Dairy Queen
  • Fins, Feathers and Fur
  • Health Sciences was the hospital
  • Chico Dairy: Mighty Mountaineer Ice Cream Sundae

  • Ray's Pastries (downtown, where the Blue Moose was as well as every other incarnation)
  • Why McDonald's downtown closed
  • The Theatre at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Lums at the Mountaineer Mall
  • When the Middletown Mall was the only mall, and actually had stores....
  • Shop & Save/Foodland/Thorofare (?) downtown on Richwood Ave
  • Roller Rink downtown
  • Morgantown Jr High School (end of the Walnut Street bridge)
  • The Vanity Shop
  • The Mountainlair when:
    1) you could smoke there
    2) it didn't look like a mall

  • Why the old stadium was great:
    it was downtown
    the band running out of the tunnels
    Sunnyside
    The Backyard Brawl
  • When the Met was actually a working theatre
  • Hardee's downtown--it had a basement dining room
  • Wings & Things People hanging out in front of Massulo's Dry Cleaner (I was never that cool)
  • When the fountain in front of the post office downtown worked
  • When the Little Village was a red-neck bar
  • The theatres next to Hills
  • When Captain D's was next to Shoney's
  • Burger Chef downtown

  • The Foxfire
  • Chalkies, when that alley had a wooden fence in the middle that made it a dead-end
  • The goddam dryhouse/the machine shop
  • Craig's Comics
  • Space Port
  • Carousel library cards
  • Falstaff's in Sunnyside
  • The miniature golf course/batting cages on Greenbag Road--was it Hole in One
  • Montanero's in Sunny Side
  • Alfredo's on Pineview Drive
  • The payphones by Dairy Queen, at the beginning of that alley on the wall.
    Two of them.

  • Little Caesar's Pizza
  • The Fayette House
  • Don't forget the miniature golf course that was behind Hills.
  • Scotto's Pizza on High St., where the Subway is now.
  • Dr. John's (DJ's) was on street level in Sunnyside and the place to be.
  • Gabe's was where the Brew Pub is now and you didn't want anyone to see you shop there.
  • Mario's Pizza at the top of High Street.
  • Nick's Canteen was the greatest place to get hot chocolate before the Christmas parade.
  • WVU was the #1 party school and proud of it.
  • The Steppin' Out guy painted on the side of Daniel's, before they painted over it with that huge Main St mural.
  • BOPARC dances in the summer.
  • Record Mart on Walnut St.
  • Plant and Pet Shop

  • Hecks--one in Sabraton, and one in Westover (Kimmie Tyer)
  • St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Convent (yup, they're now gone)
  • On the corner of Prairie Ave and University there is only the back wall left of a two story garage. That used to be Prairie Street Gym. Before that it was a garage for Wilson Chevrolet. You can still see the paint on the walls from the locker/shower room. (Chris and Connie Law) (17 August 2004)
  • Lof's (John Corral)
  • Dr. Pizza. They used to deliver their pizza's in an old ambulance (Susan)


  • Robert Cress
  • G.C. Murphy's
  • Rite Aid
  • Revco
  • Mc Vicker's Pharmacy
  • Famers and Merchants Bank
  • Morgan's (when they had hobby supplies)
  • Murphy Mart
  • Sterling Faucet
  • Carosuel Drive -In (Mileground)
  • Dairy Delight in Sabraton (Hero Hut)
  • Giant Eagle In the Mountaineer Mall Parking lot


  • Wayne Womble
  • Whiteside's , a department store downtown on High St.
  • Biafora's, a clothing store across the street from Masullo's Cleaners
  • The Flora Dora Shop, a women's clothing store next to Daniel's
  • The Olympia, a great bar and dance hall close to the Book Exchange
  • The Cottage, a dirt bar where most of the football players frequented


  • erin
  • Wizard Records
    NOTE: I still miss Jack and Wizard Records. Anyone remember the names of the other employees? "Chris was the guy from Fairmont with the mohawk."
  • Backstreet Records (owned and operated by Eric Hansmann)
  • Falstaff's


  • Debra and Mark Riffon (3 July 2004)
  • The intersection of Beechurst and University Ave. was AAA for years, but before that it was a Texaco gas station with upper and lower gas pumps.
  • Across from that Texaco gas station was the Beechurst Ave. Market and the Gold & Blue Restaurant.
  • Where Mode Roman and Nautilus is now, was Wilkins Motors.
  • Where Vic Solomon's garage is now, was Wilson Chevrolet.
  • On Chestnut St where SaraTec was, Pizzaria Italia was downstairs and the Castle was upstairs. And, before that it was the Pontiac Garage.
  • Where Great Wall on High St. is now, use to be Moore - Parriott Pharmacy.
  • Right beside where Great Wall is, was Bakers Hardware.
    • Harold Crowe worked at Bakers Hardware from the time he left the service untill the store closed. It was his only job (Charlotte Dalton)
  • Where BW3 is use to be Greys Cutrate Drug Store and the ajoining street of High and WAlnut use to be McCrory's.
  • On Chestnut St the building where the restaurant is with the deck and lanterns and hanging lights, used to be the Sanitary Milk Co.
  • Where the Human Services Dept is now, used to be the ACME Supermarket.
  • Where the Dollar General is by the South High bridge now, used to be the A & P Grocery Store.
  • A & P also used to be where Boston Beanery is on Patterson Drive.
  • At the top of High St. where the bank is used to be Borden Burger Foods (remember the big Satalite)
  • Across the street where the VooDoo Shop is, used to be Gioviani's Pizza Shop.
  • To the left of the Dairy Mart on Willey St. where the parking lot is used to be the Thorofare Grocery Store. After that is was Foodland until it burned down.
  • Where the Senior Center is on High St, used to be Montgomery Ward. It was 3 stories. If you look up at the building you will still see the big "W"
  • If you look at the ingraving on where the Pawn SHop is now on High ST. you will see Farmers & Merchants BAnk. Also down from where Subway is now used to be Woolworth's.
  • Where the bike shop is by the courthouse use to be O. B. Fawley's and beside that was the State Liquer Store. and before that it was Rogers Drug Store.
  • The Mountain Peoples Co-op used to be Picketts Dry Cleaners.
  • On University Ave where the parking garage is now, used to be a small white building that was Kelly Cab and Yellow Cab.
  • At the end of Westover bridge where Wings Ole is now, was Firestore Tires.
  • Where Gibby's is now use to be Communtzis Restaurant.
  • On Walnut St. down from where the Blue Moose is now, used to be Presto Lunch (what a great place to eat)
  • Where Salvation Army Shop is now, used to be Radio Shack.
  • Where WesBanco is in Sabration used to be a Sunoco Gas Station.
  • Where Hardee's is in Sabraton used to be a Texaco Station and a car wash.
  • Beside KFC used to be Mr. Donut.
  • Dominion Post used to be on Spruce St where Manpower is now.
  • To the right of where manpower is now on Spruce St. is a Medical building. That used to be the Moose Lodge.
  • To the left was a gas station and the building on the corner was Plaid Stamps Store.
  • At the intersection of Stewart St. and Chestnut Ridge Rd and Stewartstown Rd was Chestnut Ridge Grade School (became Bed & Breakfast and then some kind of Lodge after that) and across the street was a Texaco Station.
Steve Deahl (31 Dec 2004)

  • Mom and pop grocery stores: Chester Hartley's store on the corner of Grand Street and Gordon Street in South Park (briefly became Dairy Mart, before moving to its present location on Dorsey Avenue); Bobette's store on the corner of Wilson Avenue and Kingwood Street (later located in the building behind its first location); Marvin Luckini's store on Kingwood Street (I hope I spelled Marvin's last name right); Forlini's store on White Avenue; Bailey's grocery on the corner of Arch and Green Streets; Cobun Avenue Confectionery on the corner of Cobun and Maryland (Connie Negri still has her business, but it's on Pleasant Street now); the one on Barrickman Street in First Ward which later became (and may still be) Roto Rooter; and many others across Morgantown that I don't remember because they weren't on the south side (where I obviously grew up).
  • The five-and-ten's: Woolworth's on High and Wall Streets--I especially remember their record section in the basement; Murphy's, across from the court house, where the Dollar Store is now--you went through the front door, down the stairs, and the toys were on the right, pets on the left--and at Christmas time, Santa came there so you could sit on his lap and tell him what you wanted; and the ultimate five-and-ten, McCrory's on the corner of High and Walnut--so huge that a multitude of businesses now occupy its space (BW3, Z Club, the state treasurer's office, etc.)--McCrory's had great old wooden floors, a great restaurant at the back, and the ladies' underwear was segregated into a separate room where little boys weren't allowed to go so they wouldn't get any bad ideas.
  • Downtown restaurants: Remember when the Acropolis was a restaurant and not a coin shop? (It was where the Discount Den now is.); Remember when {where BB&T Bank is} was the BBF before it was Borden Burger before it was Burger Chef? (and before that, it was a Chinese laundry and Olan Mills photography studio.); Bonanza steak house on the corner of High & Fayette (later Hardee's, & later still Cafe of India's old location); the Indian restaurant that was in the back of Cafe of India's old location before it became Cafe of India; Cosmopolitan hot dogs; Healthy Bites (now the Blue Moose); Hav-a-Lunch on the corner of High & Pleasant, where the Huntington Bank drive-through now is.
  • The bench on the corner of High and Kirk Streets, which had "Southside Lumber" painted on it--used to be the only bench in all of downtown Morgantown, but I never saw anyone ever sitting on it.
  • The pet store on West Street in Westover (at the far end from Holland Avenue).
  • The bakery on Walnut Street (now a lawyer's office), next to D&A Jewler's (now the porn store).
  • The house on Wall Street with the great balcony and the barber shop on the first floor, which was torn down to become Morgan's parking lot. The barber's wife was a painter, and her paintings were always stacked up so the barber couldn't use one of his chairs. The barber shop moved to the location which is now the Blue Moose's new dining room extension.
  • Grocery stores on High Street! (High Street Market & Morgantown Market)--one was on the corner of High and Forest, recently torn down--the other was where Subway is now.
  • The Blue Tic Tavern in the Mountainlair!
  • The Double Decker bar on Walnut Street (now the Living Room), and another bar down the street, the Washington Cafe (now GARO).
  • The miniature golf course on the Greenbag Road, where Bluegrass Village is now.
  • Downtown newstands: Walter's News, on the corner of High & Pleasant, and before that in the middle of the block of Pleasant Street between High & Spruce; and Stenger's, where Casa d'Amici is now.
  • John Marshall Records, at its many locations up and down High Street, and even on Willey Street at one point; Record Bar in the Mountaineer Mall; and Disc Jockey in the Morgantown Mall.
  • The Euphorium, upstairs in Sunnyside--Morgantown's very first head shop, I believe. Speaking of head shops, where Cool Ridge is now used to be the Morgan Theater.
  • The stadium bridge--no wonder I don't walk to Sunnyside anymore!
  • Morgantown's first pizza delivery place, Phantom Pizza. Its location was supposed to be a secret, but it was on Beechurst.
  • Morgantown's first Kentucky Fried Chicken was in a small building on Patteson Drive which today would be located in Kroger's parking lot. The "Today's Buffet" Chinese restaurant next door used to be another Bonanza steak house.
  • Morgantown used to have good Chinese restaurants! The Great Wall (not affiliated with the current Great Wall) was where Fatty Loaf's is on Walnut Street; East Garden is now that tea house above Zen Clay; and Foosheen used to be called Hallelujah Chinese Restaurant and used to be good despite the fact that they were serving up cat meat.
  • Independent book stores! Who can forget Stilwell's on the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets? (Before it was Stilwell's, it was a bar called El Toro.)--Not to mention the cafe in back of Stilwell's. I remember it first as an oriental grocery store, then Cafe Libretto, then Cafe Catherine, then Grasshopper Locomotive--and now a parking lot. How about the book store on Foundry Street, next to the South High Street Brigde? First it was Wolf's Head, then Abshire's, and finally Books Books Books. Remember Trans-Atlantic Books on Fayette Street? Or how about Riverrun in the Garlow Building above where Kinko's used to be? (and remember when Kinko's was on Willey Street?)--well, some good news, Riverrun is back, now in the Sand Castle on Walnut Street across from the police station/parking garage.


  • Matt Helmick (17 Jan 2005)
  • "The Press Box" (bar) and the trailers behind it, near the stadium.
    NOTE: These just went down in 2004, and much of that whole stretch is now being converted to town houses. (Expensive town houses I'm sure.)
  • Dick's Hot Dogs ("Everyone Loves Dick's"), one of many drive-thru ideas in the building near the intersection of University and Patteson.
    NOTE: The original building was some el cheapo drive through/walk-up hamburger joint (Rally's?). No one seems to realize that's a terrible location and they'd be better off razing it to the ground and selling the space for parking.
  • Pizza Man on University Ave, all you can eat pizza buffet for (if I remember correctly) 3.99. Not a bad deal if the folks in the kitchen were actually making pizzas while you were there. The price eventually went up, in anticipation of the liquor license, which never went through, and the joint went out of business. Next it was the Alamo, some of the most expensive burritos I've ever seen.


  • Randy Oleksa (19 Jan 2005)
  • Ed's barber shop on Brockway avenue
  • Carl's roller rink also on Brockway next to Connie's grocery building is gone now.
  • This goes way back: The Commodore restaurant and department store used to set in front of Sterling Faucet along route 7 in Sabraton.
  • The Hayloft bar then it was Company B dance club in Dellslow where the Dairy Mart is now
  • Beckman Brothers Feed Store in Sabraton where Southern States is now.
  • Cloverleaf drive in on Cheat road
  • Johnnie's Texaco on Cheat road
  • Whipper will on the lake (Cheat Lake)
  • Sycamore lounge on Fairchance road
  • LuLu Belle's on Fairchance road


  • Jay Paulovicks(19 Jan 2005)
  • The Columbian Dorm - on Beechurst Ave. - now an office building
  • My Brothers Place - in an ally downtown
  • Communtzi's Restaurant - Downtown - Slogan was "Where Dad took his girl and grandad too"
  • The Armory
  • The "tin can"
  • Reynolds Hall
  • "Bonded" gas station on Beechurst
  • Shoe shines at the Met Theatre
  • Pool Hall in "old" Morgantown BEFORE the BBF was built there
  • Whatever was "49 steps up Walnut from High"
  • Old Hawley Field drill area (ROTC) - where coliseum is now
  • Tony's Restaurant - Italian restaurant near Chico Dairy
  • WVU Dairy at Ag School - when it provided ALL milk and ice cream for all residence halls
  • Golf course where the new Mountaineer Field is
  • Mont Chateau motel and restaurant


  • David Schreiber (28 March 2005)
  • The Cantina
  • RedBeard's
  • Di Giovanni's on Sunnyside- old married couple ran it- home of 3 am pizza- but watch your change!
  • The Old KA House (just knocked down)
  • Original Mario's Fishbowl- don't curse!
  • The "CI" a/k/a College Inn on Sunnyside
  • The Bullpen on Sunnyside
  • The Down Under
  • The Fifth Quarter
  • The Nyabhingi (after the Underground)
  • Grant Street Block Party


  • Richard Scroggs (16 April 2005)
  • The College Inn, University Avenue, Sunnyside USA where I worked as bartender and doorman in 87-88. I believe the CI held the record for the oldest, continuously operating bar in Morgantown.
  • Down the street in what later became half of the Foxfire Hot Diggity, my brother in law's (Bob Armstrong) hot dog only restaurant. It closed in the early 80's, around the time Old Mountaineer Field closed.


  • Rick Smith (18 April 2005)
  • The old, three-story offices of the Daily Athenaeum near the corner of Pleasant and Price Streets (am I remembering those correctly?) -- it was across the street from a sorority house... Man, that was a great old building for a geeky newspaper crew to hatch its world-domination schemes from... before putting the paper to bed every night and heading down to Mario's Back Door for a pitcher! =)


  • Tom Lapp (26 April 2005)
  • The Berger Chef on (now) Rte 705. Was right next door to Flatts Elementary school
  • Flatts Elementary School, as well as the middle school that it fed into that was out about where the Wal-Mart not-to-be was going to go. I forget the name of the school. I want to say Chestnut Ridge, but I cannot recall for sure. It would have been 5th and 6th grades and fed into Suncrest Jr High School.


  • Page (Whitty) Borger (4 May 2005)
  • How about Fredlock's? Fredlock's used to have one of those weird Zen things that made designs in the sand. Also they used to have these raunchy mugs with women on them, and when there was condensation on the mugs the women's clothing would disappear. I would love to know if anyone remembers this.
  • Grey's discount
  • The Dining Room!
  • Jambie's


  • Happyberrys (27 May 2005)
  • Remember the Morgan Theatre, it stood up from what is now the Boston Beanery, right at the alley. It became a hot dog place and beside it was a clothing store. I think the clothing store moved across the street. Where the hot dog stand was is now a bar. Actually when I was young, I think the movie theatre closed but my parents remember going to movies there as they were growing up.
    (NOTE: I remember the Hallmark store next to where the Beanery now is, not sure about a hot dog stand. Anyone else?)


  • Jacques Williams(20 June 2005)
  • How about Pike's Rest. near the corner of High Street, later on the House of Cards and now a lawyer's office.


  • Mark DeVault (10 July 2005)
  • It was the "Floradora Shoppe" (Not the previously misspelled Flora Flora Shop))
  • How about the original arcade at the Mountaineer Mall..."Chuckles"
  • And no list of Mom & Pop grocery stores could be complete without Austin's on the big curve on Stewart Street


  • Vincent Skolny (11 July 2005)
  • The Dungeon
  • Restaurant Express
  • Green turf behind the Lair, the little, flat-roofed garage catycorner to the B&E building that we used to sit on and drink


  • Jason Fowler (26 July 2005)
  • Bauers lumber in Sabraton (food lion is there now)
  • Original Lowes in sabraton
  • The hot dog stand people are reffering too was the Cosmopolitn I believe (NOTE: Yes, Cosmopolotin Lunch)
  • Beer distributer that was where the Citgo stands on Beechurst now (Icebox maybe?)
  • Nationwise auto parts, then became parts America in Sabraton, now it is a dollar general.
  • PharMor was above the Morgantown mall and K-mart was where profits is now in the mall
  • There was a food store (Food Lion or Giant Eagle) where K-mart moved too (NOTE: It was a Giant Eagle. I don't think it lasted a year.)
  • All the Pizza Inns in town and at the old mall (NOTE: One at the old mall, One by Hills... Can't remember the others.)
  • Weiner world in the old mall.


  • Kari (Bailey) Handa (31 July 2005)
  • The Wharf Rat arcade located in the Hills parking lot about where Rax moved in.
  • The Westover Drive In both as a movie place and a flea market mecca every Sunday during the Summer
  • The Twist Top restaurant located on Holland Avenue in Westover. It was located in the building which now houses the Northern WV Performing Arts School. I use to stop there for snacks after dance class at Beth Barnes Dance Studio. After the Twist Top closed it became the first Ali Baba's in town.
  • Beth Barnes Dancing School in Westover
  • Dogs and Suds, the drive up curb service restaurant located on Monongahela Blvd. in Star City where the Exxon is now located.
  • Westover TV where you got your TV repaired and paid the cable bill.
  • Westover Bank which got bought out by Huntington United.
  • When the tornado took off the back end of the Wilson Motors building.


  • Brian (8 August 2005)
  • The old Kroger in the Heck's Plaza in Sabraton where CVS is now.
  • Mr. Donut in Westover (now Taco Bell).
  • Cloverleaf (?) grocery store on Richwood, also former home of the Tao Shiu Kuan School of Martial Arts across from Mario's Fish bowl.
  • Richter Volkswagen (Then PRO) across from Heck's Plaza in Sabraton.
  • One On One, the driving range, miniature golf, go-karts, and arcade on Greenbag Rd. (now Bluegrass Village)
  • University News on High St.
  • Burger Chef on Chestnut Ridge Rd. (now Wings Ole)
  • The original Hotel Morgan Ballroom (Now Elevation 127)
  • Loving Furniture (the 49 steps up Walnut:))
  • TelePrompTer Cable on Spruce St. (remember when all we got was 2-13 and Showtime?)
  • Richard's Kiddie Town clothing store on High St.
  • Royal Furniture on High St.


  • George Papandreas(10 Oct 2005)
  • The A&P on South High where the Dollar store is now. Anyone remember when you could drive down a really steep ramp at the back of the parking lot and go under the building?
  • The Biggies Burger place where Appalachian Gallery is now...across from the Post Office...the folks that had the Rays Pastries owned it...Ray Lambert...RIP Speaking of Rays Pastries, they were where the Boston Beanery is now and replaced Pikes Bakery...sorry, Jacques!
  • The Hope Gas Company where City Office Equip. is now. Remember when there was actually a person on the other end of the phone when you called them?
  • The Water Company was where the photographer is now on the right side of the S. High Bridge...them Wolfshead Books...etc.
  • When the Warner Theater just had one screen. The Presto Restaurant on Walnut street.
  • The Parthenon bar to the left of it. Both owned by the Demanelas Families...Gus and Bill. The Fox club in the basement.
  • Randolphs Restaurant where the Blue Moose is now.
  • When Tanners Alley was in the narrow little room right there somewhere by Presto. There was a Bakery there next to Presto for a short while. Owner was Donnie Hunter and wife. Donnie went by "Zero Sardonicus" sometimes.
  • The stereo place in what is now an apartment building on the right out-of-town side of the Walnut St. bridge. Then it was a motorcycle shop owned by a guy that ended up on the FBI most wanted list...Andy something...went by "Dog".
  • Dean's Jewelers on Walnut around where the porn shop is now...he was a bit spooky, but a good guy! Below him was Aunt Jennies Pastries...great brownies! I think that was where there is a vacant law office now.
  • The Eleanor Shoppe womens clothing shop on the Corner of High and Walnut. Later became a McDonalds.
  • Lovings Furniture on Walnut. Later had a boxing club on an upper floor. Weiss Jewelers on High...later added the Golden Parrot Gift Shoppe...around the place where the Comic book place is now.
  • The little red and white ice cream shop that was there somewhere for a short time.
  • The little market run by Mark...the hippie NJ guy in the narrow little room that later beacme the Peanut Shoppe and is now a Law Office.
  • Kenney's Shoes, later Weiss' Jewelery then the University News and now the Hobbits Closet.
  • White Cross, then Revco, then Byrd Optical, now an insurance office...corner of High and Wall St.
  • Woolworth's where WesBanco is now. After Woolworth's, remember Murphy's upstairs, Masterpiece, above it? There was a dance school up there for a short time, too.
  • Morgantown Hardware, Revco, Absolute Pizza, now the Mediterranean Market. Wasn't Whitesides in the next space? Communtzis Rest., then The Dining Room, then Gibbies.
  • The H&P store where Reiner and Core was...now a furniture store.
  • Dragans Steakhouse, Bonanza, Hardees, a mountaineering store now First Exchange Bank.
  • High St. Market where Subway is now. Scotto's Pizza was there for years.
  • The stereo place across High St from First Exchange...corner of High and Fayette, later a Gap Store, Hot Dog Place and now a Pita place.
  • The Met. Theater when it still was a movie theater. Mr. Communtzis, (Tyke) ran it. It closed several days after he died...RIP. Great guy...I loved talking to him...thin as a rail, though!
  • House of Cards then Devincent's Music Store...can't place what was before the House of Cards...
  • The little narrow room to the left of Devincent's was the original location of Cosmopolitan Lunch.
  • Morrisons Dept. store, Spaceport Arcade, a couple bars at one time or another, then Ali Babas, Levels, and now de Lazy Lizard
  • Stairway to WCLG radio...they once took a baby elephant up those steps!
  • The pawn shop on the corner of High and Wall was preceded by an optical shop...can't remember what was there before...
  • Down Wall St is Maxwells. It has had many owners but was originally the Ruff Stone pub...#1 Wall St.!
  • Across Wall St. was the Morgan Theater building. The theater was owned by Tyke Communtzis, but was managed by Larry and Vera...(sorry, can't remember their last name)...Great People!The little room on the right side of the lobby was a peanut shop in the old days, then Recordland in the 50's. Later, the Pretzel Oven, and Cosmopolitan Lunch for 26 yrs. Everyone came in there! Famous for hot dogs with chili! OK, I'll shut up, I owned it!
  • after the theater closed in 79 or 80, there was the Athletes Sole shoe shop, a tanning salon and now Cool Ridge. To the left of the lobby area was a mens shop, then shoe repair, then Wharf Rat arcade, then Athletes Sole, later expanded, then tobacco shop then Cool Ridge, later expanded to today.
  • The Basement was Moonies pool hall, Grannies Disco, Fantasies, (briefly), The Greek, Speakeasy, with floor shows and a Piano bar, Alexander's, which later burned, (arson), then Class Act, now Vice Versa.
  • Remember the L&G shop in the 70's? Then a bar, then a Biscuit sandwich place...nasty!
  • Then Ali Baba's now Big Times.
  • The Boston Beanery was Pikes Pastries, then Ray's Pastries.
  • House of Cards was where the Law Offices are now...HW&S, but was Grays Cutrate drugstore before that...used to have the best prices on records in High School!
  • Next, goin' down High was Pettreys Shoes, later a Loan place, tattoo shop hairdresser. Now a bail Bond place.
  • On the corner of High and Walnut is Urban Eats, before that, T&L Hot Dogs and a loan place.
  • Different part of town... Remember Hills in Star City? Bet you don't remember that they were the first to open on Sunday in defiance of the States' "Blue Laws" and the manager was arrested!
  • The Wharf Rat Amusement Center in the Hills parking lot behind the service station was the first arcade in Morgantown and the first to have video games and foosball !
  • Pizza Inn and the Star City theaters...first theater in Morgantown to show Star Wars as well as Saturday Night Fever!! Star Wars was there for months!!
  • The miniature golf course on the hill behind Hills.
  • The smell of the sewage treatment plant on humid nights...whew!!


  • Robert (30 October 2005)
  • Pizza Inn also had a location in Cheat Lake (I cant remember where) Jim Dunn used to manage (maybe owned) the location at the Mountaineer Mall across from the Theater. Jim , at one time, was manager of Pargo's (now gone).
  • Pargo's, Italian Oven, Etchings (now Glasshouse Grill), Barry's Office Service's animated christmas windows? speaking of Barry's, the 8am opening and their great Jingle. (ok im biased i worked for Dave and Susan for 5 years)
  • Also anyone remember the circle in the center court at the Mountaineer Mall.. and santa's village? With the electronic Rudolph in the back (facing Penny's) who used to "talk", for many years i never knew my father played Santa at the Mountaineer Mall (80's) and Hill's.
  • Speaking off Hill's, there was a very smal arcade in the plaza later on. Along with Aladdin's Castle at the Mountaineer Mall, it had been in 3 locations during the years. Also that funky wallpaper at Weiner World at the Mountaineer Mall. Remember the big "M" made out of stone that used to stand at the main entrance??? before the addition was built?
  • Also remember the restaurant in Heck's plaza in Sabraton??? where the mexican restaurant is now??? they used to have those wagon wheel light fixtures? I cant remember the name... but Mary Johnson used to work there at the counter... she was a sweety... i can just hardly remember that..
  • oh for Hill's... they had a christmas character named Spryte... for Hill's memories check out www.hillsstores.com a fan site remembering Hills....
  • How about the old restrooms at the courthouse where you coudl access from teh courthouse square???


  • Velda Frisco (18 January 2006)
  • Before it was the Underground Railroad, it was Mateo's.
  • Also, Virginia Chittum's Dance Studio on High Street.
  • Gabes was on Walnut Street before it moved into the Brew Pub building.
  • Bowlby's and Weintraub's on Pleasant St. Ziegfield's was a bar in the castle beside the beauty school.
  • Dering's funeral home was on Walnut St. Jenkins & Brown , now Fred L. Jenkins, was on Pleasant St. where the parking garage is now.
  • Marsh's Shoe store on High Street.
  • Auto Parts on University Ave.
  • Household Furniture where Bartlett house is on University Ave.
  • Jules Kay Jewlery on High St. around where the bead shop is now. Morgan Leather where HealthRight is now on Spruce Street.
  • There was a roller rink above Morgans.
  • There used to be a recreational club for young teens on Wall St.


  • Andy Ice Horton
  • As a life long resident of Mo'town, I recall most all of the list. What amazes me now when I am downtown is that most all stores are gone and replaced with BARS.
  • Remember when bars had last call at 2 am? And the only places to go after that were the OWLS club (Walnut Street), open until how late?? I know they were open until at least 4:30 a.m.!
  • Or you could go to SPENCERS (out toward Mountaineer Mall, along where Sound Investmenst is now) for STEAK AND EGGS. How yummy at 2 or 3 in the morning!


  • Kay Comuntzis-Getsinger
  • Marv's Pizza in Sunnyside across the street from the old Mountaineer Field....it was there as early as 1955.
  • Irene's Dress Shop on High Street first next to the Dairy Queen and later moved to almost the corner of Walnut and High. Owned by Vicki and Quintine Pettite and I worked there off and on from ages 14-22.
  • Goldsmith's....Harry Goldsmith was the Saul Radman of the 1940's and '50's and on into the '60's.
  • DeAntonis' Barber Shop on Walnut ..... George DeAntonis always had time for the young men who needed someone to talk to. Whata guy!
  • Nick's on Willey next to where John Fleming has his Book Exchange today. It was owned by my Uncle Tasso and cousin George Caravasios who now lives in the DC area. Great place to TGIF and then move on down to the Olympia to dance to the tunes of the Bonnevilles!
  • Sherman Shoes was next to my family restaurant and was owned and operated by Perry Jubaleer....cute fella!


  • Benjamin Snead
  • The Olympia
  • Have-a-Lunch
  • Maudes next to Chi Omega
  • The Joker on the river
  • Jimmys on High
  • "The Greeks"


  • Tom Montague
  • ''OATES TEL-O-DINE'' IN STAR CITY WHERE LONG JOHNS IS NOW. ''OR WAS''


  • James & Connie Caravasos
  • Top of High Street Down: Ramsey's Grocery Store. Chinese Launday, A Funeral Home (Parking lot of BB&T Bank), Spot Billiards and Bowling Alley, Spot Restaurant and Hotel, Academy Restaurant, Bus Station and Boarding House (Across Street of Academy Restaurant), Esso Station and Taxi Cab office (Next to Fredlock's Stenger's Newstand, (DeLynn) Fashionable Shoe Store, Instant Lunch (10cents Hambergers and Fries), Marsh's Shoe Store, Mon. Power Office and Retail Store (Corner of Fayette and High), Laidley and Selbys Stationary Store, High Street Market, Floradora Women's Store, Finn's Ladies Store, Coomb's Florist O.J Morrison Annex (Across from Met), Brown's Jewelry Store with Clock on Street, Yeagle'sJewelry (Next to Met), Candy Store in the Met, Met's Billiards and Barber Shop Basement of Met, Cosmopolitian Hot Dogs, Morgantown Hardware, F & M Bank, Woolsworth Five and Dime, Kresges Five and Dime, Lillian's Hat Shop, Morgan Theater, Hagen's Ice Cream Shop, Jacobs Men's Store, Harry Goldsmith Men Store, Sidler's Dept. Store, Rand's Drug Store, Ream's Drug Store, A&P Grocery Store (Corner of Walnut and High), Citizen's Bank, Court House, McCroy's Five and Dime, Streamline Food Market, Montgomery Wards, Murphy's Five and Dime, First National Bank (Across the Street), Monongahela Building, Reiner & Core Men Store, Chicago Dairy Meat Market, McVicker's Drug Store, Baker's Hardware, Moore and Parriott Drug Store, Jack Walter's Newsstand, City Market (Corner of High and Pleasant), City Pharmacy, Peanut Shop Next Warner Theater, Dr Ryan's and Dr HV King Ophthmologists, Warner Theater, Perry's Shoe Repair Next to Warner Theater, Royal Furniture Store, Shelhammer"s Appliance Store, Slaven's Jewelry Store, Fawley Music Store, Hotel Morgan Travel agency in Hotel Morgan, Sherman Williams Paint Store, Richard's Restaurant, Post Office.
  • (That's) (w)hat I remember from Top of High Street to Kirk Street near the Bridge.


  • Ken Weiss
  • The Spudnut Shop on Willie Street...still the best donuts ever.
  • Marv's Pizza...the first pizza shop in MoTown over in Sunnyside...square cut pizza, Marv opened one up on the Mileground, too and later opened one up out on Rt 7 that sold beer
  • George Brothers Resturant where all the drunks and derilicts went at two in the morning for some late night food
  • Capellanti's on Walnut Street (best hand cut greasy french fries ever)
  • Aunt Jenny's Bakery...every day after Jr Hi for an eclair
  • Morgan Leather...they sold everything there except for leather
  • The Owl's Club...gambling and hookers and underage drinking...every all-American boy's dream come true
  • Nick's on Willie Street, why was the owner named Gus? And why did Gus' brother who was named Nick own the Canteen Lunch
  • Jimmy's (Jimmy Papajohn's hand squeezed lemonade was the best!)
  • Eddie Dooms,
  • The Hamburger King...classy and classic joint
  • Kiddie Town, later morphed into Richard's
  • Baker Hardware...wood floors, high ceilings, an old wood buring stove in the back that they used to fire up on cold days...everything from Flexible Flyer Sleds to knives, guns, and three penny nails
  • Slavin's Jewelers on High Street
  • Washington Cafe (Augie & Rose Mastrogusippi's place on Walnut ST), where most kids went for their first quarts of 3.2 beer when they turned 16.
  • Moore & Pariott's Drug store and their great soda Fountain. Ann DiNardi and Mary Angotti knew every one that ever came in to their store
  • Fredlock's Pharmacy...fresh donuts
  • Chicago Market on High Street
  • The Ash Hat Shop
  • Sidler's
  • Met Shoe Service
  • Fashionable Shoe Store, where I had my first job as a stock boy
  • Royal Furniture on High Street and Household Furniture on University,
  • Friend's Furniture and Cohen's Furniture, both on Pleasant Street
  • Walter's News Stand...Jack Walters was always behind the counter and he had a smile and a kind word for everybody
  • Guy Flinn, Opticians
  • Sears, Roebuck big store on High St...official home of Mickey Mouse Club Gear!
  • Weintrob Brothers...for Levi's and great pegged pants


  • Beege Bowers (31 Jan 2006)
  • The Old Mill Club, Chestnut Ridge Road
  • Morgantown Paint Co, Spruce Street
  • Thomas Cleaners, Pleasant Street
  • Sharkey's Gulf Station, Willey Street
  • Point Snack Shop, Willey Street
  • Vincent Palotti Hospital, Willey Street
  • Acme Super Market - South High Street
  • Ruff Stone, Wall Street (where Maxwell's is currently)
  • Dixon's Restaurant, Spruce Street
  • Betty's Jewelry, High Street
  • Met Card Shop, High Street
  • Finn's, High Street (womens clothing)
  • Morgantown Beauty School, Spruce Street (beside current Greek church)
  • First Christian Church, Spruce Street (now Greek chruch)
  • Mon General Hospital, Elmer Prince Drive (now dorms)
  • Texaco Station, Cobun Ave/Pleasant Street
  • Morgantown County Club (where current Law school is located)
  • Blue Horizon Drive In
  • Morgantown Public Library, Fayette Street (under police station)
  • Elks Club, Walnut Street
  • Draft House, Mileground
  • Holiday Inn Motel, Mileground
  • Airport Restaurant, Airport
  • Morgantown Sports Center, Pleasant Street
  • Randolph's Restaurant, High Street
  • Crestholm Pharmacy, Kingwood Street
  • Buseman and Kennell, Mileground (paints)
  • Sear's, High Street
  • Perry Brothers Shoes, Pleasant Street
  • The Roundtable, High Street (clothing)
  • Liberatore's Grocery, W VA Avenue
  • The Book Nook, Fayette Street
  • Cowan Bakery, Clay Street
  • Harley's Cleaners, Spruce Street
  • Crescent Printing, Wall Street
  • Weintrob Brothers, Pleasant Street (clothing)
  • Ten Pin Lounge, Chestnut Ridge Road (Suburban Bowling Bldg)
  • Morgantown Glass and Mirror, Chestnut Street
  • Morgan Shirt Factory, Powell Ave (near Marilla Park)
  • D & D Shoes, High Street
  • The Bake Shop, Richwood Avenue
  • Champs Pizza, High and Willey Streets
  • Weatherholt Shop, High Street
  • Photo Crafters, Pleasant Street


  • Anonymous (26 March 2006)
  • Finn's Dress Store


  • Karla Bolyard (8 May 2006)
  • Petrey's shoe store at the corner of walnut and high street.
  • Merle Norman cosmetics was upstairs.
  • Cinema 1 & 2 in the Hills plaza.
  • Westover Drive Inn
  • Maple Leaf Drive Inn
  • Richards, High Street


  • Mary Harper Kloman (17 May 2006)
  • Mont Chateau as a State Park (at Cheat Lake) and its swimming area.
  • Blosser's Boat Docks (at Cheat Lake).
  • The Whippoorwill (at Cheat Lake).
  • Sunset Beach's original docks for swimming.
  • The old iron bridge at Cheat backwaters.
  • Two little grocery stores: One across the street from Seneca School, and the other at the top of Jones Avenue.
  • The Carousel drive-in restaurant on the Mileground
  • Tony's Restaurant on Beechurst Avenue


  • danny r (23 May 2006)
  • Spruce Steet Sub Shop.... great subs, always busy..., Now a lawyers office
  • University Gym on Willy Street next to The Den. Now a tanning salon.
  • Western Sizzler in Westover


  • Dave Lunsford (7 June 2006)
  • Golds Gym between Vics Garage and The Chevron. Now a building-for-lease.
  • Mamma Giovanni's (mamma G's) on University Ave in Sunnyside. Between the Rusted Musket and what was Falstaffs. Best 2am Giovanni sandwichs around!
  • Suds Laundromat beside where the State Police barracks are now. Great place to get loaded while you do your laundry.


  • Laurent Levy (10 June 2006)
  • Rudy's Esso(Exxon) station across from what used to be the Acme Supermarket on South High St.
  • The Barrickman St. mom-and-pop was the Miniature Market - run by the Salucci family. There was also Sam's Market on Madison Ave.
  • I think the Sears on High St. wasn't "big" -- it was a catalogue outlet
  • Bonded / Boron gas station at the bottom of Mon. Blvd.
  • Sinclair station (the one with the dinosaur), I think on Spruce St.
  • Frank's Barber Shop
  • Gutta's Fruit Market and Greenhouse/Nursery
  • Big B supermarket (So. University Ave.)
  • The big Coca Cola sign by the river
  • Morgantown School of Ballet (near Chico's.)
  • Bridgegate Dinner Theater
  • There was a self-serve shoe place, ("Picway?") near the Hills in Star City
  • Speaking of Hills, it seems to elicit many memories ("The low cost living anti-inflation department store") -- I recall it being the only place you could see fireworks on the 4th of July.
  • International House restaurant (So. University, near the old Westover bridge)
  • The main thing about Morgan's was that its parking lot was the venue for all of MJHS's after-school fights!
  • On snow days, the police would actually close some streets down for sledding
  • The Dominion Post used to be Dominion News (morning) and Morgantown Post (evening)
  • The green WVU busses between campuses before the PRT was built


  • Tom Sloane (12 June 2006)
  • Whelan's Drug Store, Corner of High and Walnut.
  • The Kiddy Shop, in the Hotel Morgan, owned by Mrs. Sutherland
  • Sylvia's Togs, Mrs. Sylvia Moran, a children's shop in one of the alleyways of High St.
  • Mother Witherspoon's, a great place for hearing local groups, including the Mind Garage (psychedelic music), was in the spot later occupied by the Ruff Stone and Maxwells.
  • Louis Mantini's grocery on Overdale St. (Connie's uncle)
  • Homeside Market, Elmina St., owned by Fern Stenellis.
  • Superior Photo was on Elmina St., operated by the Lorenze brothers (Joe and Steve).
  • Baily Radiator, Elmina St., owned and operated by Harlan and George Baily for many years.
  • Sam Fratto had a barber shop right across from 2nd Ward School, and there was a corner soda fountain, Conner's, for many years, corner of Green and Wilson.
  • Heathcoate's Store sold great candy and those wax lips and moustaches, yoyos, too, on the corner of White Ave. and Wilson Ave.
  • A Bocci Court was located next to Tommy's Place and Gene's Beer Garden on Wilson Ave. I can remember neighborhood men, mostly Italian, playing there until late at night. (Gene's of course is still there.)
  • Gene Perilli ran a barber shop behind the beer garden for many years.


  • Charlotte Dalton (13 June 2006)
  • Osgood Bus Line
  • Roller Skating where Peerless Laundry is now
  • Tom Kittzmiller's Stables in Westover Park
  • Sleepy's Bar at the corner of Houston Drive and University ave.
  • The Bread Box in Sabraton where the Mexican resturant is now. Owned by Bill Hogan and Bud Isner.
  • The Miner's Lodge on the corner of Pleasant and University Ave. Gabriels was on Walnut Street, right next to Capallatis.
  • Sleepy's on University Ave. in Sunnyside became Stadium Inn and was owned by JT Thomas, Johnny Wassick and Dennis Shumate.
  • The Vo-Tec school was where Vic's Towing is now


  • Theresa Morgan(3 August 2006)
  • Teledyne which was later a Wendys and/or Long John Silvers across from Hills in Star City - on the right, before the bridge - you used to phone your order into the kitchen from a little phone on the table? My sister and I loved that place.


  • Margaret Obuch (3 August 2006)
  • A Different Strummer -- owned by Rob, was a laidback gathering spot for local musicians to shop for instruments and used records. At first, was on the second story of building at upper end of High Street, then moved to Pleasant Street above what used to Stillwell Bookshop.
  • Ray's Pastries (now on Pt. Marion Road) was once nextdoor to The Hotel Morgan in the 1960s and early 70s.
  • The Elegant Alley Cat was on an alley before it moved to High Street
  • Darinka's, a woman's clothing shop on High Street (Darinka also was the aunt to Dragan, who had Dragan's Steak House that used to be on the corner of High and ????)
  • Sebree's Music on University Avenue (now Cardello Lighting). My wonderful, late mother and musician extraordinaire, Frankie Obuch, worked there selling musical instruments and doing bookkeeping in the 1970s, and her employee discount enabled me to own a succession of guitars and amplifiers! In the 1940s, she worked for O.B. Fawley Music when it was on High Street.
  • Building now for sale on the lower corner of Pleasant Street and University Ave. had succession of live music clubs in it during the 1970s and 80s... Touch of Country... The Touch... probably some others.
  • What's currently an auto body repair on University Avenue next to Barry's Office Service (which just closed its doors) was a live music club called Bullwinkle's.
  • Jimmy's Sunoco (now on The Mileground) when it was across from The Ice House on Rt. 19 (Don Knotts Blvd.)
  • Someone mentioned the grocery on Richwood Avenue, questioning if it was The Cloverleaf. I believe it was The Cloverfarm.
  • Guido's Dept. Store in Granville
  • What is now the Dairy Mart in Westover on Holland Avenue was once called The Superette (but a lot of people just referred to it as "The Little Store")


  • Anonomous (4 August 2006)
  • davidson brothers packard
  • hudson and international trucks and funeral home on chesnut st
  • chittum motors
  • creel motors olds dealer
  • 1032 university ave ,notorius for "gentlemen " pleasures
  • the "cabana club " on university at walnut st upstairs ran by harry finello and wife
  • blue's shoe shine parlor


  • Katherine Morgan Slavic (4 August 2006)
  • Cheat Lake Dairy Queen. This DQ was located at the entrance to Sunset Beach Road before you would continue out to Ruby and Ketchy's.
  • On Chestnut Ridge Road there was a Baskin Robbins (when it had the initial concept of 31 Flavors) next to Bill's Cleaners next to a laundromat next to the Old Mill Club.
  • Flatts Elementary was on the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road and Van Voorhis and Hizer's market was located about where the Dairy Mart is now.
  • There was a State ABC Store in Star City.
  • The Chestnut Pub was on Chestnut Street
  • Fat Daddy's was above what is now Chic N Bones.
  • The elevator and elevator operators in the old Morrisons Department Store on High St.
  • Country Club Beavers preschool off of Willowdale Road. I believe the golf course was still there at that time.
  • At one time Sound Investments was at the top of High Street.
  • The Flame Restaurant was located at 76 High St (now Cafe Bachus). You went with your prom date.
  • Going to grade school at Mount Pleasant School, now I think apartments.


  • Eva Martin (4 August 2006)
  • Wasn't there a "Winkie's" at the top of High Street in the late 60's right below Stengers? It was one of the favorite hangouts for students from the Morgantown Business School.
  • Did anyone mention the wooden foot bridge as part of the old Stadium Bridge.
  • How about Austin's Grocery at the top of Stewart Street.
  • The Sear's catalog center at the University Avenue/Greenbag Road intersection.
  • The WVU corn field along the Mileground before Rt. 705 split it.
  • The WVU Poultry Farm
  • When there were only Dairy Marts


  • John V Forte (17 August 2006)
  • The Twin Oaks bowling lanes on Holland Avenue in Westover. They had four bowling lanes, two pool tables and a bar. Quiet a nice place at one time. Also, had duck pin bowling.
  • Jay Kuhn's furniture store on Holland Avenue.
  • The Westover Cash Grocery and Westover Superette.
  • Forte's Barber Shop and Betty Janes Beauty shop on Holland Avenue.
  • Haynes and Haines Auto
  • J & K's at the corner of Holland Avenue and Cleveland Avenue
  • The Westover Post Office at the corner of Holland Avenue and Washington Street.
  • Paul Britton's gasoline station located when the bank is now in Westover.
  • The Triangle Lounge
  • Westover Cut Rite Drug Store and then the Village Shop Dress ShopHow about Westover Elementary School on Morrison Street and of course Westover Junior High School on West Park Street.
  • Does anyone remember whenever Lane Street was a dead end?
  • The Sunoco Station where Tarantini's is now located at the corner of Holland and Morrison.
  • The beautiful home and flower garden where Rotruck and Lobb Funeral Home is now located.
  • When the Westover Volunteer Fire Department was located at the corner of Holland and Gans Avenue
  • When the Mullens Home was decorated at Christmas and could be seen from all over Morgantown.
  • The collage of advertisements at the end of the old Westover Bridge painted each year by Mr. Bernard Summers.


  • Matt Ferrell (18 August 2006)
  • The Beaten Egg - Little breakfast shop in Sunnyside. Only open from 12 AM- 5- AM, it had a little half-door, and the best breakfast special EVER: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon or sausage, and 2 slices of toast for two dollars!
  • The Deli (I forget what it was called) that was where the Pita Pit is now... I used to LOVE their bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and their chicken soup.
  • The Stone Pony: Where Chasers and Dreams is now. If you wanted to get drunk on the cheap and possibly get into a brawl, there was nowhere better.
  • The Plasma Bank/"donation" center: Chic-N-Bones expanded into the space where this used to be. College students and homeless alike used to frequent this place to get beer money.


  • Rita Christopher-Close (5 September 2006)
  • Actually before O.B. Fawley's was in the Monongahela Building, it was down across from the Warner Theater and Old Morgantown Post Office, next door was a store that sold G.E. appliances and steel kitchen cabinets called Shellhammers.
  • A great place to party was "Pap's Tap Room" at the end of the Star City Bridge, just before you turned down into Osage.
  • Also, Luci's (on Powell Avenue across from Marilla Park) and Dallas Pine Room.
  • The Old Mill Club started out in Sabraton before the interstate came thru and took Sterling Faucet, Savasta's Barbershop, and Nick Kugolas's General Store. At that time it moved to the intersection of Stewartstown Road and 705 in an old home on the corner. It was then moved to the Suburban Lanes Plaza where Kegler's is now.
  • Pat and Sandy Rundle who ran Fat Daddy's, had a bar called the Tin Pin Lounge underneath the Bowling Alley.
  • Other places to eat included "the Hav-a-Lunch", Richard's Restaurant just south of Mgtn and The Carousel Drive-In on the Mileground.
  • Besides Finn's women's store on High Street, there was Fashionable Shoe Store, owned by Larry DeLynn. ( Maurice Fabre was the Sales Clerk there. His son, Ronnie played the drums in the band, "The Bonneviles".)
  • There was also Sidler's (owned by the Cohens, Milt and Bert), The Ash Hat Shop, Family Shoe Store, the Vanity Shop, Goldsmith's and The Lady Goldsmith (where the pawn shop is now located), Kaufman's and the Darling Shop.
  • In 1951, Virginia Chittum School of Dance was on the 3rd floor above Merle Norman Cosmetics at the Corner of High & Walnut and then it moved to the second floor across the the Courthouse Square.
  • The Franklin Hotel was on Walnut Street (where the PRT Station now stands) and underneath the Hotel was Summer's Barber and Beauty Shop.
  • Across the street was "Pete, the tailor" and Cappellanti's (where you got the best fish sandwiches). That corner later became Sherwin & Williams Paint store. It is now a law office.
  • The people of Suncrest usde to get their groceries from either Sellaro's Suncrest Market (where Patterson Drive & University Ave meet) or at Claudios Superette on Collins Ferry Road.


  • Robert Cress (6 September 2006)
  • Barry's Office Service, Inc


  • Rich McGervey
  • Charlies, a bar that used to be at the corner of Pleasant St and University Ave, across the street from where Wings Ole is now.
  • Nyabinghi Dance Hall, where 123 Pleasant St is now.
  • Gargoyles, a bar that I named and built on Pleasant St., where Madelines started
  • The Blue Tick Tavern, the original bar in the basement of the Mountainlair
  • Bullwinkles, bar on the corner of Fayette and University Ave, across Fayette from the Co-op. Shank, Swing and the Divots, a local band of MHS'ers used to play there a lot, along with old cover bands like Abacab.
  • J.D. Bentley's, the original "nice" restaurant at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Granville Lunch, THE place to go at 2 or 3 am after drinking in town
  • Colby's, a bar that was next to Scotchels car dealership in Westover, I think it's an apartment now.
  • The skyscraping boiler smokestack next to Stansbury Hall
  • The Rosewood Theater, which just recently closed after a short stint, which was on Walnut Street and is where: The Walnut Street Flea Market, on Walnut Street, which was run by the two sisters, Alma and Irene, which was where: The National Record Mart, which was on Walnut Street, and later became the flea market and the Rosewood, next to Speedy Gonzales restaurant.
  • The flea market under Fox Automotive and Mountaineer Nautalis, downtown next to the Chevron.
  • Zack Morgan's, which was the restaurant before Gibbies. I worked there when they closed in the late 80s. The feds were after the owners for money laundering, and apparently, unbeknownst to most of the employees (such as myself), they were drug dealers from of state. At least that's what we were told.
  • The Fashion Bug, which was on High Street across from International Outdoors (the pawn shop), and is now a bank. It closed in the mid to late 80s I think.
  • The 21st Amendment, a bar my friend Dave Vannoy managed, which is in the single story building behind the old stone house and next to the old parking garage between Chestnut Street and University Ave/Don Knotts Blvd. It's a lawyers office now.
  • A&P Grocery store that was in the parking lot next to where the Dairy Mart downtown is now. It was in a big corrogated metal building that looked like an airplane hanger. It was torn down right around the time we moved to Morgantown, or just after, because I remember shopping there, and they gave out green stamps.
  • Smoky Joes BBQ, which was the original restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender briefly.
  • Blueberry Hill, which was the second restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender for one week, when I was also working at J.D. Bentleys at the (now) old mall. Blueberry Hill didn't last long either, and was mostly just doing business on weekends as a place to listen to a live DJ spin oldies.
  • Hostetlers Café, which was where Los Mariachis mexican restaurant is now in Suncrest.
  • Jessie's snack bar and grocery store on Brookhaven Road, which later became the Sterling Faucet employees credit union, and is now a private residence for sale and I hear still contains a big bank vault.
  • Sterling Faucet employees credit union, which was where Jessie's used to be on Brookhaven Rd, and is now a private residence that is for sale.
  • Classic Iron Cycles, owned and run by Gary Tannenbaum, who now owns the Blue Moose. It was in the metal building just under the Walnut Street Bridge on the South Park Side.
  • David Weis Jewlers, which was in the first stand alone building up on the hill by the old Mountaineer Mall, which is now Dunhams Sporting Goods. My sister got her first management job there.
  • The building I previously said that Charlie's was in is the same building Margaret identified as housing the Touch of Country and the Touch, and I think it was The Edge before it was Charlies. The last business in there was the Rag Bag, run by Joyce Clay, and she is the last owner of the building, although I think she just sold it.
  • Bud Keeners Exxon. The ORIGINAL Exxon in Sabraton, before they rebuilt the one that is there now, and Exxon screwed Bud over and yanked his franchise. His case went all the way to the US Supreme Court. Essentially they yanked his franchise just because the company that owns the store now wanted more stations, and poor Bud was a solo businessman.
  • Bud Keeners Auto Repair, which was in the middle of the mileground where the landscaping business is now. Bud was my mechanic. I wish I knew where he was now! I moved and he closed up shop at some point, so now when I'm in town I have to go to other mechanics!
  • Tonique Hair Salon, which was in the house where Walgreens is now across from Sheetz.
  • The Golden Ram, which was where the Lums was in the Morgantown Mall, after Lums. It's been vacant ever since the Golden Ram went under. It was run by a manager named Angie and her brother.
  • There was a chinese restaurant in the castle next to where the beauty store is, late 80s I think, it didn't last long either.
  • The Roller Rink that sat in the old yellow block building between where the new Municipal Building is and the Deckers Creek end of Fayette Street. It was pretty much falling off the hillside and they tore it down in the 90s after they build the new city building.
  • Whitetail Bicycles when it was down on Beechurst, the original location. I bought my first mountain bike there, a Schwinn.
  • Dr. Pizza delivers twins. Dr. Pizza started out over in Suncrest, in the western end of the building that also has Pizza Hut and the Boston Beanery. Then they moved down to Beechurst Avenue for many years.


  • Emma Fisher (18 September 2006)
  • Vavoom clothing store at the bottom of Pleasant Street !
  • The flea market on Walnut, right down from the Blue Moose.
  • The pet store on High Street, where I bought a Beta that lived for WAY too long.


  • Dave (18 September 2006)
  • The Bon Ton Roulet!! A music bar just down from Chico's Dairy in the late 70's. The wood floor would bounce up an down as way more people than the place could hold would jam in and dance dance dance to the Paradise Rangers. Bon Ton Roulet's slogan was "Park your rig at the sign of the pig"


  • Phil Belt (18 October 2006)
  • The Suzy-Q Diner just outside of Westover
  • Hot Sam in the Mountaineer Mall
  • Bobette's (candy store across the street from Second Ward school)
  • Gene's - also near Second Ward school on Wilson Ave (NOTE: Is this gone? I thought it was still around)
  • Tony's Barber Shop on Fayette St (above High St)


  • georganne christopher Gallo (6 November 2006)
  • Old Star City Fire Hall Roller Skating one night a week. I think it was either Tuesday or Thursday night.


  • Anita Christopher Walters (10 November 2006)
  • The Fashion Shoppe on High Street next to Warner theater
  • Red Cellar below Tony's restaurant


  • K. McCormack (17 May 2007)
  • The General Store of West (by God) Virginia. They sold soaps, lotions, music, pipes, papers, posters, a little bit of everything
  • Morgantown being such a safe place that no one locked their doorsave something that you think should be added to the list, please e-mail me with your ideas.


  • John Crynock, III (11 June 2007)
  • the old Morgantown Raceway or Race Track by Cheat Lake, across from Ruby and Ketchies Restaurant. The Saturday night races were a blast as a kid and their french fries were an extra special treat. "Snooks" Johnson was the best driver back in the 60's I believe but it was always fun.
  • "the rocks" down the path from Mont Chateau was a great swimming place and hang out in the summers. Many an MHS senior skip day was had there. Also, the Harris family used to run Mont Chateau when it was an Inn and Restaurant. I went to school with their daughter, Barbara, class of '66.
  • Communtzis Restaurant at the Airport. I used to hang out there while learning to fly and passed many an hour with Gus talking about the old days, drinking coffee and studying.
  • Southside Lumber and Westover Lumber


  • J. D. Hatcher (September 12, 2007)
  • On Chestnut Street was Fat Daddy's, but it also had the name After Dark and a few other names as well.
  • The College Inn in Sunnyside had 25 cent beer on Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't remember which.
  • Sticking with Sunnyside, there was Mutt's Place and Choosy Mothers down on the corner by the stadium bridge.
  • I remember the square pizza at Scotto's. I wonder what ever happened to Charlie.
  • At the Mountaineer Mall, there was a store for children, The Gingerbread House (GH), next to Murphy Mart, now Walmart. Across from GH was a bank and then Sweet William, an ice cream store. I can still remember the Rum Raisin ice cream.
  • On down the mall was The Bottomhalf, the place for jeans. The Mountaineer Cinemas was next to Lum's Restaraunt--I worked there one long, hot summer. Across from the cinema was Pizza Inn, a pitcher of light or dark??
  • Downtown was Bullwinkle's as mentioned, which was across the street from Wilkins Motors. Was there a place called Computer Corner across from them?
  • On High Street (ally actually) was the Yukon Railroad, you could ride the bull. And Granny's near the ally. You had to go downstairs to get there. They also had a bull to ride. Later it was renamed, Speakeasy.
  • Bowsher's Barbershop was across from Cappelanti's Grill and Stinger's (spelling?) was a place to get candy, magazines and newspapers back in the 60's. Giavonni's Pizza was up on the corner. The Burger Chef was across the street. (Remember the Burger Chef in Suncrest that burned down? It is now Wing's Ole'.
  • There was a mini golf on the Mile ground near the old Foodland. I remember going to the fair inside the Armory as well.
  • Bishoff Motors near the Westover Triangle and a tavern named the Kopper Kettle nearby
  • No one should forget Fuzzy's Sunoco on Old Cheat Road.
  • Oh, the guy named Andy, who owned the motorcycle store on the corner of Brockway Avenue, He could be a Sulka.
  • Harry's Superette on Collins Ferry Road actually delivered groceries to the house.
  • The Spruce Street Sub Shoppe has the best subs--whatever happened to the Yester brothers, Steve and Gary??


  • Jim Goldsmith (15 September 2007)
  • Violent Death Ray (Violet Ray) laundromat - across from Borman Hall.
  • Head shop in the basement, under the gun shop and dry cleaners near the Dairy Queen on High street. Called something like "Cowboy and Indian Supplies"
  • RPM records in Sunny Side.
  • School Kids records in Sunny Side (3 albums for $10).
  • Stadium Inn - Sunny Side
  • Listening Lounge in Moutainlair
  • Choosy Mothers - Sunny Side
  • (Biff) Noah's Cafeteria - Biff later owned the College Inn (last I heard he had a drywall business in Mgtn. ). I too tended bar at the CI.
  • BTRF: CI inside joke Bar Tender's Relief Fund (picnic)
  • Ray's sandwich shop behind Thorofare in big curve of Richwood Ave (street name?). Near Arnold Hall.
  • Blue's Shoe Shine (and Blue himself).
  • WVU computer center in basement of Stewart Hall.


  • Veronica Travinski Allison (24 September 2007)
  • I worked at Moore & Parriott Drug Store and knew Mary Angotti and Ann Dinardi. Ann was house mother when Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West were big stuff at WVU.
  • Jerry West dated one of my good friends Mary Jane Smith who is now Mrs. Robert Konchesky....both were my classmates. We graduated in 1957. The Koncheskys own a bar/tavern?? on Cheat Lake Road....I was too young and rode buses so I didn't know the roads.
  • When I was 4 I remember riding a ferry in a car (which scared the heck out of me) every Sunday we went to St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Crossed that huge river and landed on Walnut St. That brick street. We drove to Fairmont from Bertha Hill where I was born, to get on that ferry.
  • I'm shocked but not surprised that the convent and St. Francis de Sales school are not there. Very old building when I went there.
  • Our class graduated 8th grade there. My brother Bob graduated high school there. Our class was the first freshman class to be in the new school.


  • Delores Eddy Moore (17 October 2007)
  • Living on Grand Avenue and attending Seneca School with its three foot stone walls in the basement, Rex Smith was the principal. Mr. Spiker was the janitor and would play ball with us in the playground.
  • Riding to Suncrest Park (now Krepps Park) on my bike called Bobtail because it lacked a rear fender.
  • No Monongahela Blvd at that time, only woods beyond Eight Street. We would ride our bikes up what we called the Incline through the woods.
  • New Suncrest had only one home belonging to Jean Brown on Rotary. When Dupont came houses were built here to house the executives at the plant.
  • Playing kick the can on the street and when there was a sufficient amount of snow the City would close the street from Fourth Street to Eighth Street so we could sled ride.
  • Walking to the airport to take flying lessons in the early 40's. After I soloed I remember landing at Morgan's field, the WVU tennis courts, the Colesium and Nataorium occuply that space now. Memories are God's gift to us all.


  • J.D. Curry (20 January 2008)
  • Morgan Leather. It used to be across from the old Morgantown Junior High which was torn down long before I moved away. I think the name of the street they were on was Spruce?


  • Steve Fox (27 January 2008)
  • Blue Ridge Diner on Walnut St with it's hangover curing breakfasts.
  • An excellent bar in 5th ward called Mundays.
  • The head shop in Sunnyside called The Tribe.
  • A weird bar on Beechurst called the Red Light. (it was under an Italian restaurant).


  • kraeusen (3 February 2008)
  • Red Rose Chinese Restaurant in the "old mall": super-spicy szechuan chicken...crispy, golden egg rolls...best chinese food ever served in the county. there was only one american waitress in the joint, and she was smokin' hot. long, dark hair with blonde streaks, dark brown eyes...tastalicious....even better than the food. i believe she worked there until they closed...
  • Mountaineer Mobile: the first cell phone joint in the area, on the corner of fayette and university where bullwinkle's used to be. they remodeled the building, and started selling (what now seems like) outrageously-priced bag phones and those rocking phones that installed in your car...there was a big two stall garage where they would install the bad boys. back then, i think you got 200 minutes for $99 dollars a month. I worked for a cleaning business at the time, and cleaned this joint in the evenings....set off the security alarm at least once every couple of weeks.
  • Pathfinder Book Store: a storefront on walnut street that only sold politically-related volumes, and was staffed by a passel of fidel-loving, hemp-wearing, pseudo-intellectuals. it seemed that the place had a definite anti-american agenda. pamphlets and other hoo-hah, and only a few books. while skipping my entire sophomore year at mhs, i once made the mistake of innocently entering the pathfinder bookstore....that evening my dad jacked my (rear) up, telling me that the govt was watching the place from an apartment across the street (above chrisitan help?), and that i was going to federal prison. still can't figure out how he knew i went in this joint.
  • Apples/Apples Pizza: the big grocery store on university avenue between evansdale and star city. it eventually became bilo, last i knew. on the star city end of the parking lot, they built a little shop where they sold hugantic, rectangular pizzas. my tightwad grandfather celebrated every special occasion with a big apples pizza with mushrooms and green peppers. mushrooms and green peppers? better yet, whether there were 3 people or 35 people, he always got one of those pizzas. i can still see my grandmother cutting those slices in half so that everyone could get their 1"x1" slice.
  • Hostetler's Bagles: someone already mentioned this place as being where los mariachis now is; i remember it being on the mileground right across from the entrance to the airport and beside back bay restaurant. owned by jeff hostetler, this place makes the best breakfast bagle sandwiches EVER. better than anything out of NY.
  • Kegs N Us: nice little bodega to pick up a late-night case of brew, or perhaps even a keg. located on south university avenue, on the right, across from the new wharf district. the business is now defunct, but the building still stands, along with its take on the toys r us logo.


  • Robert Cress(10 March 2008)
  • Barry's Office Service


  • Frances Joseph-Billie (23 May 2008)
  • Beaumont Glass located off of Beechurst Ave.
  • Feddies, a great place to get hotdog was located on Beechurst Ave. I believe there are apartment there now.
  • Jessie's Place was located on Brookhaven Road. Sterling Faucet Credit Union was located there for a while and now it is apartments.
  • Riskie's also know as TKB located in Sabraton where Archie's is located.
  • Dog n' Suds was located across from Picway Shoes where the Roadhouse is now in Star City.
  • The Carousel was located on the Mileground across the road from Paw Prints.
  • The Bead Box in the old Heck's Plaza in Sabraton and Bill's Laundry.
  • Kroger's was located in the opposite end of Heck's


  • Diann McCoy(29 Jun 2008)
  • The bakery on Walnut Street was called Aunt Jenny's and you could buy a slice of pizza for 20 cents. They also made the best chocolate pastries and cream horns.


  • Doug Wiley(29 June 2008)
  • I remember Phantom Pizza (the first delivery service of cold cardboard, covered with tomato sauce) and Pizzeria Italia (the very first Pizza in Morgantown and maybe WV).
  • There was Household Furniture (where us poor people could actually buy new furniture at a decent price) and Hill Used Furniture (Suspiciously burnt down in its prime of life in the now glamorous Wharf District).
  • There was Jimmy's Sunoco on University Ave (Now Don Knotts Boulevard). They actually filled your tank up, cleaned your windshield with a smile and even had a 'non-computerized' credit system if you did not have enough cash (they also had regular customer tabs and probably still do up on the Mileground).
  • Moore and Parriot's (Ann Dinardi) was not only a Pharmacy, but had the Ice Cream Parlor.


  • David Pompili ()
  • Westover cab co. located at the end of the bridge in a little shack built against the rocks
  • Beanies on WVU freshmen
  • Boat races on the Mon River
  • Westover feed store on Tower Lane
  • Bondfires on the old drill field at WVU (behind what is now Mountainlair) - BEFORE football games and no couches
  • Skating rink beside Mgtn Jr High where Lou Christy appeared one night
  • Aunt Jemimah appearing at a VFW pancake breakfast
  • Santa giving out goodies at Westover VFD
  • Friday night dances at Wesley church gym
  • Morgan theater Saturday movies for 10 cents - Met and Warner were 25 cents
  • Nehi Bottling Co just across from and below St Teresa's church
  • Biafora's men store on Pleasant St - before moving to High St
  • Shorty's Texaco station in Westover at Holland Ave and East St with 25 cent gas - seriously, and re-cycled oil in glass bottles
  • Riverside Park and pool
  • Granville baseball field where the carnival came every summer
  • "Chiefie" Newbraugh, Westover's only cop
  • F&P Pontiac across from Sanitary Dairy, where Chick 'n Bones is now
  • Westover Observer - a weekly newspaper
  • Manhattan market on Pleasant St, then moved to a new building at corner of Spruce and Walnut


Original link: http://klishis.com/Misc/Townies.php
 
  • Like
Reactions: HeBGeeB
CAPRI Pizza on University up the hill from the Old Stadium - BEST calzones in Morgantown. Mid to Late-70'S



While reading the recent thread on favorite Morgantown drinking spots I thought of this link I ran across about all the things that were once well known in the area but are no more. Check out the list below. What would you add?
------

Morgantown things that are no more....

Gina and Erin initially helped me out with this list, in the summer of 2001 I believe. Others who have contributed are mentioned above the list of things they sent.

New additions appear at the end of the list.

  • Ali Baba's in Westover
  • The Underground Railroad/Underground
  • Morrison's coat store down town
  • Second Ward Elementary (and annex)
  • First Ward Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Mistakes at Dairy Queen
  • Fins, Feathers and Fur
  • Health Sciences was the hospital
  • Chico Dairy: Mighty Mountaineer Ice Cream Sundae

  • Ray's Pastries (downtown, where the Blue Moose was as well as every other incarnation)
  • Why McDonald's downtown closed
  • The Theatre at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Lums at the Mountaineer Mall
  • When the Middletown Mall was the only mall, and actually had stores....
  • Shop & Save/Foodland/Thorofare (?) downtown on Richwood Ave
  • Roller Rink downtown
  • Morgantown Jr High School (end of the Walnut Street bridge)
  • The Vanity Shop
  • The Mountainlair when:
    1) you could smoke there
    2) it didn't look like a mall

  • Why the old stadium was great:
    it was downtown
    the band running out of the tunnels
    Sunnyside
    The Backyard Brawl
  • When the Met was actually a working theatre
  • Hardee's downtown--it had a basement dining room
  • Wings & Things People hanging out in front of Massulo's Dry Cleaner (I was never that cool)
  • When the fountain in front of the post office downtown worked
  • When the Little Village was a red-neck bar
  • The theatres next to Hills
  • When Captain D's was next to Shoney's
  • Burger Chef downtown

  • The Foxfire
  • Chalkies, when that alley had a wooden fence in the middle that made it a dead-end
  • The goddam dryhouse/the machine shop
  • Craig's Comics
  • Space Port
  • Carousel library cards
  • Falstaff's in Sunnyside
  • The miniature golf course/batting cages on Greenbag Road--was it Hole in One
  • Montanero's in Sunny Side
  • Alfredo's on Pineview Drive
  • The payphones by Dairy Queen, at the beginning of that alley on the wall.
    Two of them.

  • Little Caesar's Pizza
  • The Fayette House
  • Don't forget the miniature golf course that was behind Hills.
  • Scotto's Pizza on High St., where the Subway is now.
  • Dr. John's (DJ's) was on street level in Sunnyside and the place to be.
  • Gabe's was where the Brew Pub is now and you didn't want anyone to see you shop there.
  • Mario's Pizza at the top of High Street.
  • Nick's Canteen was the greatest place to get hot chocolate before the Christmas parade.
  • WVU was the #1 party school and proud of it.
  • The Steppin' Out guy painted on the side of Daniel's, before they painted over it with that huge Main St mural.
  • BOPARC dances in the summer.
  • Record Mart on Walnut St.
  • Plant and Pet Shop

  • Hecks--one in Sabraton, and one in Westover (Kimmie Tyer)
  • St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Convent (yup, they're now gone)
  • On the corner of Prairie Ave and University there is only the back wall left of a two story garage. That used to be Prairie Street Gym. Before that it was a garage for Wilson Chevrolet. You can still see the paint on the walls from the locker/shower room. (Chris and Connie Law) (17 August 2004)
  • Lof's (John Corral)
  • Dr. Pizza. They used to deliver their pizza's in an old ambulance (Susan)


  • Robert Cress
  • G.C. Murphy's
  • Rite Aid
  • Revco
  • Mc Vicker's Pharmacy
  • Famers and Merchants Bank
  • Morgan's (when they had hobby supplies)
  • Murphy Mart
  • Sterling Faucet
  • Carosuel Drive -In (Mileground)
  • Dairy Delight in Sabraton (Hero Hut)
  • Giant Eagle In the Mountaineer Mall Parking lot


  • Wayne Womble
  • Whiteside's , a department store downtown on High St.
  • Biafora's, a clothing store across the street from Masullo's Cleaners
  • The Flora Dora Shop, a women's clothing store next to Daniel's
  • The Olympia, a great bar and dance hall close to the Book Exchange
  • The Cottage, a dirt bar where most of the football players frequented


  • erin
  • Wizard Records
    NOTE: I still miss Jack and Wizard Records. Anyone remember the names of the other employees? "Chris was the guy from Fairmont with the mohawk."
  • Backstreet Records (owned and operated by Eric Hansmann)
  • Falstaff's


  • Debra and Mark Riffon (3 July 2004)
  • The intersection of Beechurst and University Ave. was AAA for years, but before that it was a Texaco gas station with upper and lower gas pumps.
  • Across from that Texaco gas station was the Beechurst Ave. Market and the Gold & Blue Restaurant.
  • Where Mode Roman and Nautilus is now, was Wilkins Motors.
  • Where Vic Solomon's garage is now, was Wilson Chevrolet.
  • On Chestnut St where SaraTec was, Pizzaria Italia was downstairs and the Castle was upstairs. And, before that it was the Pontiac Garage.
  • Where Great Wall on High St. is now, use to be Moore - Parriott Pharmacy.
  • Right beside where Great Wall is, was Bakers Hardware.
    • Harold Crowe worked at Bakers Hardware from the time he left the service untill the store closed. It was his only job (Charlotte Dalton)
  • Where BW3 is use to be Greys Cutrate Drug Store and the ajoining street of High and WAlnut use to be McCrory's.
  • On Chestnut St the building where the restaurant is with the deck and lanterns and hanging lights, used to be the Sanitary Milk Co.
  • Where the Human Services Dept is now, used to be the ACME Supermarket.
  • Where the Dollar General is by the South High bridge now, used to be the A & P Grocery Store.
  • A & P also used to be where Boston Beanery is on Patterson Drive.
  • At the top of High St. where the bank is used to be Borden Burger Foods (remember the big Satalite)
  • Across the street where the VooDoo Shop is, used to be Gioviani's Pizza Shop.
  • To the left of the Dairy Mart on Willey St. where the parking lot is used to be the Thorofare Grocery Store. After that is was Foodland until it burned down.
  • Where the Senior Center is on High St, used to be Montgomery Ward. It was 3 stories. If you look up at the building you will still see the big "W"
  • If you look at the ingraving on where the Pawn SHop is now on High ST. you will see Farmers & Merchants BAnk. Also down from where Subway is now used to be Woolworth's.
  • Where the bike shop is by the courthouse use to be O. B. Fawley's and beside that was the State Liquer Store. and before that it was Rogers Drug Store.
  • The Mountain Peoples Co-op used to be Picketts Dry Cleaners.
  • On University Ave where the parking garage is now, used to be a small white building that was Kelly Cab and Yellow Cab.
  • At the end of Westover bridge where Wings Ole is now, was Firestore Tires.
  • Where Gibby's is now use to be Communtzis Restaurant.
  • On Walnut St. down from where the Blue Moose is now, used to be Presto Lunch (what a great place to eat)
  • Where Salvation Army Shop is now, used to be Radio Shack.
  • Where WesBanco is in Sabration used to be a Sunoco Gas Station.
  • Where Hardee's is in Sabraton used to be a Texaco Station and a car wash.
  • Beside KFC used to be Mr. Donut.
  • Dominion Post used to be on Spruce St where Manpower is now.
  • To the right of where manpower is now on Spruce St. is a Medical building. That used to be the Moose Lodge.
  • To the left was a gas station and the building on the corner was Plaid Stamps Store.
  • At the intersection of Stewart St. and Chestnut Ridge Rd and Stewartstown Rd was Chestnut Ridge Grade School (became Bed & Breakfast and then some kind of Lodge after that) and across the street was a Texaco Station.
Steve Deahl (31 Dec 2004)

  • Mom and pop grocery stores: Chester Hartley's store on the corner of Grand Street and Gordon Street in South Park (briefly became Dairy Mart, before moving to its present location on Dorsey Avenue); Bobette's store on the corner of Wilson Avenue and Kingwood Street (later located in the building behind its first location); Marvin Luckini's store on Kingwood Street (I hope I spelled Marvin's last name right); Forlini's store on White Avenue; Bailey's grocery on the corner of Arch and Green Streets; Cobun Avenue Confectionery on the corner of Cobun and Maryland (Connie Negri still has her business, but it's on Pleasant Street now); the one on Barrickman Street in First Ward which later became (and may still be) Roto Rooter; and many others across Morgantown that I don't remember because they weren't on the south side (where I obviously grew up).
  • The five-and-ten's: Woolworth's on High and Wall Streets--I especially remember their record section in the basement; Murphy's, across from the court house, where the Dollar Store is now--you went through the front door, down the stairs, and the toys were on the right, pets on the left--and at Christmas time, Santa came there so you could sit on his lap and tell him what you wanted; and the ultimate five-and-ten, McCrory's on the corner of High and Walnut--so huge that a multitude of businesses now occupy its space (BW3, Z Club, the state treasurer's office, etc.)--McCrory's had great old wooden floors, a great restaurant at the back, and the ladies' underwear was segregated into a separate room where little boys weren't allowed to go so they wouldn't get any bad ideas.
  • Downtown restaurants: Remember when the Acropolis was a restaurant and not a coin shop? (It was where the Discount Den now is.); Remember when {where BB&T Bank is} was the BBF before it was Borden Burger before it was Burger Chef? (and before that, it was a Chinese laundry and Olan Mills photography studio.); Bonanza steak house on the corner of High & Fayette (later Hardee's, & later still Cafe of India's old location); the Indian restaurant that was in the back of Cafe of India's old location before it became Cafe of India; Cosmopolitan hot dogs; Healthy Bites (now the Blue Moose); Hav-a-Lunch on the corner of High & Pleasant, where the Huntington Bank drive-through now is.
  • The bench on the corner of High and Kirk Streets, which had "Southside Lumber" painted on it--used to be the only bench in all of downtown Morgantown, but I never saw anyone ever sitting on it.
  • The pet store on West Street in Westover (at the far end from Holland Avenue).
  • The bakery on Walnut Street (now a lawyer's office), next to D&A Jewler's (now the porn store).
  • The house on Wall Street with the great balcony and the barber shop on the first floor, which was torn down to become Morgan's parking lot. The barber's wife was a painter, and her paintings were always stacked up so the barber couldn't use one of his chairs. The barber shop moved to the location which is now the Blue Moose's new dining room extension.
  • Grocery stores on High Street! (High Street Market & Morgantown Market)--one was on the corner of High and Forest, recently torn down--the other was where Subway is now.
  • The Blue Tic Tavern in the Mountainlair!
  • The Double Decker bar on Walnut Street (now the Living Room), and another bar down the street, the Washington Cafe (now GARO).
  • The miniature golf course on the Greenbag Road, where Bluegrass Village is now.
  • Downtown newstands: Walter's News, on the corner of High & Pleasant, and before that in the middle of the block of Pleasant Street between High & Spruce; and Stenger's, where Casa d'Amici is now.
  • John Marshall Records, at its many locations up and down High Street, and even on Willey Street at one point; Record Bar in the Mountaineer Mall; and Disc Jockey in the Morgantown Mall.
  • The Euphorium, upstairs in Sunnyside--Morgantown's very first head shop, I believe. Speaking of head shops, where Cool Ridge is now used to be the Morgan Theater.
  • The stadium bridge--no wonder I don't walk to Sunnyside anymore!
  • Morgantown's first pizza delivery place, Phantom Pizza. Its location was supposed to be a secret, but it was on Beechurst.
  • Morgantown's first Kentucky Fried Chicken was in a small building on Patteson Drive which today would be located in Kroger's parking lot. The "Today's Buffet" Chinese restaurant next door used to be another Bonanza steak house.
  • Morgantown used to have good Chinese restaurants! The Great Wall (not affiliated with the current Great Wall) was where Fatty Loaf's is on Walnut Street; East Garden is now that tea house above Zen Clay; and Foosheen used to be called Hallelujah Chinese Restaurant and used to be good despite the fact that they were serving up cat meat.
  • Independent book stores! Who can forget Stilwell's on the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets? (Before it was Stilwell's, it was a bar called El Toro.)--Not to mention the cafe in back of Stilwell's. I remember it first as an oriental grocery store, then Cafe Libretto, then Cafe Catherine, then Grasshopper Locomotive--and now a parking lot. How about the book store on Foundry Street, next to the South High Street Brigde? First it was Wolf's Head, then Abshire's, and finally Books Books Books. Remember Trans-Atlantic Books on Fayette Street? Or how about Riverrun in the Garlow Building above where Kinko's used to be? (and remember when Kinko's was on Willey Street?)--well, some good news, Riverrun is back, now in the Sand Castle on Walnut Street across from the police station/parking garage.


  • Matt Helmick (17 Jan 2005)
  • "The Press Box" (bar) and the trailers behind it, near the stadium.
    NOTE: These just went down in 2004, and much of that whole stretch is now being converted to town houses. (Expensive town houses I'm sure.)
  • Dick's Hot Dogs ("Everyone Loves Dick's"), one of many drive-thru ideas in the building near the intersection of University and Patteson.
    NOTE: The original building was some el cheapo drive through/walk-up hamburger joint (Rally's?). No one seems to realize that's a terrible location and they'd be better off razing it to the ground and selling the space for parking.
  • Pizza Man on University Ave, all you can eat pizza buffet for (if I remember correctly) 3.99. Not a bad deal if the folks in the kitchen were actually making pizzas while you were there. The price eventually went up, in anticipation of the liquor license, which never went through, and the joint went out of business. Next it was the Alamo, some of the most expensive burritos I've ever seen.


  • Randy Oleksa (19 Jan 2005)
  • Ed's barber shop on Brockway avenue
  • Carl's roller rink also on Brockway next to Connie's grocery building is gone now.
  • This goes way back: The Commodore restaurant and department store used to set in front of Sterling Faucet along route 7 in Sabraton.
  • The Hayloft bar then it was Company B dance club in Dellslow where the Dairy Mart is now
  • Beckman Brothers Feed Store in Sabraton where Southern States is now.
  • Cloverleaf drive in on Cheat road
  • Johnnie's Texaco on Cheat road
  • Whipper will on the lake (Cheat Lake)
  • Sycamore lounge on Fairchance road
  • LuLu Belle's on Fairchance road


  • Jay Paulovicks(19 Jan 2005)
  • The Columbian Dorm - on Beechurst Ave. - now an office building
  • My Brothers Place - in an ally downtown
  • Communtzi's Restaurant - Downtown - Slogan was "Where Dad took his girl and grandad too"
  • The Armory
  • The "tin can"
  • Reynolds Hall
  • "Bonded" gas station on Beechurst
  • Shoe shines at the Met Theatre
  • Pool Hall in "old" Morgantown BEFORE the BBF was built there
  • Whatever was "49 steps up Walnut from High"
  • Old Hawley Field drill area (ROTC) - where coliseum is now
  • Tony's Restaurant - Italian restaurant near Chico Dairy
  • WVU Dairy at Ag School - when it provided ALL milk and ice cream for all residence halls
  • Golf course where the new Mountaineer Field is
  • Mont Chateau motel and restaurant


  • David Schreiber (28 March 2005)
  • The Cantina
  • RedBeard's
  • Di Giovanni's on Sunnyside- old married couple ran it- home of 3 am pizza- but watch your change!
  • The Old KA House (just knocked down)
  • Original Mario's Fishbowl- don't curse!
  • The "CI" a/k/a College Inn on Sunnyside
  • The Bullpen on Sunnyside
  • The Down Under
  • The Fifth Quarter
  • The Nyabhingi (after the Underground)
  • Grant Street Block Party


  • Richard Scroggs (16 April 2005)
  • The College Inn, University Avenue, Sunnyside USA where I worked as bartender and doorman in 87-88. I believe the CI held the record for the oldest, continuously operating bar in Morgantown.
  • Down the street in what later became half of the Foxfire Hot Diggity, my brother in law's (Bob Armstrong) hot dog only restaurant. It closed in the early 80's, around the time Old Mountaineer Field closed.


  • Rick Smith (18 April 2005)
  • The old, three-story offices of the Daily Athenaeum near the corner of Pleasant and Price Streets (am I remembering those correctly?) -- it was across the street from a sorority house... Man, that was a great old building for a geeky newspaper crew to hatch its world-domination schemes from... before putting the paper to bed every night and heading down to Mario's Back Door for a pitcher! =)


  • Tom Lapp (26 April 2005)
  • The Berger Chef on (now) Rte 705. Was right next door to Flatts Elementary school
  • Flatts Elementary School, as well as the middle school that it fed into that was out about where the Wal-Mart not-to-be was going to go. I forget the name of the school. I want to say Chestnut Ridge, but I cannot recall for sure. It would have been 5th and 6th grades and fed into Suncrest Jr High School.


  • Page (Whitty) Borger (4 May 2005)
  • How about Fredlock's? Fredlock's used to have one of those weird Zen things that made designs in the sand. Also they used to have these raunchy mugs with women on them, and when there was condensation on the mugs the women's clothing would disappear. I would love to know if anyone remembers this.
  • Grey's discount
  • The Dining Room!
  • Jambie's


  • Happyberrys (27 May 2005)
  • Remember the Morgan Theatre, it stood up from what is now the Boston Beanery, right at the alley. It became a hot dog place and beside it was a clothing store. I think the clothing store moved across the street. Where the hot dog stand was is now a bar. Actually when I was young, I think the movie theatre closed but my parents remember going to movies there as they were growing up.
    (NOTE: I remember the Hallmark store next to where the Beanery now is, not sure about a hot dog stand. Anyone else?)


  • Jacques Williams(20 June 2005)
  • How about Pike's Rest. near the corner of High Street, later on the House of Cards and now a lawyer's office.


  • Mark DeVault (10 July 2005)
  • It was the "Floradora Shoppe" (Not the previously misspelled Flora Flora Shop))
  • How about the original arcade at the Mountaineer Mall..."Chuckles"
  • And no list of Mom & Pop grocery stores could be complete without Austin's on the big curve on Stewart Street


  • Vincent Skolny (11 July 2005)
  • The Dungeon
  • Restaurant Express
  • Green turf behind the Lair, the little, flat-roofed garage catycorner to the B&E building that we used to sit on and drink


  • Jason Fowler (26 July 2005)
  • Bauers lumber in Sabraton (food lion is there now)
  • Original Lowes in sabraton
  • The hot dog stand people are reffering too was the Cosmopolitn I believe (NOTE: Yes, Cosmopolotin Lunch)
  • Beer distributer that was where the Citgo stands on Beechurst now (Icebox maybe?)
  • Nationwise auto parts, then became parts America in Sabraton, now it is a dollar general.
  • PharMor was above the Morgantown mall and K-mart was where profits is now in the mall
  • There was a food store (Food Lion or Giant Eagle) where K-mart moved too (NOTE: It was a Giant Eagle. I don't think it lasted a year.)
  • All the Pizza Inns in town and at the old mall (NOTE: One at the old mall, One by Hills... Can't remember the others.)
  • Weiner world in the old mall.


  • Kari (Bailey) Handa (31 July 2005)
  • The Wharf Rat arcade located in the Hills parking lot about where Rax moved in.
  • The Westover Drive In both as a movie place and a flea market mecca every Sunday during the Summer
  • The Twist Top restaurant located on Holland Avenue in Westover. It was located in the building which now houses the Northern WV Performing Arts School. I use to stop there for snacks after dance class at Beth Barnes Dance Studio. After the Twist Top closed it became the first Ali Baba's in town.
  • Beth Barnes Dancing School in Westover
  • Dogs and Suds, the drive up curb service restaurant located on Monongahela Blvd. in Star City where the Exxon is now located.
  • Westover TV where you got your TV repaired and paid the cable bill.
  • Westover Bank which got bought out by Huntington United.
  • When the tornado took off the back end of the Wilson Motors building.


  • Brian (8 August 2005)
  • The old Kroger in the Heck's Plaza in Sabraton where CVS is now.
  • Mr. Donut in Westover (now Taco Bell).
  • Cloverleaf (?) grocery store on Richwood, also former home of the Tao Shiu Kuan School of Martial Arts across from Mario's Fish bowl.
  • Richter Volkswagen (Then PRO) across from Heck's Plaza in Sabraton.
  • One On One, the driving range, miniature golf, go-karts, and arcade on Greenbag Rd. (now Bluegrass Village)
  • University News on High St.
  • Burger Chef on Chestnut Ridge Rd. (now Wings Ole)
  • The original Hotel Morgan Ballroom (Now Elevation 127)
  • Loving Furniture (the 49 steps up Walnut:))
  • TelePrompTer Cable on Spruce St. (remember when all we got was 2-13 and Showtime?)
  • Richard's Kiddie Town clothing store on High St.
  • Royal Furniture on High St.


  • George Papandreas(10 Oct 2005)
  • The A&P on South High where the Dollar store is now. Anyone remember when you could drive down a really steep ramp at the back of the parking lot and go under the building?
  • The Biggies Burger place where Appalachian Gallery is now...across from the Post Office...the folks that had the Rays Pastries owned it...Ray Lambert...RIP Speaking of Rays Pastries, they were where the Boston Beanery is now and replaced Pikes Bakery...sorry, Jacques!
  • The Hope Gas Company where City Office Equip. is now. Remember when there was actually a person on the other end of the phone when you called them?
  • The Water Company was where the photographer is now on the right side of the S. High Bridge...them Wolfshead Books...etc.
  • When the Warner Theater just had one screen. The Presto Restaurant on Walnut street.
  • The Parthenon bar to the left of it. Both owned by the Demanelas Families...Gus and Bill. The Fox club in the basement.
  • Randolphs Restaurant where the Blue Moose is now.
  • When Tanners Alley was in the narrow little room right there somewhere by Presto. There was a Bakery there next to Presto for a short while. Owner was Donnie Hunter and wife. Donnie went by "Zero Sardonicus" sometimes.
  • The stereo place in what is now an apartment building on the right out-of-town side of the Walnut St. bridge. Then it was a motorcycle shop owned by a guy that ended up on the FBI most wanted list...Andy something...went by "Dog".
  • Dean's Jewelers on Walnut around where the porn shop is now...he was a bit spooky, but a good guy! Below him was Aunt Jennies Pastries...great brownies! I think that was where there is a vacant law office now.
  • The Eleanor Shoppe womens clothing shop on the Corner of High and Walnut. Later became a McDonalds.
  • Lovings Furniture on Walnut. Later had a boxing club on an upper floor. Weiss Jewelers on High...later added the Golden Parrot Gift Shoppe...around the place where the Comic book place is now.
  • The little red and white ice cream shop that was there somewhere for a short time.
  • The little market run by Mark...the hippie NJ guy in the narrow little room that later beacme the Peanut Shoppe and is now a Law Office.
  • Kenney's Shoes, later Weiss' Jewelery then the University News and now the Hobbits Closet.
  • White Cross, then Revco, then Byrd Optical, now an insurance office...corner of High and Wall St.
  • Woolworth's where WesBanco is now. After Woolworth's, remember Murphy's upstairs, Masterpiece, above it? There was a dance school up there for a short time, too.
  • Morgantown Hardware, Revco, Absolute Pizza, now the Mediterranean Market. Wasn't Whitesides in the next space? Communtzis Rest., then The Dining Room, then Gibbies.
  • The H&P store where Reiner and Core was...now a furniture store.
  • Dragans Steakhouse, Bonanza, Hardees, a mountaineering store now First Exchange Bank.
  • High St. Market where Subway is now. Scotto's Pizza was there for years.
  • The stereo place across High St from First Exchange...corner of High and Fayette, later a Gap Store, Hot Dog Place and now a Pita place.
  • The Met. Theater when it still was a movie theater. Mr. Communtzis, (Tyke) ran it. It closed several days after he died...RIP. Great guy...I loved talking to him...thin as a rail, though!
  • House of Cards then Devincent's Music Store...can't place what was before the House of Cards...
  • The little narrow room to the left of Devincent's was the original location of Cosmopolitan Lunch.
  • Morrisons Dept. store, Spaceport Arcade, a couple bars at one time or another, then Ali Babas, Levels, and now de Lazy Lizard
  • Stairway to WCLG radio...they once took a baby elephant up those steps!
  • The pawn shop on the corner of High and Wall was preceded by an optical shop...can't remember what was there before...
  • Down Wall St is Maxwells. It has had many owners but was originally the Ruff Stone pub...#1 Wall St.!
  • Across Wall St. was the Morgan Theater building. The theater was owned by Tyke Communtzis, but was managed by Larry and Vera...(sorry, can't remember their last name)...Great People!The little room on the right side of the lobby was a peanut shop in the old days, then Recordland in the 50's. Later, the Pretzel Oven, and Cosmopolitan Lunch for 26 yrs. Everyone came in there! Famous for hot dogs with chili! OK, I'll shut up, I owned it!
  • after the theater closed in 79 or 80, there was the Athletes Sole shoe shop, a tanning salon and now Cool Ridge. To the left of the lobby area was a mens shop, then shoe repair, then Wharf Rat arcade, then Athletes Sole, later expanded, then tobacco shop then Cool Ridge, later expanded to today.
  • The Basement was Moonies pool hall, Grannies Disco, Fantasies, (briefly), The Greek, Speakeasy, with floor shows and a Piano bar, Alexander's, which later burned, (arson), then Class Act, now Vice Versa.
  • Remember the L&G shop in the 70's? Then a bar, then a Biscuit sandwich place...nasty!
  • Then Ali Baba's now Big Times.
  • The Boston Beanery was Pikes Pastries, then Ray's Pastries.
  • House of Cards was where the Law Offices are now...HW&S, but was Grays Cutrate drugstore before that...used to have the best prices on records in High School!
  • Next, goin' down High was Pettreys Shoes, later a Loan place, tattoo shop hairdresser. Now a bail Bond place.
  • On the corner of High and Walnut is Urban Eats, before that, T&L Hot Dogs and a loan place.
  • Different part of town... Remember Hills in Star City? Bet you don't remember that they were the first to open on Sunday in defiance of the States' "Blue Laws" and the manager was arrested!
  • The Wharf Rat Amusement Center in the Hills parking lot behind the service station was the first arcade in Morgantown and the first to have video games and foosball !
  • Pizza Inn and the Star City theaters...first theater in Morgantown to show Star Wars as well as Saturday Night Fever!! Star Wars was there for months!!
  • The miniature golf course on the hill behind Hills.
  • The smell of the sewage treatment plant on humid nights...whew!!


  • Robert (30 October 2005)
  • Pizza Inn also had a location in Cheat Lake (I cant remember where) Jim Dunn used to manage (maybe owned) the location at the Mountaineer Mall across from the Theater. Jim , at one time, was manager of Pargo's (now gone).
  • Pargo's, Italian Oven, Etchings (now Glasshouse Grill), Barry's Office Service's animated christmas windows? speaking of Barry's, the 8am opening and their great Jingle. (ok im biased i worked for Dave and Susan for 5 years)
  • Also anyone remember the circle in the center court at the Mountaineer Mall.. and santa's village? With the electronic Rudolph in the back (facing Penny's) who used to "talk", for many years i never knew my father played Santa at the Mountaineer Mall (80's) and Hill's.
  • Speaking off Hill's, there was a very smal arcade in the plaza later on. Along with Aladdin's Castle at the Mountaineer Mall, it had been in 3 locations during the years. Also that funky wallpaper at Weiner World at the Mountaineer Mall. Remember the big "M" made out of stone that used to stand at the main entrance??? before the addition was built?
  • Also remember the restaurant in Heck's plaza in Sabraton??? where the mexican restaurant is now??? they used to have those wagon wheel light fixtures? I cant remember the name... but Mary Johnson used to work there at the counter... she was a sweety... i can just hardly remember that..
  • oh for Hill's... they had a christmas character named Spryte... for Hill's memories check out www.hillsstores.com a fan site remembering Hills....
  • How about the old restrooms at the courthouse where you coudl access from teh courthouse square???


  • Velda Frisco (18 January 2006)
  • Before it was the Underground Railroad, it was Mateo's.
  • Also, Virginia Chittum's Dance Studio on High Street.
  • Gabes was on Walnut Street before it moved into the Brew Pub building.
  • Bowlby's and Weintraub's on Pleasant St. Ziegfield's was a bar in the castle beside the beauty school.
  • Dering's funeral home was on Walnut St. Jenkins & Brown , now Fred L. Jenkins, was on Pleasant St. where the parking garage is now.
  • Marsh's Shoe store on High Street.
  • Auto Parts on University Ave.
  • Household Furniture where Bartlett house is on University Ave.
  • Jules Kay Jewlery on High St. around where the bead shop is now. Morgan Leather where HealthRight is now on Spruce Street.
  • There was a roller rink above Morgans.
  • There used to be a recreational club for young teens on Wall St.


  • Andy Ice Horton
  • As a life long resident of Mo'town, I recall most all of the list. What amazes me now when I am downtown is that most all stores are gone and replaced with BARS.
  • Remember when bars had last call at 2 am? And the only places to go after that were the OWLS club (Walnut Street), open until how late?? I know they were open until at least 4:30 a.m.!
  • Or you could go to SPENCERS (out toward Mountaineer Mall, along where Sound Investmenst is now) for STEAK AND EGGS. How yummy at 2 or 3 in the morning!


  • Kay Comuntzis-Getsinger
  • Marv's Pizza in Sunnyside across the street from the old Mountaineer Field....it was there as early as 1955.
  • Irene's Dress Shop on High Street first next to the Dairy Queen and later moved to almost the corner of Walnut and High. Owned by Vicki and Quintine Pettite and I worked there off and on from ages 14-22.
  • Goldsmith's....Harry Goldsmith was the Saul Radman of the 1940's and '50's and on into the '60's.
  • DeAntonis' Barber Shop on Walnut ..... George DeAntonis always had time for the young men who needed someone to talk to. Whata guy!
  • Nick's on Willey next to where John Fleming has his Book Exchange today. It was owned by my Uncle Tasso and cousin George Caravasios who now lives in the DC area. Great place to TGIF and then move on down to the Olympia to dance to the tunes of the Bonnevilles!
  • Sherman Shoes was next to my family restaurant and was owned and operated by Perry Jubaleer....cute fella!


  • Benjamin Snead
  • The Olympia
  • Have-a-Lunch
  • Maudes next to Chi Omega
  • The Joker on the river
  • Jimmys on High
  • "The Greeks"


  • Tom Montague
  • ''OATES TEL-O-DINE'' IN STAR CITY WHERE LONG JOHNS IS NOW. ''OR WAS''


  • James & Connie Caravasos
  • Top of High Street Down: Ramsey's Grocery Store. Chinese Launday, A Funeral Home (Parking lot of BB&T Bank), Spot Billiards and Bowling Alley, Spot Restaurant and Hotel, Academy Restaurant, Bus Station and Boarding House (Across Street of Academy Restaurant), Esso Station and Taxi Cab office (Next to Fredlock's Stenger's Newstand, (DeLynn) Fashionable Shoe Store, Instant Lunch (10cents Hambergers and Fries), Marsh's Shoe Store, Mon. Power Office and Retail Store (Corner of Fayette and High), Laidley and Selbys Stationary Store, High Street Market, Floradora Women's Store, Finn's Ladies Store, Coomb's Florist O.J Morrison Annex (Across from Met), Brown's Jewelry Store with Clock on Street, Yeagle'sJewelry (Next to Met), Candy Store in the Met, Met's Billiards and Barber Shop Basement of Met, Cosmopolitian Hot Dogs, Morgantown Hardware, F & M Bank, Woolsworth Five and Dime, Kresges Five and Dime, Lillian's Hat Shop, Morgan Theater, Hagen's Ice Cream Shop, Jacobs Men's Store, Harry Goldsmith Men Store, Sidler's Dept. Store, Rand's Drug Store, Ream's Drug Store, A&P Grocery Store (Corner of Walnut and High), Citizen's Bank, Court House, McCroy's Five and Dime, Streamline Food Market, Montgomery Wards, Murphy's Five and Dime, First National Bank (Across the Street), Monongahela Building, Reiner & Core Men Store, Chicago Dairy Meat Market, McVicker's Drug Store, Baker's Hardware, Moore and Parriott Drug Store, Jack Walter's Newsstand, City Market (Corner of High and Pleasant), City Pharmacy, Peanut Shop Next Warner Theater, Dr Ryan's and Dr HV King Ophthmologists, Warner Theater, Perry's Shoe Repair Next to Warner Theater, Royal Furniture Store, Shelhammer"s Appliance Store, Slaven's Jewelry Store, Fawley Music Store, Hotel Morgan Travel agency in Hotel Morgan, Sherman Williams Paint Store, Richard's Restaurant, Post Office.
  • (That's) (w)hat I remember from Top of High Street to Kirk Street near the Bridge.


  • Ken Weiss
  • The Spudnut Shop on Willie Street...still the best donuts ever.
  • Marv's Pizza...the first pizza shop in MoTown over in Sunnyside...square cut pizza, Marv opened one up on the Mileground, too and later opened one up out on Rt 7 that sold beer
  • George Brothers Resturant where all the drunks and derilicts went at two in the morning for some late night food
  • Capellanti's on Walnut Street (best hand cut greasy french fries ever)
  • Aunt Jenny's Bakery...every day after Jr Hi for an eclair
  • Morgan Leather...they sold everything there except for leather
  • The Owl's Club...gambling and hookers and underage drinking...every all-American boy's dream come true
  • Nick's on Willie Street, why was the owner named Gus? And why did Gus' brother who was named Nick own the Canteen Lunch
  • Jimmy's (Jimmy Papajohn's hand squeezed lemonade was the best!)
  • Eddie Dooms,
  • The Hamburger King...classy and classic joint
  • Kiddie Town, later morphed into Richard's
  • Baker Hardware...wood floors, high ceilings, an old wood buring stove in the back that they used to fire up on cold days...everything from Flexible Flyer Sleds to knives, guns, and three penny nails
  • Slavin's Jewelers on High Street
  • Washington Cafe (Augie & Rose Mastrogusippi's place on Walnut ST), where most kids went for their first quarts of 3.2 beer when they turned 16.
  • Moore & Pariott's Drug store and their great soda Fountain. Ann DiNardi and Mary Angotti knew every one that ever came in to their store
  • Fredlock's Pharmacy...fresh donuts
  • Chicago Market on High Street
  • The Ash Hat Shop
  • Sidler's
  • Met Shoe Service
  • Fashionable Shoe Store, where I had my first job as a stock boy
  • Royal Furniture on High Street and Household Furniture on University,
  • Friend's Furniture and Cohen's Furniture, both on Pleasant Street
  • Walter's News Stand...Jack Walters was always behind the counter and he had a smile and a kind word for everybody
  • Guy Flinn, Opticians
  • Sears, Roebuck big store on High St...official home of Mickey Mouse Club Gear!
  • Weintrob Brothers...for Levi's and great pegged pants


  • Beege Bowers (31 Jan 2006)
  • The Old Mill Club, Chestnut Ridge Road
  • Morgantown Paint Co, Spruce Street
  • Thomas Cleaners, Pleasant Street
  • Sharkey's Gulf Station, Willey Street
  • Point Snack Shop, Willey Street
  • Vincent Palotti Hospital, Willey Street
  • Acme Super Market - South High Street
  • Ruff Stone, Wall Street (where Maxwell's is currently)
  • Dixon's Restaurant, Spruce Street
  • Betty's Jewelry, High Street
  • Met Card Shop, High Street
  • Finn's, High Street (womens clothing)
  • Morgantown Beauty School, Spruce Street (beside current Greek church)
  • First Christian Church, Spruce Street (now Greek chruch)
  • Mon General Hospital, Elmer Prince Drive (now dorms)
  • Texaco Station, Cobun Ave/Pleasant Street
  • Morgantown County Club (where current Law school is located)
  • Blue Horizon Drive In
  • Morgantown Public Library, Fayette Street (under police station)
  • Elks Club, Walnut Street
  • Draft House, Mileground
  • Holiday Inn Motel, Mileground
  • Airport Restaurant, Airport
  • Morgantown Sports Center, Pleasant Street
  • Randolph's Restaurant, High Street
  • Crestholm Pharmacy, Kingwood Street
  • Buseman and Kennell, Mileground (paints)
  • Sear's, High Street
  • Perry Brothers Shoes, Pleasant Street
  • The Roundtable, High Street (clothing)
  • Liberatore's Grocery, W VA Avenue
  • The Book Nook, Fayette Street
  • Cowan Bakery, Clay Street
  • Harley's Cleaners, Spruce Street
  • Crescent Printing, Wall Street
  • Weintrob Brothers, Pleasant Street (clothing)
  • Ten Pin Lounge, Chestnut Ridge Road (Suburban Bowling Bldg)
  • Morgantown Glass and Mirror, Chestnut Street
  • Morgan Shirt Factory, Powell Ave (near Marilla Park)
  • D & D Shoes, High Street
  • The Bake Shop, Richwood Avenue
  • Champs Pizza, High and Willey Streets
  • Weatherholt Shop, High Street
  • Photo Crafters, Pleasant Street


  • Anonymous (26 March 2006)
  • Finn's Dress Store


  • Karla Bolyard (8 May 2006)
  • Petrey's shoe store at the corner of walnut and high street.
  • Merle Norman cosmetics was upstairs.
  • Cinema 1 & 2 in the Hills plaza.
  • Westover Drive Inn
  • Maple Leaf Drive Inn
  • Richards, High Street


  • Mary Harper Kloman (17 May 2006)
  • Mont Chateau as a State Park (at Cheat Lake) and its swimming area.
  • Blosser's Boat Docks (at Cheat Lake).
  • The Whippoorwill (at Cheat Lake).
  • Sunset Beach's original docks for swimming.
  • The old iron bridge at Cheat backwaters.
  • Two little grocery stores: One across the street from Seneca School, and the other at the top of Jones Avenue.
  • The Carousel drive-in restaurant on the Mileground
  • Tony's Restaurant on Beechurst Avenue


  • danny r (23 May 2006)
  • Spruce Steet Sub Shop.... great subs, always busy..., Now a lawyers office
  • University Gym on Willy Street next to The Den. Now a tanning salon.
  • Western Sizzler in Westover


  • Dave Lunsford (7 June 2006)
  • Golds Gym between Vics Garage and The Chevron. Now a building-for-lease.
  • Mamma Giovanni's (mamma G's) on University Ave in Sunnyside. Between the Rusted Musket and what was Falstaffs. Best 2am Giovanni sandwichs around!
  • Suds Laundromat beside where the State Police barracks are now. Great place to get loaded while you do your laundry.


  • Laurent Levy (10 June 2006)
  • Rudy's Esso(Exxon) station across from what used to be the Acme Supermarket on South High St.
  • The Barrickman St. mom-and-pop was the Miniature Market - run by the Salucci family. There was also Sam's Market on Madison Ave.
  • I think the Sears on High St. wasn't "big" -- it was a catalogue outlet
  • Bonded / Boron gas station at the bottom of Mon. Blvd.
  • Sinclair station (the one with the dinosaur), I think on Spruce St.
  • Frank's Barber Shop
  • Gutta's Fruit Market and Greenhouse/Nursery
  • Big B supermarket (So. University Ave.)
  • The big Coca Cola sign by the river
  • Morgantown School of Ballet (near Chico's.)
  • Bridgegate Dinner Theater
  • There was a self-serve shoe place, ("Picway?") near the Hills in Star City
  • Speaking of Hills, it seems to elicit many memories ("The low cost living anti-inflation department store") -- I recall it being the only place you could see fireworks on the 4th of July.
  • International House restaurant (So. University, near the old Westover bridge)
  • The main thing about Morgan's was that its parking lot was the venue for all of MJHS's after-school fights!
  • On snow days, the police would actually close some streets down for sledding
  • The Dominion Post used to be Dominion News (morning) and Morgantown Post (evening)
  • The green WVU busses between campuses before the PRT was built


  • Tom Sloane (12 June 2006)
  • Whelan's Drug Store, Corner of High and Walnut.
  • The Kiddy Shop, in the Hotel Morgan, owned by Mrs. Sutherland
  • Sylvia's Togs, Mrs. Sylvia Moran, a children's shop in one of the alleyways of High St.
  • Mother Witherspoon's, a great place for hearing local groups, including the Mind Garage (psychedelic music), was in the spot later occupied by the Ruff Stone and Maxwells.
  • Louis Mantini's grocery on Overdale St. (Connie's uncle)
  • Homeside Market, Elmina St., owned by Fern Stenellis.
  • Superior Photo was on Elmina St., operated by the Lorenze brothers (Joe and Steve).
  • Baily Radiator, Elmina St., owned and operated by Harlan and George Baily for many years.
  • Sam Fratto had a barber shop right across from 2nd Ward School, and there was a corner soda fountain, Conner's, for many years, corner of Green and Wilson.
  • Heathcoate's Store sold great candy and those wax lips and moustaches, yoyos, too, on the corner of White Ave. and Wilson Ave.
  • A Bocci Court was located next to Tommy's Place and Gene's Beer Garden on Wilson Ave. I can remember neighborhood men, mostly Italian, playing there until late at night. (Gene's of course is still there.)
  • Gene Perilli ran a barber shop behind the beer garden for many years.


  • Charlotte Dalton (13 June 2006)
  • Osgood Bus Line
  • Roller Skating where Peerless Laundry is now
  • Tom Kittzmiller's Stables in Westover Park
  • Sleepy's Bar at the corner of Houston Drive and University ave.
  • The Bread Box in Sabraton where the Mexican resturant is now. Owned by Bill Hogan and Bud Isner.
  • The Miner's Lodge on the corner of Pleasant and University Ave. Gabriels was on Walnut Street, right next to Capallatis.
  • Sleepy's on University Ave. in Sunnyside became Stadium Inn and was owned by JT Thomas, Johnny Wassick and Dennis Shumate.
  • The Vo-Tec school was where Vic's Towing is now


  • Theresa Morgan(3 August 2006)
  • Teledyne which was later a Wendys and/or Long John Silvers across from Hills in Star City - on the right, before the bridge - you used to phone your order into the kitchen from a little phone on the table? My sister and I loved that place.


  • Margaret Obuch (3 August 2006)
  • A Different Strummer -- owned by Rob, was a laidback gathering spot for local musicians to shop for instruments and used records. At first, was on the second story of building at upper end of High Street, then moved to Pleasant Street above what used to Stillwell Bookshop.
  • Ray's Pastries (now on Pt. Marion Road) was once nextdoor to The Hotel Morgan in the 1960s and early 70s.
  • The Elegant Alley Cat was on an alley before it moved to High Street
  • Darinka's, a woman's clothing shop on High Street (Darinka also was the aunt to Dragan, who had Dragan's Steak House that used to be on the corner of High and ????)
  • Sebree's Music on University Avenue (now Cardello Lighting). My wonderful, late mother and musician extraordinaire, Frankie Obuch, worked there selling musical instruments and doing bookkeeping in the 1970s, and her employee discount enabled me to own a succession of guitars and amplifiers! In the 1940s, she worked for O.B. Fawley Music when it was on High Street.
  • Building now for sale on the lower corner of Pleasant Street and University Ave. had succession of live music clubs in it during the 1970s and 80s... Touch of Country... The Touch... probably some others.
  • What's currently an auto body repair on University Avenue next to Barry's Office Service (which just closed its doors) was a live music club called Bullwinkle's.
  • Jimmy's Sunoco (now on The Mileground) when it was across from The Ice House on Rt. 19 (Don Knotts Blvd.)
  • Someone mentioned the grocery on Richwood Avenue, questioning if it was The Cloverleaf. I believe it was The Cloverfarm.
  • Guido's Dept. Store in Granville
  • What is now the Dairy Mart in Westover on Holland Avenue was once called The Superette (but a lot of people just referred to it as "The Little Store")


  • Anonomous (4 August 2006)
  • davidson brothers packard
  • hudson and international trucks and funeral home on chesnut st
  • chittum motors
  • creel motors olds dealer
  • 1032 university ave ,notorius for "gentlemen " pleasures
  • the "cabana club " on university at walnut st upstairs ran by harry finello and wife
  • blue's shoe shine parlor


  • Katherine Morgan Slavic (4 August 2006)
  • Cheat Lake Dairy Queen. This DQ was located at the entrance to Sunset Beach Road before you would continue out to Ruby and Ketchy's.
  • On Chestnut Ridge Road there was a Baskin Robbins (when it had the initial concept of 31 Flavors) next to Bill's Cleaners next to a laundromat next to the Old Mill Club.
  • Flatts Elementary was on the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road and Van Voorhis and Hizer's market was located about where the Dairy Mart is now.
  • There was a State ABC Store in Star City.
  • The Chestnut Pub was on Chestnut Street
  • Fat Daddy's was above what is now Chic N Bones.
  • The elevator and elevator operators in the old Morrisons Department Store on High St.
  • Country Club Beavers preschool off of Willowdale Road. I believe the golf course was still there at that time.
  • At one time Sound Investments was at the top of High Street.
  • The Flame Restaurant was located at 76 High St (now Cafe Bachus). You went with your prom date.
  • Going to grade school at Mount Pleasant School, now I think apartments.


  • Eva Martin (4 August 2006)
  • Wasn't there a "Winkie's" at the top of High Street in the late 60's right below Stengers? It was one of the favorite hangouts for students from the Morgantown Business School.
  • Did anyone mention the wooden foot bridge as part of the old Stadium Bridge.
  • How about Austin's Grocery at the top of Stewart Street.
  • The Sear's catalog center at the University Avenue/Greenbag Road intersection.
  • The WVU corn field along the Mileground before Rt. 705 split it.
  • The WVU Poultry Farm
  • When there were only Dairy Marts


  • John V Forte (17 August 2006)
  • The Twin Oaks bowling lanes on Holland Avenue in Westover. They had four bowling lanes, two pool tables and a bar. Quiet a nice place at one time. Also, had duck pin bowling.
  • Jay Kuhn's furniture store on Holland Avenue.
  • The Westover Cash Grocery and Westover Superette.
  • Forte's Barber Shop and Betty Janes Beauty shop on Holland Avenue.
  • Haynes and Haines Auto
  • J & K's at the corner of Holland Avenue and Cleveland Avenue
  • The Westover Post Office at the corner of Holland Avenue and Washington Street.
  • Paul Britton's gasoline station located when the bank is now in Westover.
  • The Triangle Lounge
  • Westover Cut Rite Drug Store and then the Village Shop Dress ShopHow about Westover Elementary School on Morrison Street and of course Westover Junior High School on West Park Street.
  • Does anyone remember whenever Lane Street was a dead end?
  • The Sunoco Station where Tarantini's is now located at the corner of Holland and Morrison.
  • The beautiful home and flower garden where Rotruck and Lobb Funeral Home is now located.
  • When the Westover Volunteer Fire Department was located at the corner of Holland and Gans Avenue
  • When the Mullens Home was decorated at Christmas and could be seen from all over Morgantown.
  • The collage of advertisements at the end of the old Westover Bridge painted each year by Mr. Bernard Summers.


  • Matt Ferrell (18 August 2006)
  • The Beaten Egg - Little breakfast shop in Sunnyside. Only open from 12 AM- 5- AM, it had a little half-door, and the best breakfast special EVER: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon or sausage, and 2 slices of toast for two dollars!
  • The Deli (I forget what it was called) that was where the Pita Pit is now... I used to LOVE their bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and their chicken soup.
  • The Stone Pony: Where Chasers and Dreams is now. If you wanted to get drunk on the cheap and possibly get into a brawl, there was nowhere better.
  • The Plasma Bank/"donation" center: Chic-N-Bones expanded into the space where this used to be. College students and homeless alike used to frequent this place to get beer money.


  • Rita Christopher-Close (5 September 2006)
  • Actually before O.B. Fawley's was in the Monongahela Building, it was down across from the Warner Theater and Old Morgantown Post Office, next door was a store that sold G.E. appliances and steel kitchen cabinets called Shellhammers.
  • A great place to party was "Pap's Tap Room" at the end of the Star City Bridge, just before you turned down into Osage.
  • Also, Luci's (on Powell Avenue across from Marilla Park) and Dallas Pine Room.
  • The Old Mill Club started out in Sabraton before the interstate came thru and took Sterling Faucet, Savasta's Barbershop, and Nick Kugolas's General Store. At that time it moved to the intersection of Stewartstown Road and 705 in an old home on the corner. It was then moved to the Suburban Lanes Plaza where Kegler's is now.
  • Pat and Sandy Rundle who ran Fat Daddy's, had a bar called the Tin Pin Lounge underneath the Bowling Alley.
  • Other places to eat included "the Hav-a-Lunch", Richard's Restaurant just south of Mgtn and The Carousel Drive-In on the Mileground.
  • Besides Finn's women's store on High Street, there was Fashionable Shoe Store, owned by Larry DeLynn. ( Maurice Fabre was the Sales Clerk there. His son, Ronnie played the drums in the band, "The Bonneviles".)
  • There was also Sidler's (owned by the Cohens, Milt and Bert), The Ash Hat Shop, Family Shoe Store, the Vanity Shop, Goldsmith's and The Lady Goldsmith (where the pawn shop is now located), Kaufman's and the Darling Shop.
  • In 1951, Virginia Chittum School of Dance was on the 3rd floor above Merle Norman Cosmetics at the Corner of High & Walnut and then it moved to the second floor across the the Courthouse Square.
  • The Franklin Hotel was on Walnut Street (where the PRT Station now stands) and underneath the Hotel was Summer's Barber and Beauty Shop.
  • Across the street was "Pete, the tailor" and Cappellanti's (where you got the best fish sandwiches). That corner later became Sherwin & Williams Paint store. It is now a law office.
  • The people of Suncrest usde to get their groceries from either Sellaro's Suncrest Market (where Patterson Drive & University Ave meet) or at Claudios Superette on Collins Ferry Road.


  • Robert Cress (6 September 2006)
  • Barry's Office Service, Inc


  • Rich McGervey
  • Charlies, a bar that used to be at the corner of Pleasant St and University Ave, across the street from where Wings Ole is now.
  • Nyabinghi Dance Hall, where 123 Pleasant St is now.
  • Gargoyles, a bar that I named and built on Pleasant St., where Madelines started
  • The Blue Tick Tavern, the original bar in the basement of the Mountainlair
  • Bullwinkles, bar on the corner of Fayette and University Ave, across Fayette from the Co-op. Shank, Swing and the Divots, a local band of MHS'ers used to play there a lot, along with old cover bands like Abacab.
  • J.D. Bentley's, the original "nice" restaurant at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Granville Lunch, THE place to go at 2 or 3 am after drinking in town
  • Colby's, a bar that was next to Scotchels car dealership in Westover, I think it's an apartment now.
  • The skyscraping boiler smokestack next to Stansbury Hall
  • The Rosewood Theater, which just recently closed after a short stint, which was on Walnut Street and is where: The Walnut Street Flea Market, on Walnut Street, which was run by the two sisters, Alma and Irene, which was where: The National Record Mart, which was on Walnut Street, and later became the flea market and the Rosewood, next to Speedy Gonzales restaurant.
  • The flea market under Fox Automotive and Mountaineer Nautalis, downtown next to the Chevron.
  • Zack Morgan's, which was the restaurant before Gibbies. I worked there when they closed in the late 80s. The feds were after the owners for money laundering, and apparently, unbeknownst to most of the employees (such as myself), they were drug dealers from of state. At least that's what we were told.
  • The Fashion Bug, which was on High Street across from International Outdoors (the pawn shop), and is now a bank. It closed in the mid to late 80s I think.
  • The 21st Amendment, a bar my friend Dave Vannoy managed, which is in the single story building behind the old stone house and next to the old parking garage between Chestnut Street and University Ave/Don Knotts Blvd. It's a lawyers office now.
  • A&P Grocery store that was in the parking lot next to where the Dairy Mart downtown is now. It was in a big corrogated metal building that looked like an airplane hanger. It was torn down right around the time we moved to Morgantown, or just after, because I remember shopping there, and they gave out green stamps.
  • Smoky Joes BBQ, which was the original restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender briefly.
  • Blueberry Hill, which was the second restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender for one week, when I was also working at J.D. Bentleys at the (now) old mall. Blueberry Hill didn't last long either, and was mostly just doing business on weekends as a place to listen to a live DJ spin oldies.
  • Hostetlers Café, which was where Los Mariachis mexican restaurant is now in Suncrest.
  • Jessie's snack bar and grocery store on Brookhaven Road, which later became the Sterling Faucet employees credit union, and is now a private residence for sale and I hear still contains a big bank vault.
  • Sterling Faucet employees credit union, which was where Jessie's used to be on Brookhaven Rd, and is now a private residence that is for sale.
  • Classic Iron Cycles, owned and run by Gary Tannenbaum, who now owns the Blue Moose. It was in the metal building just under the Walnut Street Bridge on the South Park Side.
  • David Weis Jewlers, which was in the first stand alone building up on the hill by the old Mountaineer Mall, which is now Dunhams Sporting Goods. My sister got her first management job there.
  • The building I previously said that Charlie's was in is the same building Margaret identified as housing the Touch of Country and the Touch, and I think it was The Edge before it was Charlies. The last business in there was the Rag Bag, run by Joyce Clay, and she is the last owner of the building, although I think she just sold it.
  • Bud Keeners Exxon. The ORIGINAL Exxon in Sabraton, before they rebuilt the one that is there now, and Exxon screwed Bud over and yanked his franchise. His case went all the way to the US Supreme Court. Essentially they yanked his franchise just because the company that owns the store now wanted more stations, and poor Bud was a solo businessman.
  • Bud Keeners Auto Repair, which was in the middle of the mileground where the landscaping business is now. Bud was my mechanic. I wish I knew where he was now! I moved and he closed up shop at some point, so now when I'm in town I have to go to other mechanics!
  • Tonique Hair Salon, which was in the house where Walgreens is now across from Sheetz.
  • The Golden Ram, which was where the Lums was in the Morgantown Mall, after Lums. It's been vacant ever since the Golden Ram went under. It was run by a manager named Angie and her brother.
  • There was a chinese restaurant in the castle next to where the beauty store is, late 80s I think, it didn't last long either.
  • The Roller Rink that sat in the old yellow block building between where the new Municipal Building is and the Deckers Creek end of Fayette Street. It was pretty much falling off the hillside and they tore it down in the 90s after they build the new city building.
  • Whitetail Bicycles when it was down on Beechurst, the original location. I bought my first mountain bike there, a Schwinn.
  • Dr. Pizza delivers twins. Dr. Pizza started out over in Suncrest, in the western end of the building that also has Pizza Hut and the Boston Beanery. Then they moved down to Beechurst Avenue for many years.


  • Emma Fisher (18 September 2006)
  • Vavoom clothing store at the bottom of Pleasant Street !
  • The flea market on Walnut, right down from the Blue Moose.
  • The pet store on High Street, where I bought a Beta that lived for WAY too long.


  • Dave (18 September 2006)
  • The Bon Ton Roulet!! A music bar just down from Chico's Dairy in the late 70's. The wood floor would bounce up an down as way more people than the place could hold would jam in and dance dance dance to the Paradise Rangers. Bon Ton Roulet's slogan was "Park your rig at the sign of the pig"


  • Phil Belt (18 October 2006)
  • The Suzy-Q Diner just outside of Westover
  • Hot Sam in the Mountaineer Mall
  • Bobette's (candy store across the street from Second Ward school)
  • Gene's - also near Second Ward school on Wilson Ave (NOTE: Is this gone? I thought it was still around)
  • Tony's Barber Shop on Fayette St (above High St)


  • georganne christopher Gallo (6 November 2006)
  • Old Star City Fire Hall Roller Skating one night a week. I think it was either Tuesday or Thursday night.


  • Anita Christopher Walters (10 November 2006)
  • The Fashion Shoppe on High Street next to Warner theater
  • Red Cellar below Tony's restaurant


  • K. McCormack (17 May 2007)
  • The General Store of West (by God) Virginia. They sold soaps, lotions, music, pipes, papers, posters, a little bit of everything
  • Morgantown being such a safe place that no one locked their doorsave something that you think should be added to the list, please e-mail me with your ideas.


  • John Crynock, III (11 June 2007)
  • the old Morgantown Raceway or Race Track by Cheat Lake, across from Ruby and Ketchies Restaurant. The Saturday night races were a blast as a kid and their french fries were an extra special treat. "Snooks" Johnson was the best driver back in the 60's I believe but it was always fun.
  • "the rocks" down the path from Mont Chateau was a great swimming place and hang out in the summers. Many an MHS senior skip day was had there. Also, the Harris family used to run Mont Chateau when it was an Inn and Restaurant. I went to school with their daughter, Barbara, class of '66.
  • Communtzis Restaurant at the Airport. I used to hang out there while learning to fly and passed many an hour with Gus talking about the old days, drinking coffee and studying.
  • Southside Lumber and Westover Lumber


  • J. D. Hatcher (September 12, 2007)
  • On Chestnut Street was Fat Daddy's, but it also had the name After Dark and a few other names as well.
  • The College Inn in Sunnyside had 25 cent beer on Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't remember which.
  • Sticking with Sunnyside, there was Mutt's Place and Choosy Mothers down on the corner by the stadium bridge.
  • I remember the square pizza at Scotto's. I wonder what ever happened to Charlie.
  • At the Mountaineer Mall, there was a store for children, The Gingerbread House (GH), next to Murphy Mart, now Walmart. Across from GH was a bank and then Sweet William, an ice cream store. I can still remember the Rum Raisin ice cream.
  • On down the mall was The Bottomhalf, the place for jeans. The Mountaineer Cinemas was next to Lum's Restaraunt--I worked there one long, hot summer. Across from the cinema was Pizza Inn, a pitcher of light or dark??
  • Downtown was Bullwinkle's as mentioned, which was across the street from Wilkins Motors. Was there a place called Computer Corner across from them?
  • On High Street (ally actually) was the Yukon Railroad, you could ride the bull. And Granny's near the ally. You had to go downstairs to get there. They also had a bull to ride. Later it was renamed, Speakeasy.
  • Bowsher's Barbershop was across from Cappelanti's Grill and Stinger's (spelling?) was a place to get candy, magazines and newspapers back in the 60's. Giavonni's Pizza was up on the corner. The Burger Chef was across the street. (Remember the Burger Chef in Suncrest that burned down? It is now Wing's Ole'.
  • There was a mini golf on the Mile ground near the old Foodland. I remember going to the fair inside the Armory as well.
  • Bishoff Motors near the Westover Triangle and a tavern named the Kopper Kettle nearby
  • No one should forget Fuzzy's Sunoco on Old Cheat Road.
  • Oh, the guy named Andy, who owned the motorcycle store on the corner of Brockway Avenue, He could be a Sulka.
  • Harry's Superette on Collins Ferry Road actually delivered groceries to the house.
  • The Spruce Street Sub Shoppe has the best subs--whatever happened to the Yester brothers, Steve and Gary??


  • Jim Goldsmith (15 September 2007)
  • Violent Death Ray (Violet Ray) laundromat - across from Borman Hall.
  • Head shop in the basement, under the gun shop and dry cleaners near the Dairy Queen on High street. Called something like "Cowboy and Indian Supplies"
  • RPM records in Sunny Side.
  • School Kids records in Sunny Side (3 albums for $10).
  • Stadium Inn - Sunny Side
  • Listening Lounge in Moutainlair
  • Choosy Mothers - Sunny Side
  • (Biff) Noah's Cafeteria - Biff later owned the College Inn (last I heard he had a drywall business in Mgtn. ). I too tended bar at the CI.
  • BTRF: CI inside joke Bar Tender's Relief Fund (picnic)
  • Ray's sandwich shop behind Thorofare in big curve of Richwood Ave (street name?). Near Arnold Hall.
  • Blue's Shoe Shine (and Blue himself).
  • WVU computer center in basement of Stewart Hall.


  • Veronica Travinski Allison (24 September 2007)
  • I worked at Moore & Parriott Drug Store and knew Mary Angotti and Ann Dinardi. Ann was house mother when Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West were big stuff at WVU.
  • Jerry West dated one of my good friends Mary Jane Smith who is now Mrs. Robert Konchesky....both were my classmates. We graduated in 1957. The Koncheskys own a bar/tavern?? on Cheat Lake Road....I was too young and rode buses so I didn't know the roads.
  • When I was 4 I remember riding a ferry in a car (which scared the heck out of me) every Sunday we went to St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Crossed that huge river and landed on Walnut St. That brick street. We drove to Fairmont from Bertha Hill where I was born, to get on that ferry.
  • I'm shocked but not surprised that the convent and St. Francis de Sales school are not there. Very old building when I went there.
  • Our class graduated 8th grade there. My brother Bob graduated high school there. Our class was the first freshman class to be in the new school.


  • Delores Eddy Moore (17 October 2007)
  • Living on Grand Avenue and attending Seneca School with its three foot stone walls in the basement, Rex Smith was the principal. Mr. Spiker was the janitor and would play ball with us in the playground.
  • Riding to Suncrest Park (now Krepps Park) on my bike called Bobtail because it lacked a rear fender.
  • No Monongahela Blvd at that time, only woods beyond Eight Street. We would ride our bikes up what we called the Incline through the woods.
  • New Suncrest had only one home belonging to Jean Brown on Rotary. When Dupont came houses were built here to house the executives at the plant.
  • Playing kick the can on the street and when there was a sufficient amount of snow the City would close the street from Fourth Street to Eighth Street so we could sled ride.
  • Walking to the airport to take flying lessons in the early 40's. After I soloed I remember landing at Morgan's field, the WVU tennis courts, the Colesium and Nataorium occuply that space now. Memories are God's gift to us all.


  • J.D. Curry (20 January 2008)
  • Morgan Leather. It used to be across from the old Morgantown Junior High which was torn down long before I moved away. I think the name of the street they were on was Spruce?


  • Steve Fox (27 January 2008)
  • Blue Ridge Diner on Walnut St with it's hangover curing breakfasts.
  • An excellent bar in 5th ward called Mundays.
  • The head shop in Sunnyside called The Tribe.
  • A weird bar on Beechurst called the Red Light. (it was under an Italian restaurant).


  • kraeusen (3 February 2008)
  • Red Rose Chinese Restaurant in the "old mall": super-spicy szechuan chicken...crispy, golden egg rolls...best chinese food ever served in the county. there was only one american waitress in the joint, and she was smokin' hot. long, dark hair with blonde streaks, dark brown eyes...tastalicious....even better than the food. i believe she worked there until they closed...
  • Mountaineer Mobile: the first cell phone joint in the area, on the corner of fayette and university where bullwinkle's used to be. they remodeled the building, and started selling (what now seems like) outrageously-priced bag phones and those rocking phones that installed in your car...there was a big two stall garage where they would install the bad boys. back then, i think you got 200 minutes for $99 dollars a month. I worked for a cleaning business at the time, and cleaned this joint in the evenings....set off the security alarm at least once every couple of weeks.
  • Pathfinder Book Store: a storefront on walnut street that only sold politically-related volumes, and was staffed by a passel of fidel-loving, hemp-wearing, pseudo-intellectuals. it seemed that the place had a definite anti-american agenda. pamphlets and other hoo-hah, and only a few books. while skipping my entire sophomore year at mhs, i once made the mistake of innocently entering the pathfinder bookstore....that evening my dad jacked my (rear) up, telling me that the govt was watching the place from an apartment across the street (above chrisitan help?), and that i was going to federal prison. still can't figure out how he knew i went in this joint.
  • Apples/Apples Pizza: the big grocery store on university avenue between evansdale and star city. it eventually became bilo, last i knew. on the star city end of the parking lot, they built a little shop where they sold hugantic, rectangular pizzas. my tightwad grandfather celebrated every special occasion with a big apples pizza with mushrooms and green peppers. mushrooms and green peppers? better yet, whether there were 3 people or 35 people, he always got one of those pizzas. i can still see my grandmother cutting those slices in half so that everyone could get their 1"x1" slice.
  • Hostetler's Bagles: someone already mentioned this place as being where los mariachis now is; i remember it being on the mileground right across from the entrance to the airport and beside back bay restaurant. owned by jeff hostetler, this place makes the best breakfast bagle sandwiches EVER. better than anything out of NY.
  • Kegs N Us: nice little bodega to pick up a late-night case of brew, or perhaps even a keg. located on south university avenue, on the right, across from the new wharf district. the business is now defunct, but the building still stands, along with its take on the toys r us logo.


  • Robert Cress(10 March 2008)
  • Barry's Office Service


  • Frances Joseph-Billie (23 May 2008)
  • Beaumont Glass located off of Beechurst Ave.
  • Feddies, a great place to get hotdog was located on Beechurst Ave. I believe there are apartment there now.
  • Jessie's Place was located on Brookhaven Road. Sterling Faucet Credit Union was located there for a while and now it is apartments.
  • Riskie's also know as TKB located in Sabraton where Archie's is located.
  • Dog n' Suds was located across from Picway Shoes where the Roadhouse is now in Star City.
  • The Carousel was located on the Mileground across the road from Paw Prints.
  • The Bead Box in the old Heck's Plaza in Sabraton and Bill's Laundry.
  • Kroger's was located in the opposite end of Heck's


  • Diann McCoy(29 Jun 2008)
  • The bakery on Walnut Street was called Aunt Jenny's and you could buy a slice of pizza for 20 cents. They also made the best chocolate pastries and cream horns.


  • Doug Wiley(29 June 2008)
  • I remember Phantom Pizza (the first delivery service of cold cardboard, covered with tomato sauce) and Pizzeria Italia (the very first Pizza in Morgantown and maybe WV).
  • There was Household Furniture (where us poor people could actually buy new furniture at a decent price) and Hill Used Furniture (Suspiciously burnt down in its prime of life in the now glamorous Wharf District).
  • There was Jimmy's Sunoco on University Ave (Now Don Knotts Boulevard). They actually filled your tank up, cleaned your windshield with a smile and even had a 'non-computerized' credit system if you did not have enough cash (they also had regular customer tabs and probably still do up on the Mileground).
  • Moore and Parriot's (Ann Dinardi) was not only a Pharmacy, but had the Ice Cream Parlor.


  • David Pompili ()
  • Westover cab co. located at the end of the bridge in a little shack built against the rocks
  • Beanies on WVU freshmen
  • Boat races on the Mon River
  • Westover feed store on Tower Lane
  • Bondfires on the old drill field at WVU (behind what is now Mountainlair) - BEFORE football games and no couches
  • Skating rink beside Mgtn Jr High where Lou Christy appeared one night
  • Aunt Jemimah appearing at a VFW pancake breakfast
  • Santa giving out goodies at Westover VFD
  • Friday night dances at Wesley church gym
  • Morgan theater Saturday movies for 10 cents - Met and Warner were 25 cents
  • Nehi Bottling Co just across from and below St Teresa's church
  • Biafora's men store on Pleasant St - before moving to High St
  • Shorty's Texaco station in Westover at Holland Ave and East St with 25 cent gas - seriously, and re-cycled oil in glass bottles
  • Riverside Park and pool
  • Granville baseball field where the carnival came every summer
  • "Chiefie" Newbraugh, Westover's only cop
  • F&P Pontiac across from Sanitary Dairy, where Chick 'n Bones is now
  • Westover Observer - a weekly newspaper
  • Manhattan market on Pleasant St, then moved to a new building at corner of Spruce and Walnut


Original link: http://klishis.com/Misc/Townies.php
 
  • Like
Reactions: JoePaEer
Also missing from my time in Morgantown is the use of The Fieldhouse. You could stop in most time, except PE class in use, and get into 3-4 hours of pick-up games of basketball. There were multiple courts available.

On Tuesday and Thursday, I had PE at 8 or 9. Would remain in gym until afternoon class. If competition was good, would skip class and play until Fred removed us from the floor.
 
(This may already be on the list)

I went to show my kids the shadow of the screaming lady and the lighting had changed and it was gone. They (& I) were so disappointed...
 
Another is Jammerz... it was a big sports bar down the hill from the Coliseum by the river. We used to go there every Monday night for wings and MNF in the fall.
 
Frugal MacDougals, Augies lunch with great steak provolone and fish sandwiches, The Potters Cellar Folk Club, Fawley Music on High Street, Stengers Dept store on High, The Last Resort on Spruce, Itch and Dicks Bon Temp Roulette on Beechurst, Redbeards in Sunny side and on the old Cheat Lake Road, Hugharts Hardware store on High, Fishing shop next to the Dry cleaner on High, the Garage on University, The Roughstone where Maxwells is, the Washington Cafe, The Great Wall of China as a sit down restaurant, The Fox Den, Ziegfelds, Deahl Hall and the Big Mansion across the street in Sunnyside, The Dwelling Place restaurant on Prospect, the Philosophers Stone Bookstore on Spruce, Osage as an incorporated town, Morgantown Day School in Granville, Keeners on Rt 119 south, Mon Do It on 119 S. The Old Cheat Lake Bridge, The Golf Course where the football stadium is, Mon General Hospital Downtown. Me - I'm no longer there either. Oh yea, slot car race track under Suburban Lanes!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JoePaEer
While reading the recent thread on favorite Morgantown drinking spots I thought of this link I ran across about all the things that were once well known in the area but are no more. Check out the list below. What would you add?
------

Morgantown things that are no more....

Gina and Erin initially helped me out with this list, in the summer of 2001 I believe. Others who have contributed are mentioned above the list of things they sent.

New additions appear at the end of the list.

  • Ali Baba's in Westover
  • The Underground Railroad/Underground
  • Morrison's coat store down town
  • Second Ward Elementary (and annex)
  • First Ward Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Mistakes at Dairy Queen
  • Fins, Feathers and Fur
  • Health Sciences was the hospital
  • Chico Dairy: Mighty Mountaineer Ice Cream Sundae

  • Ray's Pastries (downtown, where the Blue Moose was as well as every other incarnation)
  • Why McDonald's downtown closed
  • The Theatre at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Lums at the Mountaineer Mall
  • When the Middletown Mall was the only mall, and actually had stores....
  • Shop & Save/Foodland/Thorofare (?) downtown on Richwood Ave
  • Roller Rink downtown
  • Morgantown Jr High School (end of the Walnut Street bridge)
  • The Vanity Shop
  • The Mountainlair when:
    1) you could smoke there
    2) it didn't look like a mall

  • Why the old stadium was great:
    it was downtown
    the band running out of the tunnels
    Sunnyside
    The Backyard Brawl
  • When the Met was actually a working theatre
  • Hardee's downtown--it had a basement dining room
  • Wings & Things People hanging out in front of Massulo's Dry Cleaner (I was never that cool)
  • When the fountain in front of the post office downtown worked
  • When the Little Village was a red-neck bar
  • The theatres next to Hills
  • When Captain D's was next to Shoney's
  • Burger Chef downtown

  • The Foxfire
  • Chalkies, when that alley had a wooden fence in the middle that made it a dead-end
  • The goddam dryhouse/the machine shop
  • Craig's Comics
  • Space Port
  • Carousel library cards
  • Falstaff's in Sunnyside
  • The miniature golf course/batting cages on Greenbag Road--was it Hole in One
  • Montanero's in Sunny Side
  • Alfredo's on Pineview Drive
  • The payphones by Dairy Queen, at the beginning of that alley on the wall.
    Two of them.

  • Little Caesar's Pizza
  • The Fayette House
  • Don't forget the miniature golf course that was behind Hills.
  • Scotto's Pizza on High St., where the Subway is now.
  • Dr. John's (DJ's) was on street level in Sunnyside and the place to be.
  • Gabe's was where the Brew Pub is now and you didn't want anyone to see you shop there.
  • Mario's Pizza at the top of High Street.
  • Nick's Canteen was the greatest place to get hot chocolate before the Christmas parade.
  • WVU was the #1 party school and proud of it.
  • The Steppin' Out guy painted on the side of Daniel's, before they painted over it with that huge Main St mural.
  • BOPARC dances in the summer.
  • Record Mart on Walnut St.
  • Plant and Pet Shop

  • Hecks--one in Sabraton, and one in Westover (Kimmie Tyer)
  • St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Convent (yup, they're now gone)
  • On the corner of Prairie Ave and University there is only the back wall left of a two story garage. That used to be Prairie Street Gym. Before that it was a garage for Wilson Chevrolet. You can still see the paint on the walls from the locker/shower room. (Chris and Connie Law) (17 August 2004)
  • Lof's (John Corral)
  • Dr. Pizza. They used to deliver their pizza's in an old ambulance (Susan)


  • Robert Cress
  • G.C. Murphy's
  • Rite Aid
  • Revco
  • Mc Vicker's Pharmacy
  • Famers and Merchants Bank
  • Morgan's (when they had hobby supplies)
  • Murphy Mart
  • Sterling Faucet
  • Carosuel Drive -In (Mileground)
  • Dairy Delight in Sabraton (Hero Hut)
  • Giant Eagle In the Mountaineer Mall Parking lot


  • Wayne Womble
  • Whiteside's , a department store downtown on High St.
  • Biafora's, a clothing store across the street from Masullo's Cleaners
  • The Flora Dora Shop, a women's clothing store next to Daniel's
  • The Olympia, a great bar and dance hall close to the Book Exchange
  • The Cottage, a dirt bar where most of the football players frequented


  • erin
  • Wizard Records
    NOTE: I still miss Jack and Wizard Records. Anyone remember the names of the other employees? "Chris was the guy from Fairmont with the mohawk."
  • Backstreet Records (owned and operated by Eric Hansmann)
  • Falstaff's


  • Debra and Mark Riffon (3 July 2004)
  • The intersection of Beechurst and University Ave. was AAA for years, but before that it was a Texaco gas station with upper and lower gas pumps.
  • Across from that Texaco gas station was the Beechurst Ave. Market and the Gold & Blue Restaurant.
  • Where Mode Roman and Nautilus is now, was Wilkins Motors.
  • Where Vic Solomon's garage is now, was Wilson Chevrolet.
  • On Chestnut St where SaraTec was, Pizzaria Italia was downstairs and the Castle was upstairs. And, before that it was the Pontiac Garage.
  • Where Great Wall on High St. is now, use to be Moore - Parriott Pharmacy.
  • Right beside where Great Wall is, was Bakers Hardware.
    • Harold Crowe worked at Bakers Hardware from the time he left the service untill the store closed. It was his only job (Charlotte Dalton)
  • Where BW3 is use to be Greys Cutrate Drug Store and the ajoining street of High and WAlnut use to be McCrory's.
  • On Chestnut St the building where the restaurant is with the deck and lanterns and hanging lights, used to be the Sanitary Milk Co.
  • Where the Human Services Dept is now, used to be the ACME Supermarket.
  • Where the Dollar General is by the South High bridge now, used to be the A & P Grocery Store.
  • A & P also used to be where Boston Beanery is on Patterson Drive.
  • At the top of High St. where the bank is used to be Borden Burger Foods (remember the big Satalite)
  • Across the street where the VooDoo Shop is, used to be Gioviani's Pizza Shop.
  • To the left of the Dairy Mart on Willey St. where the parking lot is used to be the Thorofare Grocery Store. After that is was Foodland until it burned down.
  • Where the Senior Center is on High St, used to be Montgomery Ward. It was 3 stories. If you look up at the building you will still see the big "W"
  • If you look at the ingraving on where the Pawn SHop is now on High ST. you will see Farmers & Merchants BAnk. Also down from where Subway is now used to be Woolworth's.
  • Where the bike shop is by the courthouse use to be O. B. Fawley's and beside that was the State Liquer Store. and before that it was Rogers Drug Store.
  • The Mountain Peoples Co-op used to be Picketts Dry Cleaners.
  • On University Ave where the parking garage is now, used to be a small white building that was Kelly Cab and Yellow Cab.
  • At the end of Westover bridge where Wings Ole is now, was Firestore Tires.
  • Where Gibby's is now use to be Communtzis Restaurant.
  • On Walnut St. down from where the Blue Moose is now, used to be Presto Lunch (what a great place to eat)
  • Where Salvation Army Shop is now, used to be Radio Shack.
  • Where WesBanco is in Sabration used to be a Sunoco Gas Station.
  • Where Hardee's is in Sabraton used to be a Texaco Station and a car wash.
  • Beside KFC used to be Mr. Donut.
  • Dominion Post used to be on Spruce St where Manpower is now.
  • To the right of where manpower is now on Spruce St. is a Medical building. That used to be the Moose Lodge.
  • To the left was a gas station and the building on the corner was Plaid Stamps Store.
  • At the intersection of Stewart St. and Chestnut Ridge Rd and Stewartstown Rd was Chestnut Ridge Grade School (became Bed & Breakfast and then some kind of Lodge after that) and across the street was a Texaco Station.
Steve Deahl (31 Dec 2004)

  • Mom and pop grocery stores: Chester Hartley's store on the corner of Grand Street and Gordon Street in South Park (briefly became Dairy Mart, before moving to its present location on Dorsey Avenue); Bobette's store on the corner of Wilson Avenue and Kingwood Street (later located in the building behind its first location); Marvin Luckini's store on Kingwood Street (I hope I spelled Marvin's last name right); Forlini's store on White Avenue; Bailey's grocery on the corner of Arch and Green Streets; Cobun Avenue Confectionery on the corner of Cobun and Maryland (Connie Negri still has her business, but it's on Pleasant Street now); the one on Barrickman Street in First Ward which later became (and may still be) Roto Rooter; and many others across Morgantown that I don't remember because they weren't on the south side (where I obviously grew up).
  • The five-and-ten's: Woolworth's on High and Wall Streets--I especially remember their record section in the basement; Murphy's, across from the court house, where the Dollar Store is now--you went through the front door, down the stairs, and the toys were on the right, pets on the left--and at Christmas time, Santa came there so you could sit on his lap and tell him what you wanted; and the ultimate five-and-ten, McCrory's on the corner of High and Walnut--so huge that a multitude of businesses now occupy its space (BW3, Z Club, the state treasurer's office, etc.)--McCrory's had great old wooden floors, a great restaurant at the back, and the ladies' underwear was segregated into a separate room where little boys weren't allowed to go so they wouldn't get any bad ideas.
  • Downtown restaurants: Remember when the Acropolis was a restaurant and not a coin shop? (It was where the Discount Den now is.); Remember when {where BB&T Bank is} was the BBF before it was Borden Burger before it was Burger Chef? (and before that, it was a Chinese laundry and Olan Mills photography studio.); Bonanza steak house on the corner of High & Fayette (later Hardee's, & later still Cafe of India's old location); the Indian restaurant that was in the back of Cafe of India's old location before it became Cafe of India; Cosmopolitan hot dogs; Healthy Bites (now the Blue Moose); Hav-a-Lunch on the corner of High & Pleasant, where the Huntington Bank drive-through now is.
  • The bench on the corner of High and Kirk Streets, which had "Southside Lumber" painted on it--used to be the only bench in all of downtown Morgantown, but I never saw anyone ever sitting on it.
  • The pet store on West Street in Westover (at the far end from Holland Avenue).
  • The bakery on Walnut Street (now a lawyer's office), next to D&A Jewler's (now the porn store).
  • The house on Wall Street with the great balcony and the barber shop on the first floor, which was torn down to become Morgan's parking lot. The barber's wife was a painter, and her paintings were always stacked up so the barber couldn't use one of his chairs. The barber shop moved to the location which is now the Blue Moose's new dining room extension.
  • Grocery stores on High Street! (High Street Market & Morgantown Market)--one was on the corner of High and Forest, recently torn down--the other was where Subway is now.
  • The Blue Tic Tavern in the Mountainlair!
  • The Double Decker bar on Walnut Street (now the Living Room), and another bar down the street, the Washington Cafe (now GARO).
  • The miniature golf course on the Greenbag Road, where Bluegrass Village is now.
  • Downtown newstands: Walter's News, on the corner of High & Pleasant, and before that in the middle of the block of Pleasant Street between High & Spruce; and Stenger's, where Casa d'Amici is now.
  • John Marshall Records, at its many locations up and down High Street, and even on Willey Street at one point; Record Bar in the Mountaineer Mall; and Disc Jockey in the Morgantown Mall.
  • The Euphorium, upstairs in Sunnyside--Morgantown's very first head shop, I believe. Speaking of head shops, where Cool Ridge is now used to be the Morgan Theater.
  • The stadium bridge--no wonder I don't walk to Sunnyside anymore!
  • Morgantown's first pizza delivery place, Phantom Pizza. Its location was supposed to be a secret, but it was on Beechurst.
  • Morgantown's first Kentucky Fried Chicken was in a small building on Patteson Drive which today would be located in Kroger's parking lot. The "Today's Buffet" Chinese restaurant next door used to be another Bonanza steak house.
  • Morgantown used to have good Chinese restaurants! The Great Wall (not affiliated with the current Great Wall) was where Fatty Loaf's is on Walnut Street; East Garden is now that tea house above Zen Clay; and Foosheen used to be called Hallelujah Chinese Restaurant and used to be good despite the fact that they were serving up cat meat.
  • Independent book stores! Who can forget Stilwell's on the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets? (Before it was Stilwell's, it was a bar called El Toro.)--Not to mention the cafe in back of Stilwell's. I remember it first as an oriental grocery store, then Cafe Libretto, then Cafe Catherine, then Grasshopper Locomotive--and now a parking lot. How about the book store on Foundry Street, next to the South High Street Brigde? First it was Wolf's Head, then Abshire's, and finally Books Books Books. Remember Trans-Atlantic Books on Fayette Street? Or how about Riverrun in the Garlow Building above where Kinko's used to be? (and remember when Kinko's was on Willey Street?)--well, some good news, Riverrun is back, now in the Sand Castle on Walnut Street across from the police station/parking garage.


  • Matt Helmick (17 Jan 2005)
  • "The Press Box" (bar) and the trailers behind it, near the stadium.
    NOTE: These just went down in 2004, and much of that whole stretch is now being converted to town houses. (Expensive town houses I'm sure.)
  • Dick's Hot Dogs ("Everyone Loves Dick's"), one of many drive-thru ideas in the building near the intersection of University and Patteson.
    NOTE: The original building was some el cheapo drive through/walk-up hamburger joint (Rally's?). No one seems to realize that's a terrible location and they'd be better off razing it to the ground and selling the space for parking.
  • Pizza Man on University Ave, all you can eat pizza buffet for (if I remember correctly) 3.99. Not a bad deal if the folks in the kitchen were actually making pizzas while you were there. The price eventually went up, in anticipation of the liquor license, which never went through, and the joint went out of business. Next it was the Alamo, some of the most expensive burritos I've ever seen.


  • Randy Oleksa (19 Jan 2005)
  • Ed's barber shop on Brockway avenue
  • Carl's roller rink also on Brockway next to Connie's grocery building is gone now.
  • This goes way back: The Commodore restaurant and department store used to set in front of Sterling Faucet along route 7 in Sabraton.
  • The Hayloft bar then it was Company B dance club in Dellslow where the Dairy Mart is now
  • Beckman Brothers Feed Store in Sabraton where Southern States is now.
  • Cloverleaf drive in on Cheat road
  • Johnnie's Texaco on Cheat road
  • Whipper will on the lake (Cheat Lake)
  • Sycamore lounge on Fairchance road
  • LuLu Belle's on Fairchance road


  • Jay Paulovicks(19 Jan 2005)
  • The Columbian Dorm - on Beechurst Ave. - now an office building
  • My Brothers Place - in an ally downtown
  • Communtzi's Restaurant - Downtown - Slogan was "Where Dad took his girl and grandad too"
  • The Armory
  • The "tin can"
  • Reynolds Hall
  • "Bonded" gas station on Beechurst
  • Shoe shines at the Met Theatre
  • Pool Hall in "old" Morgantown BEFORE the BBF was built there
  • Whatever was "49 steps up Walnut from High"
  • Old Hawley Field drill area (ROTC) - where coliseum is now
  • Tony's Restaurant - Italian restaurant near Chico Dairy
  • WVU Dairy at Ag School - when it provided ALL milk and ice cream for all residence halls
  • Golf course where the new Mountaineer Field is
  • Mont Chateau motel and restaurant


  • David Schreiber (28 March 2005)
  • The Cantina
  • RedBeard's
  • Di Giovanni's on Sunnyside- old married couple ran it- home of 3 am pizza- but watch your change!
  • The Old KA House (just knocked down)
  • Original Mario's Fishbowl- don't curse!
  • The "CI" a/k/a College Inn on Sunnyside
  • The Bullpen on Sunnyside
  • The Down Under
  • The Fifth Quarter
  • The Nyabhingi (after the Underground)
  • Grant Street Block Party


  • Richard Scroggs (16 April 2005)
  • The College Inn, University Avenue, Sunnyside USA where I worked as bartender and doorman in 87-88. I believe the CI held the record for the oldest, continuously operating bar in Morgantown.
  • Down the street in what later became half of the Foxfire Hot Diggity, my brother in law's (Bob Armstrong) hot dog only restaurant. It closed in the early 80's, around the time Old Mountaineer Field closed.


  • Rick Smith (18 April 2005)
  • The old, three-story offices of the Daily Athenaeum near the corner of Pleasant and Price Streets (am I remembering those correctly?) -- it was across the street from a sorority house... Man, that was a great old building for a geeky newspaper crew to hatch its world-domination schemes from... before putting the paper to bed every night and heading down to Mario's Back Door for a pitcher! =)


  • Tom Lapp (26 April 2005)
  • The Berger Chef on (now) Rte 705. Was right next door to Flatts Elementary school
  • Flatts Elementary School, as well as the middle school that it fed into that was out about where the Wal-Mart not-to-be was going to go. I forget the name of the school. I want to say Chestnut Ridge, but I cannot recall for sure. It would have been 5th and 6th grades and fed into Suncrest Jr High School.


  • Page (Whitty) Borger (4 May 2005)
  • How about Fredlock's? Fredlock's used to have one of those weird Zen things that made designs in the sand. Also they used to have these raunchy mugs with women on them, and when there was condensation on the mugs the women's clothing would disappear. I would love to know if anyone remembers this.
  • Grey's discount
  • The Dining Room!
  • Jambie's


  • Happyberrys (27 May 2005)
  • Remember the Morgan Theatre, it stood up from what is now the Boston Beanery, right at the alley. It became a hot dog place and beside it was a clothing store. I think the clothing store moved across the street. Where the hot dog stand was is now a bar. Actually when I was young, I think the movie theatre closed but my parents remember going to movies there as they were growing up.
    (NOTE: I remember the Hallmark store next to where the Beanery now is, not sure about a hot dog stand. Anyone else?)


  • Jacques Williams(20 June 2005)
  • How about Pike's Rest. near the corner of High Street, later on the House of Cards and now a lawyer's office.


  • Mark DeVault (10 July 2005)
  • It was the "Floradora Shoppe" (Not the previously misspelled Flora Flora Shop))
  • How about the original arcade at the Mountaineer Mall..."Chuckles"
  • And no list of Mom & Pop grocery stores could be complete without Austin's on the big curve on Stewart Street


  • Vincent Skolny (11 July 2005)
  • The Dungeon
  • Restaurant Express
  • Green turf behind the Lair, the little, flat-roofed garage catycorner to the B&E building that we used to sit on and drink


  • Jason Fowler (26 July 2005)
  • Bauers lumber in Sabraton (food lion is there now)
  • Original Lowes in sabraton
  • The hot dog stand people are reffering too was the Cosmopolitn I believe (NOTE: Yes, Cosmopolotin Lunch)
  • Beer distributer that was where the Citgo stands on Beechurst now (Icebox maybe?)
  • Nationwise auto parts, then became parts America in Sabraton, now it is a dollar general.
  • PharMor was above the Morgantown mall and K-mart was where profits is now in the mall
  • There was a food store (Food Lion or Giant Eagle) where K-mart moved too (NOTE: It was a Giant Eagle. I don't think it lasted a year.)
  • All the Pizza Inns in town and at the old mall (NOTE: One at the old mall, One by Hills... Can't remember the others.)
  • Weiner world in the old mall.


  • Kari (Bailey) Handa (31 July 2005)
  • The Wharf Rat arcade located in the Hills parking lot about where Rax moved in.
  • The Westover Drive In both as a movie place and a flea market mecca every Sunday during the Summer
  • The Twist Top restaurant located on Holland Avenue in Westover. It was located in the building which now houses the Northern WV Performing Arts School. I use to stop there for snacks after dance class at Beth Barnes Dance Studio. After the Twist Top closed it became the first Ali Baba's in town.
  • Beth Barnes Dancing School in Westover
  • Dogs and Suds, the drive up curb service restaurant located on Monongahela Blvd. in Star City where the Exxon is now located.
  • Westover TV where you got your TV repaired and paid the cable bill.
  • Westover Bank which got bought out by Huntington United.
  • When the tornado took off the back end of the Wilson Motors building.


  • Brian (8 August 2005)
  • The old Kroger in the Heck's Plaza in Sabraton where CVS is now.
  • Mr. Donut in Westover (now Taco Bell).
  • Cloverleaf (?) grocery store on Richwood, also former home of the Tao Shiu Kuan School of Martial Arts across from Mario's Fish bowl.
  • Richter Volkswagen (Then PRO) across from Heck's Plaza in Sabraton.
  • One On One, the driving range, miniature golf, go-karts, and arcade on Greenbag Rd. (now Bluegrass Village)
  • University News on High St.
  • Burger Chef on Chestnut Ridge Rd. (now Wings Ole)
  • The original Hotel Morgan Ballroom (Now Elevation 127)
  • Loving Furniture (the 49 steps up Walnut:))
  • TelePrompTer Cable on Spruce St. (remember when all we got was 2-13 and Showtime?)
  • Richard's Kiddie Town clothing store on High St.
  • Royal Furniture on High St.


  • George Papandreas(10 Oct 2005)
  • The A&P on South High where the Dollar store is now. Anyone remember when you could drive down a really steep ramp at the back of the parking lot and go under the building?
  • The Biggies Burger place where Appalachian Gallery is now...across from the Post Office...the folks that had the Rays Pastries owned it...Ray Lambert...RIP Speaking of Rays Pastries, they were where the Boston Beanery is now and replaced Pikes Bakery...sorry, Jacques!
  • The Hope Gas Company where City Office Equip. is now. Remember when there was actually a person on the other end of the phone when you called them?
  • The Water Company was where the photographer is now on the right side of the S. High Bridge...them Wolfshead Books...etc.
  • When the Warner Theater just had one screen. The Presto Restaurant on Walnut street.
  • The Parthenon bar to the left of it. Both owned by the Demanelas Families...Gus and Bill. The Fox club in the basement.
  • Randolphs Restaurant where the Blue Moose is now.
  • When Tanners Alley was in the narrow little room right there somewhere by Presto. There was a Bakery there next to Presto for a short while. Owner was Donnie Hunter and wife. Donnie went by "Zero Sardonicus" sometimes.
  • The stereo place in what is now an apartment building on the right out-of-town side of the Walnut St. bridge. Then it was a motorcycle shop owned by a guy that ended up on the FBI most wanted list...Andy something...went by "Dog".
  • Dean's Jewelers on Walnut around where the porn shop is now...he was a bit spooky, but a good guy! Below him was Aunt Jennies Pastries...great brownies! I think that was where there is a vacant law office now.
  • The Eleanor Shoppe womens clothing shop on the Corner of High and Walnut. Later became a McDonalds.
  • Lovings Furniture on Walnut. Later had a boxing club on an upper floor. Weiss Jewelers on High...later added the Golden Parrot Gift Shoppe...around the place where the Comic book place is now.
  • The little red and white ice cream shop that was there somewhere for a short time.
  • The little market run by Mark...the hippie NJ guy in the narrow little room that later beacme the Peanut Shoppe and is now a Law Office.
  • Kenney's Shoes, later Weiss' Jewelery then the University News and now the Hobbits Closet.
  • White Cross, then Revco, then Byrd Optical, now an insurance office...corner of High and Wall St.
  • Woolworth's where WesBanco is now. After Woolworth's, remember Murphy's upstairs, Masterpiece, above it? There was a dance school up there for a short time, too.
  • Morgantown Hardware, Revco, Absolute Pizza, now the Mediterranean Market. Wasn't Whitesides in the next space? Communtzis Rest., then The Dining Room, then Gibbies.
  • The H&P store where Reiner and Core was...now a furniture store.
  • Dragans Steakhouse, Bonanza, Hardees, a mountaineering store now First Exchange Bank.
  • High St. Market where Subway is now. Scotto's Pizza was there for years.
  • The stereo place across High St from First Exchange...corner of High and Fayette, later a Gap Store, Hot Dog Place and now a Pita place.
  • The Met. Theater when it still was a movie theater. Mr. Communtzis, (Tyke) ran it. It closed several days after he died...RIP. Great guy...I loved talking to him...thin as a rail, though!
  • House of Cards then Devincent's Music Store...can't place what was before the House of Cards...
  • The little narrow room to the left of Devincent's was the original location of Cosmopolitan Lunch.
  • Morrisons Dept. store, Spaceport Arcade, a couple bars at one time or another, then Ali Babas, Levels, and now de Lazy Lizard
  • Stairway to WCLG radio...they once took a baby elephant up those steps!
  • The pawn shop on the corner of High and Wall was preceded by an optical shop...can't remember what was there before...
  • Down Wall St is Maxwells. It has had many owners but was originally the Ruff Stone pub...#1 Wall St.!
  • Across Wall St. was the Morgan Theater building. The theater was owned by Tyke Communtzis, but was managed by Larry and Vera...(sorry, can't remember their last name)...Great People!The little room on the right side of the lobby was a peanut shop in the old days, then Recordland in the 50's. Later, the Pretzel Oven, and Cosmopolitan Lunch for 26 yrs. Everyone came in there! Famous for hot dogs with chili! OK, I'll shut up, I owned it!
  • after the theater closed in 79 or 80, there was the Athletes Sole shoe shop, a tanning salon and now Cool Ridge. To the left of the lobby area was a mens shop, then shoe repair, then Wharf Rat arcade, then Athletes Sole, later expanded, then tobacco shop then Cool Ridge, later expanded to today.
  • The Basement was Moonies pool hall, Grannies Disco, Fantasies, (briefly), The Greek, Speakeasy, with floor shows and a Piano bar, Alexander's, which later burned, (arson), then Class Act, now Vice Versa.
  • Remember the L&G shop in the 70's? Then a bar, then a Biscuit sandwich place...nasty!
  • Then Ali Baba's now Big Times.
  • The Boston Beanery was Pikes Pastries, then Ray's Pastries.
  • House of Cards was where the Law Offices are now...HW&S, but was Grays Cutrate drugstore before that...used to have the best prices on records in High School!
  • Next, goin' down High was Pettreys Shoes, later a Loan place, tattoo shop hairdresser. Now a bail Bond place.
  • On the corner of High and Walnut is Urban Eats, before that, T&L Hot Dogs and a loan place.
  • Different part of town... Remember Hills in Star City? Bet you don't remember that they were the first to open on Sunday in defiance of the States' "Blue Laws" and the manager was arrested!
  • The Wharf Rat Amusement Center in the Hills parking lot behind the service station was the first arcade in Morgantown and the first to have video games and foosball !
  • Pizza Inn and the Star City theaters...first theater in Morgantown to show Star Wars as well as Saturday Night Fever!! Star Wars was there for months!!
  • The miniature golf course on the hill behind Hills.
  • The smell of the sewage treatment plant on humid nights...whew!!


  • Robert (30 October 2005)
  • Pizza Inn also had a location in Cheat Lake (I cant remember where) Jim Dunn used to manage (maybe owned) the location at the Mountaineer Mall across from the Theater. Jim , at one time, was manager of Pargo's (now gone).
  • Pargo's, Italian Oven, Etchings (now Glasshouse Grill), Barry's Office Service's animated christmas windows? speaking of Barry's, the 8am opening and their great Jingle. (ok im biased i worked for Dave and Susan for 5 years)
  • Also anyone remember the circle in the center court at the Mountaineer Mall.. and santa's village? With the electronic Rudolph in the back (facing Penny's) who used to "talk", for many years i never knew my father played Santa at the Mountaineer Mall (80's) and Hill's.
  • Speaking off Hill's, there was a very smal arcade in the plaza later on. Along with Aladdin's Castle at the Mountaineer Mall, it had been in 3 locations during the years. Also that funky wallpaper at Weiner World at the Mountaineer Mall. Remember the big "M" made out of stone that used to stand at the main entrance??? before the addition was built?
  • Also remember the restaurant in Heck's plaza in Sabraton??? where the mexican restaurant is now??? they used to have those wagon wheel light fixtures? I cant remember the name... but Mary Johnson used to work there at the counter... she was a sweety... i can just hardly remember that..
  • oh for Hill's... they had a christmas character named Spryte... for Hill's memories check out www.hillsstores.com a fan site remembering Hills....
  • How about the old restrooms at the courthouse where you coudl access from teh courthouse square???


  • Velda Frisco (18 January 2006)
  • Before it was the Underground Railroad, it was Mateo's.
  • Also, Virginia Chittum's Dance Studio on High Street.
  • Gabes was on Walnut Street before it moved into the Brew Pub building.
  • Bowlby's and Weintraub's on Pleasant St. Ziegfield's was a bar in the castle beside the beauty school.
  • Dering's funeral home was on Walnut St. Jenkins & Brown , now Fred L. Jenkins, was on Pleasant St. where the parking garage is now.
  • Marsh's Shoe store on High Street.
  • Auto Parts on University Ave.
  • Household Furniture where Bartlett house is on University Ave.
  • Jules Kay Jewlery on High St. around where the bead shop is now. Morgan Leather where HealthRight is now on Spruce Street.
  • There was a roller rink above Morgans.
  • There used to be a recreational club for young teens on Wall St.


  • Andy Ice Horton
  • As a life long resident of Mo'town, I recall most all of the list. What amazes me now when I am downtown is that most all stores are gone and replaced with BARS.
  • Remember when bars had last call at 2 am? And the only places to go after that were the OWLS club (Walnut Street), open until how late?? I know they were open until at least 4:30 a.m.!
  • Or you could go to SPENCERS (out toward Mountaineer Mall, along where Sound Investmenst is now) for STEAK AND EGGS. How yummy at 2 or 3 in the morning!


  • Kay Comuntzis-Getsinger
  • Marv's Pizza in Sunnyside across the street from the old Mountaineer Field....it was there as early as 1955.
  • Irene's Dress Shop on High Street first next to the Dairy Queen and later moved to almost the corner of Walnut and High. Owned by Vicki and Quintine Pettite and I worked there off and on from ages 14-22.
  • Goldsmith's....Harry Goldsmith was the Saul Radman of the 1940's and '50's and on into the '60's.
  • DeAntonis' Barber Shop on Walnut ..... George DeAntonis always had time for the young men who needed someone to talk to. Whata guy!
  • Nick's on Willey next to where John Fleming has his Book Exchange today. It was owned by my Uncle Tasso and cousin George Caravasios who now lives in the DC area. Great place to TGIF and then move on down to the Olympia to dance to the tunes of the Bonnevilles!
  • Sherman Shoes was next to my family restaurant and was owned and operated by Perry Jubaleer....cute fella!


  • Benjamin Snead
  • The Olympia
  • Have-a-Lunch
  • Maudes next to Chi Omega
  • The Joker on the river
  • Jimmys on High
  • "The Greeks"


  • Tom Montague
  • ''OATES TEL-O-DINE'' IN STAR CITY WHERE LONG JOHNS IS NOW. ''OR WAS''


  • James & Connie Caravasos
  • Top of High Street Down: Ramsey's Grocery Store. Chinese Launday, A Funeral Home (Parking lot of BB&T Bank), Spot Billiards and Bowling Alley, Spot Restaurant and Hotel, Academy Restaurant, Bus Station and Boarding House (Across Street of Academy Restaurant), Esso Station and Taxi Cab office (Next to Fredlock's Stenger's Newstand, (DeLynn) Fashionable Shoe Store, Instant Lunch (10cents Hambergers and Fries), Marsh's Shoe Store, Mon. Power Office and Retail Store (Corner of Fayette and High), Laidley and Selbys Stationary Store, High Street Market, Floradora Women's Store, Finn's Ladies Store, Coomb's Florist O.J Morrison Annex (Across from Met), Brown's Jewelry Store with Clock on Street, Yeagle'sJewelry (Next to Met), Candy Store in the Met, Met's Billiards and Barber Shop Basement of Met, Cosmopolitian Hot Dogs, Morgantown Hardware, F & M Bank, Woolsworth Five and Dime, Kresges Five and Dime, Lillian's Hat Shop, Morgan Theater, Hagen's Ice Cream Shop, Jacobs Men's Store, Harry Goldsmith Men Store, Sidler's Dept. Store, Rand's Drug Store, Ream's Drug Store, A&P Grocery Store (Corner of Walnut and High), Citizen's Bank, Court House, McCroy's Five and Dime, Streamline Food Market, Montgomery Wards, Murphy's Five and Dime, First National Bank (Across the Street), Monongahela Building, Reiner & Core Men Store, Chicago Dairy Meat Market, McVicker's Drug Store, Baker's Hardware, Moore and Parriott Drug Store, Jack Walter's Newsstand, City Market (Corner of High and Pleasant), City Pharmacy, Peanut Shop Next Warner Theater, Dr Ryan's and Dr HV King Ophthmologists, Warner Theater, Perry's Shoe Repair Next to Warner Theater, Royal Furniture Store, Shelhammer"s Appliance Store, Slaven's Jewelry Store, Fawley Music Store, Hotel Morgan Travel agency in Hotel Morgan, Sherman Williams Paint Store, Richard's Restaurant, Post Office.
  • (That's) (w)hat I remember from Top of High Street to Kirk Street near the Bridge.


  • Ken Weiss
  • The Spudnut Shop on Willie Street...still the best donuts ever.
  • Marv's Pizza...the first pizza shop in MoTown over in Sunnyside...square cut pizza, Marv opened one up on the Mileground, too and later opened one up out on Rt 7 that sold beer
  • George Brothers Resturant where all the drunks and derilicts went at two in the morning for some late night food
  • Capellanti's on Walnut Street (best hand cut greasy french fries ever)
  • Aunt Jenny's Bakery...every day after Jr Hi for an eclair
  • Morgan Leather...they sold everything there except for leather
  • The Owl's Club...gambling and hookers and underage drinking...every all-American boy's dream come true
  • Nick's on Willie Street, why was the owner named Gus? And why did Gus' brother who was named Nick own the Canteen Lunch
  • Jimmy's (Jimmy Papajohn's hand squeezed lemonade was the best!)
  • Eddie Dooms,
  • The Hamburger King...classy and classic joint
  • Kiddie Town, later morphed into Richard's
  • Baker Hardware...wood floors, high ceilings, an old wood buring stove in the back that they used to fire up on cold days...everything from Flexible Flyer Sleds to knives, guns, and three penny nails
  • Slavin's Jewelers on High Street
  • Washington Cafe (Augie & Rose Mastrogusippi's place on Walnut ST), where most kids went for their first quarts of 3.2 beer when they turned 16.
  • Moore & Pariott's Drug store and their great soda Fountain. Ann DiNardi and Mary Angotti knew every one that ever came in to their store
  • Fredlock's Pharmacy...fresh donuts
  • Chicago Market on High Street
  • The Ash Hat Shop
  • Sidler's
  • Met Shoe Service
  • Fashionable Shoe Store, where I had my first job as a stock boy
  • Royal Furniture on High Street and Household Furniture on University,
  • Friend's Furniture and Cohen's Furniture, both on Pleasant Street
  • Walter's News Stand...Jack Walters was always behind the counter and he had a smile and a kind word for everybody
  • Guy Flinn, Opticians
  • Sears, Roebuck big store on High St...official home of Mickey Mouse Club Gear!
  • Weintrob Brothers...for Levi's and great pegged pants


  • Beege Bowers (31 Jan 2006)
  • The Old Mill Club, Chestnut Ridge Road
  • Morgantown Paint Co, Spruce Street
  • Thomas Cleaners, Pleasant Street
  • Sharkey's Gulf Station, Willey Street
  • Point Snack Shop, Willey Street
  • Vincent Palotti Hospital, Willey Street
  • Acme Super Market - South High Street
  • Ruff Stone, Wall Street (where Maxwell's is currently)
  • Dixon's Restaurant, Spruce Street
  • Betty's Jewelry, High Street
  • Met Card Shop, High Street
  • Finn's, High Street (womens clothing)
  • Morgantown Beauty School, Spruce Street (beside current Greek church)
  • First Christian Church, Spruce Street (now Greek chruch)
  • Mon General Hospital, Elmer Prince Drive (now dorms)
  • Texaco Station, Cobun Ave/Pleasant Street
  • Morgantown County Club (where current Law school is located)
  • Blue Horizon Drive In
  • Morgantown Public Library, Fayette Street (under police station)
  • Elks Club, Walnut Street
  • Draft House, Mileground
  • Holiday Inn Motel, Mileground
  • Airport Restaurant, Airport
  • Morgantown Sports Center, Pleasant Street
  • Randolph's Restaurant, High Street
  • Crestholm Pharmacy, Kingwood Street
  • Buseman and Kennell, Mileground (paints)
  • Sear's, High Street
  • Perry Brothers Shoes, Pleasant Street
  • The Roundtable, High Street (clothing)
  • Liberatore's Grocery, W VA Avenue
  • The Book Nook, Fayette Street
  • Cowan Bakery, Clay Street
  • Harley's Cleaners, Spruce Street
  • Crescent Printing, Wall Street
  • Weintrob Brothers, Pleasant Street (clothing)
  • Ten Pin Lounge, Chestnut Ridge Road (Suburban Bowling Bldg)
  • Morgantown Glass and Mirror, Chestnut Street
  • Morgan Shirt Factory, Powell Ave (near Marilla Park)
  • D & D Shoes, High Street
  • The Bake Shop, Richwood Avenue
  • Champs Pizza, High and Willey Streets
  • Weatherholt Shop, High Street
  • Photo Crafters, Pleasant Street


  • Anonymous (26 March 2006)
  • Finn's Dress Store


  • Karla Bolyard (8 May 2006)
  • Petrey's shoe store at the corner of walnut and high street.
  • Merle Norman cosmetics was upstairs.
  • Cinema 1 & 2 in the Hills plaza.
  • Westover Drive Inn
  • Maple Leaf Drive Inn
  • Richards, High Street


  • Mary Harper Kloman (17 May 2006)
  • Mont Chateau as a State Park (at Cheat Lake) and its swimming area.
  • Blosser's Boat Docks (at Cheat Lake).
  • The Whippoorwill (at Cheat Lake).
  • Sunset Beach's original docks for swimming.
  • The old iron bridge at Cheat backwaters.
  • Two little grocery stores: One across the street from Seneca School, and the other at the top of Jones Avenue.
  • The Carousel drive-in restaurant on the Mileground
  • Tony's Restaurant on Beechurst Avenue


  • danny r (23 May 2006)
  • Spruce Steet Sub Shop.... great subs, always busy..., Now a lawyers office
  • University Gym on Willy Street next to The Den. Now a tanning salon.
  • Western Sizzler in Westover


  • Dave Lunsford (7 June 2006)
  • Golds Gym between Vics Garage and The Chevron. Now a building-for-lease.
  • Mamma Giovanni's (mamma G's) on University Ave in Sunnyside. Between the Rusted Musket and what was Falstaffs. Best 2am Giovanni sandwichs around!
  • Suds Laundromat beside where the State Police barracks are now. Great place to get loaded while you do your laundry.


  • Laurent Levy (10 June 2006)
  • Rudy's Esso(Exxon) station across from what used to be the Acme Supermarket on South High St.
  • The Barrickman St. mom-and-pop was the Miniature Market - run by the Salucci family. There was also Sam's Market on Madison Ave.
  • I think the Sears on High St. wasn't "big" -- it was a catalogue outlet
  • Bonded / Boron gas station at the bottom of Mon. Blvd.
  • Sinclair station (the one with the dinosaur), I think on Spruce St.
  • Frank's Barber Shop
  • Gutta's Fruit Market and Greenhouse/Nursery
  • Big B supermarket (So. University Ave.)
  • The big Coca Cola sign by the river
  • Morgantown School of Ballet (near Chico's.)
  • Bridgegate Dinner Theater
  • There was a self-serve shoe place, ("Picway?") near the Hills in Star City
  • Speaking of Hills, it seems to elicit many memories ("The low cost living anti-inflation department store") -- I recall it being the only place you could see fireworks on the 4th of July.
  • International House restaurant (So. University, near the old Westover bridge)
  • The main thing about Morgan's was that its parking lot was the venue for all of MJHS's after-school fights!
  • On snow days, the police would actually close some streets down for sledding
  • The Dominion Post used to be Dominion News (morning) and Morgantown Post (evening)
  • The green WVU busses between campuses before the PRT was built


  • Tom Sloane (12 June 2006)
  • Whelan's Drug Store, Corner of High and Walnut.
  • The Kiddy Shop, in the Hotel Morgan, owned by Mrs. Sutherland
  • Sylvia's Togs, Mrs. Sylvia Moran, a children's shop in one of the alleyways of High St.
  • Mother Witherspoon's, a great place for hearing local groups, including the Mind Garage (psychedelic music), was in the spot later occupied by the Ruff Stone and Maxwells.
  • Louis Mantini's grocery on Overdale St. (Connie's uncle)
  • Homeside Market, Elmina St., owned by Fern Stenellis.
  • Superior Photo was on Elmina St., operated by the Lorenze brothers (Joe and Steve).
  • Baily Radiator, Elmina St., owned and operated by Harlan and George Baily for many years.
  • Sam Fratto had a barber shop right across from 2nd Ward School, and there was a corner soda fountain, Conner's, for many years, corner of Green and Wilson.
  • Heathcoate's Store sold great candy and those wax lips and moustaches, yoyos, too, on the corner of White Ave. and Wilson Ave.
  • A Bocci Court was located next to Tommy's Place and Gene's Beer Garden on Wilson Ave. I can remember neighborhood men, mostly Italian, playing there until late at night. (Gene's of course is still there.)
  • Gene Perilli ran a barber shop behind the beer garden for many years.


  • Charlotte Dalton (13 June 2006)
  • Osgood Bus Line
  • Roller Skating where Peerless Laundry is now
  • Tom Kittzmiller's Stables in Westover Park
  • Sleepy's Bar at the corner of Houston Drive and University ave.
  • The Bread Box in Sabraton where the Mexican resturant is now. Owned by Bill Hogan and Bud Isner.
  • The Miner's Lodge on the corner of Pleasant and University Ave. Gabriels was on Walnut Street, right next to Capallatis.
  • Sleepy's on University Ave. in Sunnyside became Stadium Inn and was owned by JT Thomas, Johnny Wassick and Dennis Shumate.
  • The Vo-Tec school was where Vic's Towing is now


  • Theresa Morgan(3 August 2006)
  • Teledyne which was later a Wendys and/or Long John Silvers across from Hills in Star City - on the right, before the bridge - you used to phone your order into the kitchen from a little phone on the table? My sister and I loved that place.


  • Margaret Obuch (3 August 2006)
  • A Different Strummer -- owned by Rob, was a laidback gathering spot for local musicians to shop for instruments and used records. At first, was on the second story of building at upper end of High Street, then moved to Pleasant Street above what used to Stillwell Bookshop.
  • Ray's Pastries (now on Pt. Marion Road) was once nextdoor to The Hotel Morgan in the 1960s and early 70s.
  • The Elegant Alley Cat was on an alley before it moved to High Street
  • Darinka's, a woman's clothing shop on High Street (Darinka also was the aunt to Dragan, who had Dragan's Steak House that used to be on the corner of High and ????)
  • Sebree's Music on University Avenue (now Cardello Lighting). My wonderful, late mother and musician extraordinaire, Frankie Obuch, worked there selling musical instruments and doing bookkeeping in the 1970s, and her employee discount enabled me to own a succession of guitars and amplifiers! In the 1940s, she worked for O.B. Fawley Music when it was on High Street.
  • Building now for sale on the lower corner of Pleasant Street and University Ave. had succession of live music clubs in it during the 1970s and 80s... Touch of Country... The Touch... probably some others.
  • What's currently an auto body repair on University Avenue next to Barry's Office Service (which just closed its doors) was a live music club called Bullwinkle's.
  • Jimmy's Sunoco (now on The Mileground) when it was across from The Ice House on Rt. 19 (Don Knotts Blvd.)
  • Someone mentioned the grocery on Richwood Avenue, questioning if it was The Cloverleaf. I believe it was The Cloverfarm.
  • Guido's Dept. Store in Granville
  • What is now the Dairy Mart in Westover on Holland Avenue was once called The Superette (but a lot of people just referred to it as "The Little Store")


  • Anonomous (4 August 2006)
  • davidson brothers packard
  • hudson and international trucks and funeral home on chesnut st
  • chittum motors
  • creel motors olds dealer
  • 1032 university ave ,notorius for "gentlemen " pleasures
  • the "cabana club " on university at walnut st upstairs ran by harry finello and wife
  • blue's shoe shine parlor


  • Katherine Morgan Slavic (4 August 2006)
  • Cheat Lake Dairy Queen. This DQ was located at the entrance to Sunset Beach Road before you would continue out to Ruby and Ketchy's.
  • On Chestnut Ridge Road there was a Baskin Robbins (when it had the initial concept of 31 Flavors) next to Bill's Cleaners next to a laundromat next to the Old Mill Club.
  • Flatts Elementary was on the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road and Van Voorhis and Hizer's market was located about where the Dairy Mart is now.
  • There was a State ABC Store in Star City.
  • The Chestnut Pub was on Chestnut Street
  • Fat Daddy's was above what is now Chic N Bones.
  • The elevator and elevator operators in the old Morrisons Department Store on High St.
  • Country Club Beavers preschool off of Willowdale Road. I believe the golf course was still there at that time.
  • At one time Sound Investments was at the top of High Street.
  • The Flame Restaurant was located at 76 High St (now Cafe Bachus). You went with your prom date.
  • Going to grade school at Mount Pleasant School, now I think apartments.


  • Eva Martin (4 August 2006)
  • Wasn't there a "Winkie's" at the top of High Street in the late 60's right below Stengers? It was one of the favorite hangouts for students from the Morgantown Business School.
  • Did anyone mention the wooden foot bridge as part of the old Stadium Bridge.
  • How about Austin's Grocery at the top of Stewart Street.
  • The Sear's catalog center at the University Avenue/Greenbag Road intersection.
  • The WVU corn field along the Mileground before Rt. 705 split it.
  • The WVU Poultry Farm
  • When there were only Dairy Marts


  • John V Forte (17 August 2006)
  • The Twin Oaks bowling lanes on Holland Avenue in Westover. They had four bowling lanes, two pool tables and a bar. Quiet a nice place at one time. Also, had duck pin bowling.
  • Jay Kuhn's furniture store on Holland Avenue.
  • The Westover Cash Grocery and Westover Superette.
  • Forte's Barber Shop and Betty Janes Beauty shop on Holland Avenue.
  • Haynes and Haines Auto
  • J & K's at the corner of Holland Avenue and Cleveland Avenue
  • The Westover Post Office at the corner of Holland Avenue and Washington Street.
  • Paul Britton's gasoline station located when the bank is now in Westover.
  • The Triangle Lounge
  • Westover Cut Rite Drug Store and then the Village Shop Dress ShopHow about Westover Elementary School on Morrison Street and of course Westover Junior High School on West Park Street.
  • Does anyone remember whenever Lane Street was a dead end?
  • The Sunoco Station where Tarantini's is now located at the corner of Holland and Morrison.
  • The beautiful home and flower garden where Rotruck and Lobb Funeral Home is now located.
  • When the Westover Volunteer Fire Department was located at the corner of Holland and Gans Avenue
  • When the Mullens Home was decorated at Christmas and could be seen from all over Morgantown.
  • The collage of advertisements at the end of the old Westover Bridge painted each year by Mr. Bernard Summers.


  • Matt Ferrell (18 August 2006)
  • The Beaten Egg - Little breakfast shop in Sunnyside. Only open from 12 AM- 5- AM, it had a little half-door, and the best breakfast special EVER: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon or sausage, and 2 slices of toast for two dollars!
  • The Deli (I forget what it was called) that was where the Pita Pit is now... I used to LOVE their bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and their chicken soup.
  • The Stone Pony: Where Chasers and Dreams is now. If you wanted to get drunk on the cheap and possibly get into a brawl, there was nowhere better.
  • The Plasma Bank/"donation" center: Chic-N-Bones expanded into the space where this used to be. College students and homeless alike used to frequent this place to get beer money.


  • Rita Christopher-Close (5 September 2006)
  • Actually before O.B. Fawley's was in the Monongahela Building, it was down across from the Warner Theater and Old Morgantown Post Office, next door was a store that sold G.E. appliances and steel kitchen cabinets called Shellhammers.
  • A great place to party was "Pap's Tap Room" at the end of the Star City Bridge, just before you turned down into Osage.
  • Also, Luci's (on Powell Avenue across from Marilla Park) and Dallas Pine Room.
  • The Old Mill Club started out in Sabraton before the interstate came thru and took Sterling Faucet, Savasta's Barbershop, and Nick Kugolas's General Store. At that time it moved to the intersection of Stewartstown Road and 705 in an old home on the corner. It was then moved to the Suburban Lanes Plaza where Kegler's is now.
  • Pat and Sandy Rundle who ran Fat Daddy's, had a bar called the Tin Pin Lounge underneath the Bowling Alley.
  • Other places to eat included "the Hav-a-Lunch", Richard's Restaurant just south of Mgtn and The Carousel Drive-In on the Mileground.
  • Besides Finn's women's store on High Street, there was Fashionable Shoe Store, owned by Larry DeLynn. ( Maurice Fabre was the Sales Clerk there. His son, Ronnie played the drums in the band, "The Bonneviles".)
  • There was also Sidler's (owned by the Cohens, Milt and Bert), The Ash Hat Shop, Family Shoe Store, the Vanity Shop, Goldsmith's and The Lady Goldsmith (where the pawn shop is now located), Kaufman's and the Darling Shop.
  • In 1951, Virginia Chittum School of Dance was on the 3rd floor above Merle Norman Cosmetics at the Corner of High & Walnut and then it moved to the second floor across the the Courthouse Square.
  • The Franklin Hotel was on Walnut Street (where the PRT Station now stands) and underneath the Hotel was Summer's Barber and Beauty Shop.
  • Across the street was "Pete, the tailor" and Cappellanti's (where you got the best fish sandwiches). That corner later became Sherwin & Williams Paint store. It is now a law office.
  • The people of Suncrest usde to get their groceries from either Sellaro's Suncrest Market (where Patterson Drive & University Ave meet) or at Claudios Superette on Collins Ferry Road.


  • Robert Cress (6 September 2006)
  • Barry's Office Service, Inc


  • Rich McGervey
  • Charlies, a bar that used to be at the corner of Pleasant St and University Ave, across the street from where Wings Ole is now.
  • Nyabinghi Dance Hall, where 123 Pleasant St is now.
  • Gargoyles, a bar that I named and built on Pleasant St., where Madelines started
  • The Blue Tick Tavern, the original bar in the basement of the Mountainlair
  • Bullwinkles, bar on the corner of Fayette and University Ave, across Fayette from the Co-op. Shank, Swing and the Divots, a local band of MHS'ers used to play there a lot, along with old cover bands like Abacab.
  • J.D. Bentley's, the original "nice" restaurant at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Granville Lunch, THE place to go at 2 or 3 am after drinking in town
  • Colby's, a bar that was next to Scotchels car dealership in Westover, I think it's an apartment now.
  • The skyscraping boiler smokestack next to Stansbury Hall
  • The Rosewood Theater, which just recently closed after a short stint, which was on Walnut Street and is where: The Walnut Street Flea Market, on Walnut Street, which was run by the two sisters, Alma and Irene, which was where: The National Record Mart, which was on Walnut Street, and later became the flea market and the Rosewood, next to Speedy Gonzales restaurant.
  • The flea market under Fox Automotive and Mountaineer Nautalis, downtown next to the Chevron.
  • Zack Morgan's, which was the restaurant before Gibbies. I worked there when they closed in the late 80s. The feds were after the owners for money laundering, and apparently, unbeknownst to most of the employees (such as myself), they were drug dealers from of state. At least that's what we were told.
  • The Fashion Bug, which was on High Street across from International Outdoors (the pawn shop), and is now a bank. It closed in the mid to late 80s I think.
  • The 21st Amendment, a bar my friend Dave Vannoy managed, which is in the single story building behind the old stone house and next to the old parking garage between Chestnut Street and University Ave/Don Knotts Blvd. It's a lawyers office now.
  • A&P Grocery store that was in the parking lot next to where the Dairy Mart downtown is now. It was in a big corrogated metal building that looked like an airplane hanger. It was torn down right around the time we moved to Morgantown, or just after, because I remember shopping there, and they gave out green stamps.
  • Smoky Joes BBQ, which was the original restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender briefly.
  • Blueberry Hill, which was the second restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender for one week, when I was also working at J.D. Bentleys at the (now) old mall. Blueberry Hill didn't last long either, and was mostly just doing business on weekends as a place to listen to a live DJ spin oldies.
  • Hostetlers Café, which was where Los Mariachis mexican restaurant is now in Suncrest.
  • Jessie's snack bar and grocery store on Brookhaven Road, which later became the Sterling Faucet employees credit union, and is now a private residence for sale and I hear still contains a big bank vault.
  • Sterling Faucet employees credit union, which was where Jessie's used to be on Brookhaven Rd, and is now a private residence that is for sale.
  • Classic Iron Cycles, owned and run by Gary Tannenbaum, who now owns the Blue Moose. It was in the metal building just under the Walnut Street Bridge on the South Park Side.
  • David Weis Jewlers, which was in the first stand alone building up on the hill by the old Mountaineer Mall, which is now Dunhams Sporting Goods. My sister got her first management job there.
  • The building I previously said that Charlie's was in is the same building Margaret identified as housing the Touch of Country and the Touch, and I think it was The Edge before it was Charlies. The last business in there was the Rag Bag, run by Joyce Clay, and she is the last owner of the building, although I think she just sold it.
  • Bud Keeners Exxon. The ORIGINAL Exxon in Sabraton, before they rebuilt the one that is there now, and Exxon screwed Bud over and yanked his franchise. His case went all the way to the US Supreme Court. Essentially they yanked his franchise just because the company that owns the store now wanted more stations, and poor Bud was a solo businessman.
  • Bud Keeners Auto Repair, which was in the middle of the mileground where the landscaping business is now. Bud was my mechanic. I wish I knew where he was now! I moved and he closed up shop at some point, so now when I'm in town I have to go to other mechanics!
  • Tonique Hair Salon, which was in the house where Walgreens is now across from Sheetz.
  • The Golden Ram, which was where the Lums was in the Morgantown Mall, after Lums. It's been vacant ever since the Golden Ram went under. It was run by a manager named Angie and her brother.
  • There was a chinese restaurant in the castle next to where the beauty store is, late 80s I think, it didn't last long either.
  • The Roller Rink that sat in the old yellow block building between where the new Municipal Building is and the Deckers Creek end of Fayette Street. It was pretty much falling off the hillside and they tore it down in the 90s after they build the new city building.
  • Whitetail Bicycles when it was down on Beechurst, the original location. I bought my first mountain bike there, a Schwinn.
  • Dr. Pizza delivers twins. Dr. Pizza started out over in Suncrest, in the western end of the building that also has Pizza Hut and the Boston Beanery. Then they moved down to Beechurst Avenue for many years.


  • Emma Fisher (18 September 2006)
  • Vavoom clothing store at the bottom of Pleasant Street !
  • The flea market on Walnut, right down from the Blue Moose.
  • The pet store on High Street, where I bought a Beta that lived for WAY too long.


  • Dave (18 September 2006)
  • The Bon Ton Roulet!! A music bar just down from Chico's Dairy in the late 70's. The wood floor would bounce up an down as way more people than the place could hold would jam in and dance dance dance to the Paradise Rangers. Bon Ton Roulet's slogan was "Park your rig at the sign of the pig"


  • Phil Belt (18 October 2006)
  • The Suzy-Q Diner just outside of Westover
  • Hot Sam in the Mountaineer Mall
  • Bobette's (candy store across the street from Second Ward school)
  • Gene's - also near Second Ward school on Wilson Ave (NOTE: Is this gone? I thought it was still around)
  • Tony's Barber Shop on Fayette St (above High St)


  • georganne christopher Gallo (6 November 2006)
  • Old Star City Fire Hall Roller Skating one night a week. I think it was either Tuesday or Thursday night.


  • Anita Christopher Walters (10 November 2006)
  • The Fashion Shoppe on High Street next to Warner theater
  • Red Cellar below Tony's restaurant


  • K. McCormack (17 May 2007)
  • The General Store of West (by God) Virginia. They sold soaps, lotions, music, pipes, papers, posters, a little bit of everything
  • Morgantown being such a safe place that no one locked their doorsave something that you think should be added to the list, please e-mail me with your ideas.


  • John Crynock, III (11 June 2007)
  • the old Morgantown Raceway or Race Track by Cheat Lake, across from Ruby and Ketchies Restaurant. The Saturday night races were a blast as a kid and their french fries were an extra special treat. "Snooks" Johnson was the best driver back in the 60's I believe but it was always fun.
  • "the rocks" down the path from Mont Chateau was a great swimming place and hang out in the summers. Many an MHS senior skip day was had there. Also, the Harris family used to run Mont Chateau when it was an Inn and Restaurant. I went to school with their daughter, Barbara, class of '66.
  • Communtzis Restaurant at the Airport. I used to hang out there while learning to fly and passed many an hour with Gus talking about the old days, drinking coffee and studying.
  • Southside Lumber and Westover Lumber


  • J. D. Hatcher (September 12, 2007)
  • On Chestnut Street was Fat Daddy's, but it also had the name After Dark and a few other names as well.
  • The College Inn in Sunnyside had 25 cent beer on Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't remember which.
  • Sticking with Sunnyside, there was Mutt's Place and Choosy Mothers down on the corner by the stadium bridge.
  • I remember the square pizza at Scotto's. I wonder what ever happened to Charlie.
  • At the Mountaineer Mall, there was a store for children, The Gingerbread House (GH), next to Murphy Mart, now Walmart. Across from GH was a bank and then Sweet William, an ice cream store. I can still remember the Rum Raisin ice cream.
  • On down the mall was The Bottomhalf, the place for jeans. The Mountaineer Cinemas was next to Lum's Restaraunt--I worked there one long, hot summer. Across from the cinema was Pizza Inn, a pitcher of light or dark??
  • Downtown was Bullwinkle's as mentioned, which was across the street from Wilkins Motors. Was there a place called Computer Corner across from them?
  • On High Street (ally actually) was the Yukon Railroad, you could ride the bull. And Granny's near the ally. You had to go downstairs to get there. They also had a bull to ride. Later it was renamed, Speakeasy.
  • Bowsher's Barbershop was across from Cappelanti's Grill and Stinger's (spelling?) was a place to get candy, magazines and newspapers back in the 60's. Giavonni's Pizza was up on the corner. The Burger Chef was across the street. (Remember the Burger Chef in Suncrest that burned down? It is now Wing's Ole'.
  • There was a mini golf on the Mile ground near the old Foodland. I remember going to the fair inside the Armory as well.
  • Bishoff Motors near the Westover Triangle and a tavern named the Kopper Kettle nearby
  • No one should forget Fuzzy's Sunoco on Old Cheat Road.
  • Oh, the guy named Andy, who owned the motorcycle store on the corner of Brockway Avenue, He could be a Sulka.
  • Harry's Superette on Collins Ferry Road actually delivered groceries to the house.
  • The Spruce Street Sub Shoppe has the best subs--whatever happened to the Yester brothers, Steve and Gary??


  • Jim Goldsmith (15 September 2007)
  • Violent Death Ray (Violet Ray) laundromat - across from Borman Hall.
  • Head shop in the basement, under the gun shop and dry cleaners near the Dairy Queen on High street. Called something like "Cowboy and Indian Supplies"
  • RPM records in Sunny Side.
  • School Kids records in Sunny Side (3 albums for $10).
  • Stadium Inn - Sunny Side
  • Listening Lounge in Moutainlair
  • Choosy Mothers - Sunny Side
  • (Biff) Noah's Cafeteria - Biff later owned the College Inn (last I heard he had a drywall business in Mgtn. ). I too tended bar at the CI.
  • BTRF: CI inside joke Bar Tender's Relief Fund (picnic)
  • Ray's sandwich shop behind Thorofare in big curve of Richwood Ave (street name?). Near Arnold Hall.
  • Blue's Shoe Shine (and Blue himself).
  • WVU computer center in basement of Stewart Hall.


  • Veronica Travinski Allison (24 September 2007)
  • I worked at Moore & Parriott Drug Store and knew Mary Angotti and Ann Dinardi. Ann was house mother when Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West were big stuff at WVU.
  • Jerry West dated one of my good friends Mary Jane Smith who is now Mrs. Robert Konchesky....both were my classmates. We graduated in 1957. The Koncheskys own a bar/tavern?? on Cheat Lake Road....I was too young and rode buses so I didn't know the roads.
  • When I was 4 I remember riding a ferry in a car (which scared the heck out of me) every Sunday we went to St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Crossed that huge river and landed on Walnut St. That brick street. We drove to Fairmont from Bertha Hill where I was born, to get on that ferry.
  • I'm shocked but not surprised that the convent and St. Francis de Sales school are not there. Very old building when I went there.
  • Our class graduated 8th grade there. My brother Bob graduated high school there. Our class was the first freshman class to be in the new school.


  • Delores Eddy Moore (17 October 2007)
  • Living on Grand Avenue and attending Seneca School with its three foot stone walls in the basement, Rex Smith was the principal. Mr. Spiker was the janitor and would play ball with us in the playground.
  • Riding to Suncrest Park (now Krepps Park) on my bike called Bobtail because it lacked a rear fender.
  • No Monongahela Blvd at that time, only woods beyond Eight Street. We would ride our bikes up what we called the Incline through the woods.
  • New Suncrest had only one home belonging to Jean Brown on Rotary. When Dupont came houses were built here to house the executives at the plant.
  • Playing kick the can on the street and when there was a sufficient amount of snow the City would close the street from Fourth Street to Eighth Street so we could sled ride.
  • Walking to the airport to take flying lessons in the early 40's. After I soloed I remember landing at Morgan's field, the WVU tennis courts, the Colesium and Nataorium occuply that space now. Memories are God's gift to us all.


  • J.D. Curry (20 January 2008)
  • Morgan Leather. It used to be across from the old Morgantown Junior High which was torn down long before I moved away. I think the name of the street they were on was Spruce?


  • Steve Fox (27 January 2008)
  • Blue Ridge Diner on Walnut St with it's hangover curing breakfasts.
  • An excellent bar in 5th ward called Mundays.
  • The head shop in Sunnyside called The Tribe.
  • A weird bar on Beechurst called the Red Light. (it was under an Italian restaurant).


  • kraeusen (3 February 2008)
  • Red Rose Chinese Restaurant in the "old mall": super-spicy szechuan chicken...crispy, golden egg rolls...best chinese food ever served in the county. there was only one american waitress in the joint, and she was smokin' hot. long, dark hair with blonde streaks, dark brown eyes...tastalicious....even better than the food. i believe she worked there until they closed...
  • Mountaineer Mobile: the first cell phone joint in the area, on the corner of fayette and university where bullwinkle's used to be. they remodeled the building, and started selling (what now seems like) outrageously-priced bag phones and those rocking phones that installed in your car...there was a big two stall garage where they would install the bad boys. back then, i think you got 200 minutes for $99 dollars a month. I worked for a cleaning business at the time, and cleaned this joint in the evenings....set off the security alarm at least once every couple of weeks.
  • Pathfinder Book Store: a storefront on walnut street that only sold politically-related volumes, and was staffed by a passel of fidel-loving, hemp-wearing, pseudo-intellectuals. it seemed that the place had a definite anti-american agenda. pamphlets and other hoo-hah, and only a few books. while skipping my entire sophomore year at mhs, i once made the mistake of innocently entering the pathfinder bookstore....that evening my dad jacked my (rear) up, telling me that the govt was watching the place from an apartment across the street (above chrisitan help?), and that i was going to federal prison. still can't figure out how he knew i went in this joint.
  • Apples/Apples Pizza: the big grocery store on university avenue between evansdale and star city. it eventually became bilo, last i knew. on the star city end of the parking lot, they built a little shop where they sold hugantic, rectangular pizzas. my tightwad grandfather celebrated every special occasion with a big apples pizza with mushrooms and green peppers. mushrooms and green peppers? better yet, whether there were 3 people or 35 people, he always got one of those pizzas. i can still see my grandmother cutting those slices in half so that everyone could get their 1"x1" slice.
  • Hostetler's Bagles: someone already mentioned this place as being where los mariachis now is; i remember it being on the mileground right across from the entrance to the airport and beside back bay restaurant. owned by jeff hostetler, this place makes the best breakfast bagle sandwiches EVER. better than anything out of NY.
  • Kegs N Us: nice little bodega to pick up a late-night case of brew, or perhaps even a keg. located on south university avenue, on the right, across from the new wharf district. the business is now defunct, but the building still stands, along with its take on the toys r us logo.


  • Robert Cress(10 March 2008)
  • Barry's Office Service


  • Frances Joseph-Billie (23 May 2008)
  • Beaumont Glass located off of Beechurst Ave.
  • Feddies, a great place to get hotdog was located on Beechurst Ave. I believe there are apartment there now.
  • Jessie's Place was located on Brookhaven Road. Sterling Faucet Credit Union was located there for a while and now it is apartments.
  • Riskie's also know as TKB located in Sabraton where Archie's is located.
  • Dog n' Suds was located across from Picway Shoes where the Roadhouse is now in Star City.
  • The Carousel was located on the Mileground across the road from Paw Prints.
  • The Bead Box in the old Heck's Plaza in Sabraton and Bill's Laundry.
  • Kroger's was located in the opposite end of Heck's


  • Diann McCoy(29 Jun 2008)
  • The bakery on Walnut Street was called Aunt Jenny's and you could buy a slice of pizza for 20 cents. They also made the best chocolate pastries and cream horns.


  • Doug Wiley(29 June 2008)
  • I remember Phantom Pizza (the first delivery service of cold cardboard, covered with tomato sauce) and Pizzeria Italia (the very first Pizza in Morgantown and maybe WV).
  • There was Household Furniture (where us poor people could actually buy new furniture at a decent price) and Hill Used Furniture (Suspiciously burnt down in its prime of life in the now glamorous Wharf District).
  • There was Jimmy's Sunoco on University Ave (Now Don Knotts Boulevard). They actually filled your tank up, cleaned your windshield with a smile and even had a 'non-computerized' credit system if you did not have enough cash (they also had regular customer tabs and probably still do up on the Mileground).
  • Moore and Parriot's (Ann Dinardi) was not only a Pharmacy, but had the Ice Cream Parlor.


  • David Pompili ()
  • Westover cab co. located at the end of the bridge in a little shack built against the rocks
  • Beanies on WVU freshmen
  • Boat races on the Mon River
  • Westover feed store on Tower Lane
  • Bondfires on the old drill field at WVU (behind what is now Mountainlair) - BEFORE football games and no couches
  • Skating rink beside Mgtn Jr High where Lou Christy appeared one night
  • Aunt Jemimah appearing at a VFW pancake breakfast
  • Santa giving out goodies at Westover VFD
  • Friday night dances at Wesley church gym
  • Morgan theater Saturday movies for 10 cents - Met and Warner were 25 cents
  • Nehi Bottling Co just across from and below St Teresa's church
  • Biafora's men store on Pleasant St - before moving to High St
  • Shorty's Texaco station in Westover at Holland Ave and East St with 25 cent gas - seriously, and re-cycled oil in glass bottles
  • Riverside Park and pool
  • Granville baseball field where the carnival came every summer
  • "Chiefie" Newbraugh, Westover's only cop
  • F&P Pontiac across from Sanitary Dairy, where Chick 'n Bones is now
  • Westover Observer - a weekly newspaper
  • Manhattan market on Pleasant St, then moved to a new building at corner of Spruce and Walnut


Original link: http://klishis.com/Misc/Townies.php[/QUOTE]


Mama Rosa in Westover. When she died so went her recipes.

One of the best Italian restaurants I've ever eaten at.
 
How about the dirt race track across from Rubys and Ketchys @ Cheat Lake?


rubyketchyroomjpg.jpg
 
While reading the recent thread on favorite Morgantown drinking spots I thought of this link I ran across about all the things that were once well known in the area but are no more. Check out the list below. What would you add?
------

Morgantown things that are no more....

Gina and Erin initially helped me out with this list, in the summer of 2001 I believe. Others who have contributed are mentioned above the list of things they sent.

New additions appear at the end of the list.

  • Ali Baba's in Westover
  • The Underground Railroad/Underground
  • Morrison's coat store down town
  • Second Ward Elementary (and annex)
  • First Ward Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Mistakes at Dairy Queen
  • Fins, Feathers and Fur
  • Health Sciences was the hospital
  • Chico Dairy: Mighty Mountaineer Ice Cream Sundae

  • Ray's Pastries (downtown, where the Blue Moose was as well as every other incarnation)
  • Why McDonald's downtown closed
  • The Theatre at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Lums at the Mountaineer Mall
  • When the Middletown Mall was the only mall, and actually had stores....
  • Shop & Save/Foodland/Thorofare (?) downtown on Richwood Ave
  • Roller Rink downtown
  • Morgantown Jr High School (end of the Walnut Street bridge)
  • The Vanity Shop
  • The Mountainlair when:
    1) you could smoke there
    2) it didn't look like a mall

  • Why the old stadium was great:
    it was downtown
    the band running out of the tunnels
    Sunnyside
    The Backyard Brawl
  • When the Met was actually a working theatre
  • Hardee's downtown--it had a basement dining room
  • Wings & Things People hanging out in front of Massulo's Dry Cleaner (I was never that cool)
  • When the fountain in front of the post office downtown worked
  • When the Little Village was a red-neck bar
  • The theatres next to Hills
  • When Captain D's was next to Shoney's
  • Burger Chef downtown

  • The Foxfire
  • Chalkies, when that alley had a wooden fence in the middle that made it a dead-end
  • The goddam dryhouse/the machine shop
  • Craig's Comics
  • Space Port
  • Carousel library cards
  • Falstaff's in Sunnyside
  • The miniature golf course/batting cages on Greenbag Road--was it Hole in One
  • Montanero's in Sunny Side
  • Alfredo's on Pineview Drive
  • The payphones by Dairy Queen, at the beginning of that alley on the wall.
    Two of them.

  • Little Caesar's Pizza
  • The Fayette House
  • Don't forget the miniature golf course that was behind Hills.
  • Scotto's Pizza on High St., where the Subway is now.
  • Dr. John's (DJ's) was on street level in Sunnyside and the place to be.
  • Gabe's was where the Brew Pub is now and you didn't want anyone to see you shop there.
  • Mario's Pizza at the top of High Street.
  • Nick's Canteen was the greatest place to get hot chocolate before the Christmas parade.
  • WVU was the #1 party school and proud of it.
  • The Steppin' Out guy painted on the side of Daniel's, before they painted over it with that huge Main St mural.
  • BOPARC dances in the summer.
  • Record Mart on Walnut St.
  • Plant and Pet Shop

  • Hecks--one in Sabraton, and one in Westover (Kimmie Tyer)
  • St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Convent (yup, they're now gone)
  • On the corner of Prairie Ave and University there is only the back wall left of a two story garage. That used to be Prairie Street Gym. Before that it was a garage for Wilson Chevrolet. You can still see the paint on the walls from the locker/shower room. (Chris and Connie Law) (17 August 2004)
  • Lof's (John Corral)
  • Dr. Pizza. They used to deliver their pizza's in an old ambulance (Susan)


  • Robert Cress
  • G.C. Murphy's
  • Rite Aid
  • Revco
  • Mc Vicker's Pharmacy
  • Famers and Merchants Bank
  • Morgan's (when they had hobby supplies)
  • Murphy Mart
  • Sterling Faucet
  • Carosuel Drive -In (Mileground)
  • Dairy Delight in Sabraton (Hero Hut)
  • Giant Eagle In the Mountaineer Mall Parking lot


  • Wayne Womble
  • Whiteside's , a department store downtown on High St.
  • Biafora's, a clothing store across the street from Masullo's Cleaners
  • The Flora Dora Shop, a women's clothing store next to Daniel's
  • The Olympia, a great bar and dance hall close to the Book Exchange
  • The Cottage, a dirt bar where most of the football players frequented


  • erin
  • Wizard Records
    NOTE: I still miss Jack and Wizard Records. Anyone remember the names of the other employees? "Chris was the guy from Fairmont with the mohawk."
  • Backstreet Records (owned and operated by Eric Hansmann)
  • Falstaff's


  • Debra and Mark Riffon (3 July 2004)
  • The intersection of Beechurst and University Ave. was AAA for years, but before that it was a Texaco gas station with upper and lower gas pumps.
  • Across from that Texaco gas station was the Beechurst Ave. Market and the Gold & Blue Restaurant.
  • Where Mode Roman and Nautilus is now, was Wilkins Motors.
  • Where Vic Solomon's garage is now, was Wilson Chevrolet.
  • On Chestnut St where SaraTec was, Pizzaria Italia was downstairs and the Castle was upstairs. And, before that it was the Pontiac Garage.
  • Where Great Wall on High St. is now, use to be Moore - Parriott Pharmacy.
  • Right beside where Great Wall is, was Bakers Hardware.
    • Harold Crowe worked at Bakers Hardware from the time he left the service untill the store closed. It was his only job (Charlotte Dalton)
  • Where BW3 is use to be Greys Cutrate Drug Store and the ajoining street of High and WAlnut use to be McCrory's.
  • On Chestnut St the building where the restaurant is with the deck and lanterns and hanging lights, used to be the Sanitary Milk Co.
  • Where the Human Services Dept is now, used to be the ACME Supermarket.
  • Where the Dollar General is by the South High bridge now, used to be the A & P Grocery Store.
  • A & P also used to be where Boston Beanery is on Patterson Drive.
  • At the top of High St. where the bank is used to be Borden Burger Foods (remember the big Satalite)
  • Across the street where the VooDoo Shop is, used to be Gioviani's Pizza Shop.
  • To the left of the Dairy Mart on Willey St. where the parking lot is used to be the Thorofare Grocery Store. After that is was Foodland until it burned down.
  • Where the Senior Center is on High St, used to be Montgomery Ward. It was 3 stories. If you look up at the building you will still see the big "W"
  • If you look at the ingraving on where the Pawn SHop is now on High ST. you will see Farmers & Merchants BAnk. Also down from where Subway is now used to be Woolworth's.
  • Where the bike shop is by the courthouse use to be O. B. Fawley's and beside that was the State Liquer Store. and before that it was Rogers Drug Store.
  • The Mountain Peoples Co-op used to be Picketts Dry Cleaners.
  • On University Ave where the parking garage is now, used to be a small white building that was Kelly Cab and Yellow Cab.
  • At the end of Westover bridge where Wings Ole is now, was Firestore Tires.
  • Where Gibby's is now use to be Communtzis Restaurant.
  • On Walnut St. down from where the Blue Moose is now, used to be Presto Lunch (what a great place to eat)
  • Where Salvation Army Shop is now, used to be Radio Shack.
  • Where WesBanco is in Sabration used to be a Sunoco Gas Station.
  • Where Hardee's is in Sabraton used to be a Texaco Station and a car wash.
  • Beside KFC used to be Mr. Donut.
  • Dominion Post used to be on Spruce St where Manpower is now.
  • To the right of where manpower is now on Spruce St. is a Medical building. That used to be the Moose Lodge.
  • To the left was a gas station and the building on the corner was Plaid Stamps Store.
  • At the intersection of Stewart St. and Chestnut Ridge Rd and Stewartstown Rd was Chestnut Ridge Grade School (became Bed & Breakfast and then some kind of Lodge after that) and across the street was a Texaco Station.
Steve Deahl (31 Dec 2004)

  • Mom and pop grocery stores: Chester Hartley's store on the corner of Grand Street and Gordon Street in South Park (briefly became Dairy Mart, before moving to its present location on Dorsey Avenue); Bobette's store on the corner of Wilson Avenue and Kingwood Street (later located in the building behind its first location); Marvin Luckini's store on Kingwood Street (I hope I spelled Marvin's last name right); Forlini's store on White Avenue; Bailey's grocery on the corner of Arch and Green Streets; Cobun Avenue Confectionery on the corner of Cobun and Maryland (Connie Negri still has her business, but it's on Pleasant Street now); the one on Barrickman Street in First Ward which later became (and may still be) Roto Rooter; and many others across Morgantown that I don't remember because they weren't on the south side (where I obviously grew up).
  • The five-and-ten's: Woolworth's on High and Wall Streets--I especially remember their record section in the basement; Murphy's, across from the court house, where the Dollar Store is now--you went through the front door, down the stairs, and the toys were on the right, pets on the left--and at Christmas time, Santa came there so you could sit on his lap and tell him what you wanted; and the ultimate five-and-ten, McCrory's on the corner of High and Walnut--so huge that a multitude of businesses now occupy its space (BW3, Z Club, the state treasurer's office, etc.)--McCrory's had great old wooden floors, a great restaurant at the back, and the ladies' underwear was segregated into a separate room where little boys weren't allowed to go so they wouldn't get any bad ideas.
  • Downtown restaurants: Remember when the Acropolis was a restaurant and not a coin shop? (It was where the Discount Den now is.); Remember when {where BB&T Bank is} was the BBF before it was Borden Burger before it was Burger Chef? (and before that, it was a Chinese laundry and Olan Mills photography studio.); Bonanza steak house on the corner of High & Fayette (later Hardee's, & later still Cafe of India's old location); the Indian restaurant that was in the back of Cafe of India's old location before it became Cafe of India; Cosmopolitan hot dogs; Healthy Bites (now the Blue Moose); Hav-a-Lunch on the corner of High & Pleasant, where the Huntington Bank drive-through now is.
  • The bench on the corner of High and Kirk Streets, which had "Southside Lumber" painted on it--used to be the only bench in all of downtown Morgantown, but I never saw anyone ever sitting on it.
  • The pet store on West Street in Westover (at the far end from Holland Avenue).
  • The bakery on Walnut Street (now a lawyer's office), next to D&A Jewler's (now the porn store).
  • The house on Wall Street with the great balcony and the barber shop on the first floor, which was torn down to become Morgan's parking lot. The barber's wife was a painter, and her paintings were always stacked up so the barber couldn't use one of his chairs. The barber shop moved to the location which is now the Blue Moose's new dining room extension.
  • Grocery stores on High Street! (High Street Market & Morgantown Market)--one was on the corner of High and Forest, recently torn down--the other was where Subway is now.
  • The Blue Tic Tavern in the Mountainlair!
  • The Double Decker bar on Walnut Street (now the Living Room), and another bar down the street, the Washington Cafe (now GARO).
  • The miniature golf course on the Greenbag Road, where Bluegrass Village is now.
  • Downtown newstands: Walter's News, on the corner of High & Pleasant, and before that in the middle of the block of Pleasant Street between High & Spruce; and Stenger's, where Casa d'Amici is now.
  • John Marshall Records, at its many locations up and down High Street, and even on Willey Street at one point; Record Bar in the Mountaineer Mall; and Disc Jockey in the Morgantown Mall.
  • The Euphorium, upstairs in Sunnyside--Morgantown's very first head shop, I believe. Speaking of head shops, where Cool Ridge is now used to be the Morgan Theater.
  • The stadium bridge--no wonder I don't walk to Sunnyside anymore!
  • Morgantown's first pizza delivery place, Phantom Pizza. Its location was supposed to be a secret, but it was on Beechurst.
  • Morgantown's first Kentucky Fried Chicken was in a small building on Patteson Drive which today would be located in Kroger's parking lot. The "Today's Buffet" Chinese restaurant next door used to be another Bonanza steak house.
  • Morgantown used to have good Chinese restaurants! The Great Wall (not affiliated with the current Great Wall) was where Fatty Loaf's is on Walnut Street; East Garden is now that tea house above Zen Clay; and Foosheen used to be called Hallelujah Chinese Restaurant and used to be good despite the fact that they were serving up cat meat.
  • Independent book stores! Who can forget Stilwell's on the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets? (Before it was Stilwell's, it was a bar called El Toro.)--Not to mention the cafe in back of Stilwell's. I remember it first as an oriental grocery store, then Cafe Libretto, then Cafe Catherine, then Grasshopper Locomotive--and now a parking lot. How about the book store on Foundry Street, next to the South High Street Brigde? First it was Wolf's Head, then Abshire's, and finally Books Books Books. Remember Trans-Atlantic Books on Fayette Street? Or how about Riverrun in the Garlow Building above where Kinko's used to be? (and remember when Kinko's was on Willey Street?)--well, some good news, Riverrun is back, now in the Sand Castle on Walnut Street across from the police station/parking garage.


  • Matt Helmick (17 Jan 2005)
  • "The Press Box" (bar) and the trailers behind it, near the stadium.
    NOTE: These just went down in 2004, and much of that whole stretch is now being converted to town houses. (Expensive town houses I'm sure.)
  • Dick's Hot Dogs ("Everyone Loves Dick's"), one of many drive-thru ideas in the building near the intersection of University and Patteson.
    NOTE: The original building was some el cheapo drive through/walk-up hamburger joint (Rally's?). No one seems to realize that's a terrible location and they'd be better off razing it to the ground and selling the space for parking.
  • Pizza Man on University Ave, all you can eat pizza buffet for (if I remember correctly) 3.99. Not a bad deal if the folks in the kitchen were actually making pizzas while you were there. The price eventually went up, in anticipation of the liquor license, which never went through, and the joint went out of business. Next it was the Alamo, some of the most expensive burritos I've ever seen.


  • Randy Oleksa (19 Jan 2005)
  • Ed's barber shop on Brockway avenue
  • Carl's roller rink also on Brockway next to Connie's grocery building is gone now.
  • This goes way back: The Commodore restaurant and department store used to set in front of Sterling Faucet along route 7 in Sabraton.
  • The Hayloft bar then it was Company B dance club in Dellslow where the Dairy Mart is now
  • Beckman Brothers Feed Store in Sabraton where Southern States is now.
  • Cloverleaf drive in on Cheat road
  • Johnnie's Texaco on Cheat road
  • Whipper will on the lake (Cheat Lake)
  • Sycamore lounge on Fairchance road
  • LuLu Belle's on Fairchance road


  • Jay Paulovicks(19 Jan 2005)
  • The Columbian Dorm - on Beechurst Ave. - now an office building
  • My Brothers Place - in an ally downtown
  • Communtzi's Restaurant - Downtown - Slogan was "Where Dad took his girl and grandad too"
  • The Armory
  • The "tin can"
  • Reynolds Hall
  • "Bonded" gas station on Beechurst
  • Shoe shines at the Met Theatre
  • Pool Hall in "old" Morgantown BEFORE the BBF was built there
  • Whatever was "49 steps up Walnut from High"
  • Old Hawley Field drill area (ROTC) - where coliseum is now
  • Tony's Restaurant - Italian restaurant near Chico Dairy
  • WVU Dairy at Ag School - when it provided ALL milk and ice cream for all residence halls
  • Golf course where the new Mountaineer Field is
  • Mont Chateau motel and restaurant


  • David Schreiber (28 March 2005)
  • The Cantina
  • RedBeard's
  • Di Giovanni's on Sunnyside- old married couple ran it- home of 3 am pizza- but watch your change!
  • The Old KA House (just knocked down)
  • Original Mario's Fishbowl- don't curse!
  • The "CI" a/k/a College Inn on Sunnyside
  • The Bullpen on Sunnyside
  • The Down Under
  • The Fifth Quarter
  • The Nyabhingi (after the Underground)
  • Grant Street Block Party


  • Richard Scroggs (16 April 2005)
  • The College Inn, University Avenue, Sunnyside USA where I worked as bartender and doorman in 87-88. I believe the CI held the record for the oldest, continuously operating bar in Morgantown.
  • Down the street in what later became half of the Foxfire Hot Diggity, my brother in law's (Bob Armstrong) hot dog only restaurant. It closed in the early 80's, around the time Old Mountaineer Field closed.


  • Rick Smith (18 April 2005)
  • The old, three-story offices of the Daily Athenaeum near the corner of Pleasant and Price Streets (am I remembering those correctly?) -- it was across the street from a sorority house... Man, that was a great old building for a geeky newspaper crew to hatch its world-domination schemes from... before putting the paper to bed every night and heading down to Mario's Back Door for a pitcher! =)


  • Tom Lapp (26 April 2005)
  • The Berger Chef on (now) Rte 705. Was right next door to Flatts Elementary school
  • Flatts Elementary School, as well as the middle school that it fed into that was out about where the Wal-Mart not-to-be was going to go. I forget the name of the school. I want to say Chestnut Ridge, but I cannot recall for sure. It would have been 5th and 6th grades and fed into Suncrest Jr High School.


  • Page (Whitty) Borger (4 May 2005)
  • How about Fredlock's? Fredlock's used to have one of those weird Zen things that made designs in the sand. Also they used to have these raunchy mugs with women on them, and when there was condensation on the mugs the women's clothing would disappear. I would love to know if anyone remembers this.
  • Grey's discount
  • The Dining Room!
  • Jambie's


  • Happyberrys (27 May 2005)
  • Remember the Morgan Theatre, it stood up from what is now the Boston Beanery, right at the alley. It became a hot dog place and beside it was a clothing store. I think the clothing store moved across the street. Where the hot dog stand was is now a bar. Actually when I was young, I think the movie theatre closed but my parents remember going to movies there as they were growing up.
    (NOTE: I remember the Hallmark store next to where the Beanery now is, not sure about a hot dog stand. Anyone else?)


  • Jacques Williams(20 June 2005)
  • How about Pike's Rest. near the corner of High Street, later on the House of Cards and now a lawyer's office.


  • Mark DeVault (10 July 2005)
  • It was the "Floradora Shoppe" (Not the previously misspelled Flora Flora Shop))
  • How about the original arcade at the Mountaineer Mall..."Chuckles"
  • And no list of Mom & Pop grocery stores could be complete without Austin's on the big curve on Stewart Street


  • Vincent Skolny (11 July 2005)
  • The Dungeon
  • Restaurant Express
  • Green turf behind the Lair, the little, flat-roofed garage catycorner to the B&E building that we used to sit on and drink


  • Jason Fowler (26 July 2005)
  • Bauers lumber in Sabraton (food lion is there now)
  • Original Lowes in sabraton
  • The hot dog stand people are reffering too was the Cosmopolitn I believe (NOTE: Yes, Cosmopolotin Lunch)
  • Beer distributer that was where the Citgo stands on Beechurst now (Icebox maybe?)
  • Nationwise auto parts, then became parts America in Sabraton, now it is a dollar general.
  • PharMor was above the Morgantown mall and K-mart was where profits is now in the mall
  • There was a food store (Food Lion or Giant Eagle) where K-mart moved too (NOTE: It was a Giant Eagle. I don't think it lasted a year.)
  • All the Pizza Inns in town and at the old mall (NOTE: One at the old mall, One by Hills... Can't remember the others.)
  • Weiner world in the old mall.


  • Kari (Bailey) Handa (31 July 2005)
  • The Wharf Rat arcade located in the Hills parking lot about where Rax moved in.
  • The Westover Drive In both as a movie place and a flea market mecca every Sunday during the Summer
  • The Twist Top restaurant located on Holland Avenue in Westover. It was located in the building which now houses the Northern WV Performing Arts School. I use to stop there for snacks after dance class at Beth Barnes Dance Studio. After the Twist Top closed it became the first Ali Baba's in town.
  • Beth Barnes Dancing School in Westover
  • Dogs and Suds, the drive up curb service restaurant located on Monongahela Blvd. in Star City where the Exxon is now located.
  • Westover TV where you got your TV repaired and paid the cable bill.
  • Westover Bank which got bought out by Huntington United.
  • When the tornado took off the back end of the Wilson Motors building.


  • Brian (8 August 2005)
  • The old Kroger in the Heck's Plaza in Sabraton where CVS is now.
  • Mr. Donut in Westover (now Taco Bell).
  • Cloverleaf (?) grocery store on Richwood, also former home of the Tao Shiu Kuan School of Martial Arts across from Mario's Fish bowl.
  • Richter Volkswagen (Then PRO) across from Heck's Plaza in Sabraton.
  • One On One, the driving range, miniature golf, go-karts, and arcade on Greenbag Rd. (now Bluegrass Village)
  • University News on High St.
  • Burger Chef on Chestnut Ridge Rd. (now Wings Ole)
  • The original Hotel Morgan Ballroom (Now Elevation 127)
  • Loving Furniture (the 49 steps up Walnut:))
  • TelePrompTer Cable on Spruce St. (remember when all we got was 2-13 and Showtime?)
  • Richard's Kiddie Town clothing store on High St.
  • Royal Furniture on High St.


  • George Papandreas(10 Oct 2005)
  • The A&P on South High where the Dollar store is now. Anyone remember when you could drive down a really steep ramp at the back of the parking lot and go under the building?
  • The Biggies Burger place where Appalachian Gallery is now...across from the Post Office...the folks that had the Rays Pastries owned it...Ray Lambert...RIP Speaking of Rays Pastries, they were where the Boston Beanery is now and replaced Pikes Bakery...sorry, Jacques!
  • The Hope Gas Company where City Office Equip. is now. Remember when there was actually a person on the other end of the phone when you called them?
  • The Water Company was where the photographer is now on the right side of the S. High Bridge...them Wolfshead Books...etc.
  • When the Warner Theater just had one screen. The Presto Restaurant on Walnut street.
  • The Parthenon bar to the left of it. Both owned by the Demanelas Families...Gus and Bill. The Fox club in the basement.
  • Randolphs Restaurant where the Blue Moose is now.
  • When Tanners Alley was in the narrow little room right there somewhere by Presto. There was a Bakery there next to Presto for a short while. Owner was Donnie Hunter and wife. Donnie went by "Zero Sardonicus" sometimes.
  • The stereo place in what is now an apartment building on the right out-of-town side of the Walnut St. bridge. Then it was a motorcycle shop owned by a guy that ended up on the FBI most wanted list...Andy something...went by "Dog".
  • Dean's Jewelers on Walnut around where the porn shop is now...he was a bit spooky, but a good guy! Below him was Aunt Jennies Pastries...great brownies! I think that was where there is a vacant law office now.
  • The Eleanor Shoppe womens clothing shop on the Corner of High and Walnut. Later became a McDonalds.
  • Lovings Furniture on Walnut. Later had a boxing club on an upper floor. Weiss Jewelers on High...later added the Golden Parrot Gift Shoppe...around the place where the Comic book place is now.
  • The little red and white ice cream shop that was there somewhere for a short time.
  • The little market run by Mark...the hippie NJ guy in the narrow little room that later beacme the Peanut Shoppe and is now a Law Office.
  • Kenney's Shoes, later Weiss' Jewelery then the University News and now the Hobbits Closet.
  • White Cross, then Revco, then Byrd Optical, now an insurance office...corner of High and Wall St.
  • Woolworth's where WesBanco is now. After Woolworth's, remember Murphy's upstairs, Masterpiece, above it? There was a dance school up there for a short time, too.
  • Morgantown Hardware, Revco, Absolute Pizza, now the Mediterranean Market. Wasn't Whitesides in the next space? Communtzis Rest., then The Dining Room, then Gibbies.
  • The H&P store where Reiner and Core was...now a furniture store.
  • Dragans Steakhouse, Bonanza, Hardees, a mountaineering store now First Exchange Bank.
  • High St. Market where Subway is now. Scotto's Pizza was there for years.
  • The stereo place across High St from First Exchange...corner of High and Fayette, later a Gap Store, Hot Dog Place and now a Pita place.
  • The Met. Theater when it still was a movie theater. Mr. Communtzis, (Tyke) ran it. It closed several days after he died...RIP. Great guy...I loved talking to him...thin as a rail, though!
  • House of Cards then Devincent's Music Store...can't place what was before the House of Cards...
  • The little narrow room to the left of Devincent's was the original location of Cosmopolitan Lunch.
  • Morrisons Dept. store, Spaceport Arcade, a couple bars at one time or another, then Ali Babas, Levels, and now de Lazy Lizard
  • Stairway to WCLG radio...they once took a baby elephant up those steps!
  • The pawn shop on the corner of High and Wall was preceded by an optical shop...can't remember what was there before...
  • Down Wall St is Maxwells. It has had many owners but was originally the Ruff Stone pub...#1 Wall St.!
  • Across Wall St. was the Morgan Theater building. The theater was owned by Tyke Communtzis, but was managed by Larry and Vera...(sorry, can't remember their last name)...Great People!The little room on the right side of the lobby was a peanut shop in the old days, then Recordland in the 50's. Later, the Pretzel Oven, and Cosmopolitan Lunch for 26 yrs. Everyone came in there! Famous for hot dogs with chili! OK, I'll shut up, I owned it!
  • after the theater closed in 79 or 80, there was the Athletes Sole shoe shop, a tanning salon and now Cool Ridge. To the left of the lobby area was a mens shop, then shoe repair, then Wharf Rat arcade, then Athletes Sole, later expanded, then tobacco shop then Cool Ridge, later expanded to today.
  • The Basement was Moonies pool hall, Grannies Disco, Fantasies, (briefly), The Greek, Speakeasy, with floor shows and a Piano bar, Alexander's, which later burned, (arson), then Class Act, now Vice Versa.
  • Remember the L&G shop in the 70's? Then a bar, then a Biscuit sandwich place...nasty!
  • Then Ali Baba's now Big Times.
  • The Boston Beanery was Pikes Pastries, then Ray's Pastries.
  • House of Cards was where the Law Offices are now...HW&S, but was Grays Cutrate drugstore before that...used to have the best prices on records in High School!
  • Next, goin' down High was Pettreys Shoes, later a Loan place, tattoo shop hairdresser. Now a bail Bond place.
  • On the corner of High and Walnut is Urban Eats, before that, T&L Hot Dogs and a loan place.
  • Different part of town... Remember Hills in Star City? Bet you don't remember that they were the first to open on Sunday in defiance of the States' "Blue Laws" and the manager was arrested!
  • The Wharf Rat Amusement Center in the Hills parking lot behind the service station was the first arcade in Morgantown and the first to have video games and foosball !
  • Pizza Inn and the Star City theaters...first theater in Morgantown to show Star Wars as well as Saturday Night Fever!! Star Wars was there for months!!
  • The miniature golf course on the hill behind Hills.
  • The smell of the sewage treatment plant on humid nights...whew!!


  • Robert (30 October 2005)
  • Pizza Inn also had a location in Cheat Lake (I cant remember where) Jim Dunn used to manage (maybe owned) the location at the Mountaineer Mall across from the Theater. Jim , at one time, was manager of Pargo's (now gone).
  • Pargo's, Italian Oven, Etchings (now Glasshouse Grill), Barry's Office Service's animated christmas windows? speaking of Barry's, the 8am opening and their great Jingle. (ok im biased i worked for Dave and Susan for 5 years)
  • Also anyone remember the circle in the center court at the Mountaineer Mall.. and santa's village? With the electronic Rudolph in the back (facing Penny's) who used to "talk", for many years i never knew my father played Santa at the Mountaineer Mall (80's) and Hill's.
  • Speaking off Hill's, there was a very smal arcade in the plaza later on. Along with Aladdin's Castle at the Mountaineer Mall, it had been in 3 locations during the years. Also that funky wallpaper at Weiner World at the Mountaineer Mall. Remember the big "M" made out of stone that used to stand at the main entrance??? before the addition was built?
  • Also remember the restaurant in Heck's plaza in Sabraton??? where the mexican restaurant is now??? they used to have those wagon wheel light fixtures? I cant remember the name... but Mary Johnson used to work there at the counter... she was a sweety... i can just hardly remember that..
  • oh for Hill's... they had a christmas character named Spryte... for Hill's memories check out www.hillsstores.com a fan site remembering Hills....
  • How about the old restrooms at the courthouse where you coudl access from teh courthouse square???


  • Velda Frisco (18 January 2006)
  • Before it was the Underground Railroad, it was Mateo's.
  • Also, Virginia Chittum's Dance Studio on High Street.
  • Gabes was on Walnut Street before it moved into the Brew Pub building.
  • Bowlby's and Weintraub's on Pleasant St. Ziegfield's was a bar in the castle beside the beauty school.
  • Dering's funeral home was on Walnut St. Jenkins & Brown , now Fred L. Jenkins, was on Pleasant St. where the parking garage is now.
  • Marsh's Shoe store on High Street.
  • Auto Parts on University Ave.
  • Household Furniture where Bartlett house is on University Ave.
  • Jules Kay Jewlery on High St. around where the bead shop is now. Morgan Leather where HealthRight is now on Spruce Street.
  • There was a roller rink above Morgans.
  • There used to be a recreational club for young teens on Wall St.


  • Andy Ice Horton
  • As a life long resident of Mo'town, I recall most all of the list. What amazes me now when I am downtown is that most all stores are gone and replaced with BARS.
  • Remember when bars had last call at 2 am? And the only places to go after that were the OWLS club (Walnut Street), open until how late?? I know they were open until at least 4:30 a.m.!
  • Or you could go to SPENCERS (out toward Mountaineer Mall, along where Sound Investmenst is now) for STEAK AND EGGS. How yummy at 2 or 3 in the morning!


  • Kay Comuntzis-Getsinger
  • Marv's Pizza in Sunnyside across the street from the old Mountaineer Field....it was there as early as 1955.
  • Irene's Dress Shop on High Street first next to the Dairy Queen and later moved to almost the corner of Walnut and High. Owned by Vicki and Quintine Pettite and I worked there off and on from ages 14-22.
  • Goldsmith's....Harry Goldsmith was the Saul Radman of the 1940's and '50's and on into the '60's.
  • DeAntonis' Barber Shop on Walnut ..... George DeAntonis always had time for the young men who needed someone to talk to. Whata guy!
  • Nick's on Willey next to where John Fleming has his Book Exchange today. It was owned by my Uncle Tasso and cousin George Caravasios who now lives in the DC area. Great place to TGIF and then move on down to the Olympia to dance to the tunes of the Bonnevilles!
  • Sherman Shoes was next to my family restaurant and was owned and operated by Perry Jubaleer....cute fella!


  • Benjamin Snead
  • The Olympia
  • Have-a-Lunch
  • Maudes next to Chi Omega
  • The Joker on the river
  • Jimmys on High
  • "The Greeks"


  • Tom Montague
  • ''OATES TEL-O-DINE'' IN STAR CITY WHERE LONG JOHNS IS NOW. ''OR WAS''


  • James & Connie Caravasos
  • Top of High Street Down: Ramsey's Grocery Store. Chinese Launday, A Funeral Home (Parking lot of BB&T Bank), Spot Billiards and Bowling Alley, Spot Restaurant and Hotel, Academy Restaurant, Bus Station and Boarding House (Across Street of Academy Restaurant), Esso Station and Taxi Cab office (Next to Fredlock's Stenger's Newstand, (DeLynn) Fashionable Shoe Store, Instant Lunch (10cents Hambergers and Fries), Marsh's Shoe Store, Mon. Power Office and Retail Store (Corner of Fayette and High), Laidley and Selbys Stationary Store, High Street Market, Floradora Women's Store, Finn's Ladies Store, Coomb's Florist O.J Morrison Annex (Across from Met), Brown's Jewelry Store with Clock on Street, Yeagle'sJewelry (Next to Met), Candy Store in the Met, Met's Billiards and Barber Shop Basement of Met, Cosmopolitian Hot Dogs, Morgantown Hardware, F & M Bank, Woolsworth Five and Dime, Kresges Five and Dime, Lillian's Hat Shop, Morgan Theater, Hagen's Ice Cream Shop, Jacobs Men's Store, Harry Goldsmith Men Store, Sidler's Dept. Store, Rand's Drug Store, Ream's Drug Store, A&P Grocery Store (Corner of Walnut and High), Citizen's Bank, Court House, McCroy's Five and Dime, Streamline Food Market, Montgomery Wards, Murphy's Five and Dime, First National Bank (Across the Street), Monongahela Building, Reiner & Core Men Store, Chicago Dairy Meat Market, McVicker's Drug Store, Baker's Hardware, Moore and Parriott Drug Store, Jack Walter's Newsstand, City Market (Corner of High and Pleasant), City Pharmacy, Peanut Shop Next Warner Theater, Dr Ryan's and Dr HV King Ophthmologists, Warner Theater, Perry's Shoe Repair Next to Warner Theater, Royal Furniture Store, Shelhammer"s Appliance Store, Slaven's Jewelry Store, Fawley Music Store, Hotel Morgan Travel agency in Hotel Morgan, Sherman Williams Paint Store, Richard's Restaurant, Post Office.
  • (That's) (w)hat I remember from Top of High Street to Kirk Street near the Bridge.


  • Ken Weiss
  • The Spudnut Shop on Willie Street...still the best donuts ever.
  • Marv's Pizza...the first pizza shop in MoTown over in Sunnyside...square cut pizza, Marv opened one up on the Mileground, too and later opened one up out on Rt 7 that sold beer
  • George Brothers Resturant where all the drunks and derilicts went at two in the morning for some late night food
  • Capellanti's on Walnut Street (best hand cut greasy french fries ever)
  • Aunt Jenny's Bakery...every day after Jr Hi for an eclair
  • Morgan Leather...they sold everything there except for leather
  • The Owl's Club...gambling and hookers and underage drinking...every all-American boy's dream come true
  • Nick's on Willie Street, why was the owner named Gus? And why did Gus' brother who was named Nick own the Canteen Lunch
  • Jimmy's (Jimmy Papajohn's hand squeezed lemonade was the best!)
  • Eddie Dooms,
  • The Hamburger King...classy and classic joint
  • Kiddie Town, later morphed into Richard's
  • Baker Hardware...wood floors, high ceilings, an old wood buring stove in the back that they used to fire up on cold days...everything from Flexible Flyer Sleds to knives, guns, and three penny nails
  • Slavin's Jewelers on High Street
  • Washington Cafe (Augie & Rose Mastrogusippi's place on Walnut ST), where most kids went for their first quarts of 3.2 beer when they turned 16.
  • Moore & Pariott's Drug store and their great soda Fountain. Ann DiNardi and Mary Angotti knew every one that ever came in to their store
  • Fredlock's Pharmacy...fresh donuts
  • Chicago Market on High Street
  • The Ash Hat Shop
  • Sidler's
  • Met Shoe Service
  • Fashionable Shoe Store, where I had my first job as a stock boy
  • Royal Furniture on High Street and Household Furniture on University,
  • Friend's Furniture and Cohen's Furniture, both on Pleasant Street
  • Walter's News Stand...Jack Walters was always behind the counter and he had a smile and a kind word for everybody
  • Guy Flinn, Opticians
  • Sears, Roebuck big store on High St...official home of Mickey Mouse Club Gear!
  • Weintrob Brothers...for Levi's and great pegged pants


  • Beege Bowers (31 Jan 2006)
  • The Old Mill Club, Chestnut Ridge Road
  • Morgantown Paint Co, Spruce Street
  • Thomas Cleaners, Pleasant Street
  • Sharkey's Gulf Station, Willey Street
  • Point Snack Shop, Willey Street
  • Vincent Palotti Hospital, Willey Street
  • Acme Super Market - South High Street
  • Ruff Stone, Wall Street (where Maxwell's is currently)
  • Dixon's Restaurant, Spruce Street
  • Betty's Jewelry, High Street
  • Met Card Shop, High Street
  • Finn's, High Street (womens clothing)
  • Morgantown Beauty School, Spruce Street (beside current Greek church)
  • First Christian Church, Spruce Street (now Greek chruch)
  • Mon General Hospital, Elmer Prince Drive (now dorms)
  • Texaco Station, Cobun Ave/Pleasant Street
  • Morgantown County Club (where current Law school is located)
  • Blue Horizon Drive In
  • Morgantown Public Library, Fayette Street (under police station)
  • Elks Club, Walnut Street
  • Draft House, Mileground
  • Holiday Inn Motel, Mileground
  • Airport Restaurant, Airport
  • Morgantown Sports Center, Pleasant Street
  • Randolph's Restaurant, High Street
  • Crestholm Pharmacy, Kingwood Street
  • Buseman and Kennell, Mileground (paints)
  • Sear's, High Street
  • Perry Brothers Shoes, Pleasant Street
  • The Roundtable, High Street (clothing)
  • Liberatore's Grocery, W VA Avenue
  • The Book Nook, Fayette Street
  • Cowan Bakery, Clay Street
  • Harley's Cleaners, Spruce Street
  • Crescent Printing, Wall Street
  • Weintrob Brothers, Pleasant Street (clothing)
  • Ten Pin Lounge, Chestnut Ridge Road (Suburban Bowling Bldg)
  • Morgantown Glass and Mirror, Chestnut Street
  • Morgan Shirt Factory, Powell Ave (near Marilla Park)
  • D & D Shoes, High Street
  • The Bake Shop, Richwood Avenue
  • Champs Pizza, High and Willey Streets
  • Weatherholt Shop, High Street
  • Photo Crafters, Pleasant Street


  • Anonymous (26 March 2006)
  • Finn's Dress Store


  • Karla Bolyard (8 May 2006)
  • Petrey's shoe store at the corner of walnut and high street.
  • Merle Norman cosmetics was upstairs.
  • Cinema 1 & 2 in the Hills plaza.
  • Westover Drive Inn
  • Maple Leaf Drive Inn
  • Richards, High Street


  • Mary Harper Kloman (17 May 2006)
  • Mont Chateau as a State Park (at Cheat Lake) and its swimming area.
  • Blosser's Boat Docks (at Cheat Lake).
  • The Whippoorwill (at Cheat Lake).
  • Sunset Beach's original docks for swimming.
  • The old iron bridge at Cheat backwaters.
  • Two little grocery stores: One across the street from Seneca School, and the other at the top of Jones Avenue.
  • The Carousel drive-in restaurant on the Mileground
  • Tony's Restaurant on Beechurst Avenue


  • danny r (23 May 2006)
  • Spruce Steet Sub Shop.... great subs, always busy..., Now a lawyers office
  • University Gym on Willy Street next to The Den. Now a tanning salon.
  • Western Sizzler in Westover


  • Dave Lunsford (7 June 2006)
  • Golds Gym between Vics Garage and The Chevron. Now a building-for-lease.
  • Mamma Giovanni's (mamma G's) on University Ave in Sunnyside. Between the Rusted Musket and what was Falstaffs. Best 2am Giovanni sandwichs around!
  • Suds Laundromat beside where the State Police barracks are now. Great place to get loaded while you do your laundry.


  • Laurent Levy (10 June 2006)
  • Rudy's Esso(Exxon) station across from what used to be the Acme Supermarket on South High St.
  • The Barrickman St. mom-and-pop was the Miniature Market - run by the Salucci family. There was also Sam's Market on Madison Ave.
  • I think the Sears on High St. wasn't "big" -- it was a catalogue outlet
  • Bonded / Boron gas station at the bottom of Mon. Blvd.
  • Sinclair station (the one with the dinosaur), I think on Spruce St.
  • Frank's Barber Shop
  • Gutta's Fruit Market and Greenhouse/Nursery
  • Big B supermarket (So. University Ave.)
  • The big Coca Cola sign by the river
  • Morgantown School of Ballet (near Chico's.)
  • Bridgegate Dinner Theater
  • There was a self-serve shoe place, ("Picway?") near the Hills in Star City
  • Speaking of Hills, it seems to elicit many memories ("The low cost living anti-inflation department store") -- I recall it being the only place you could see fireworks on the 4th of July.
  • International House restaurant (So. University, near the old Westover bridge)
  • The main thing about Morgan's was that its parking lot was the venue for all of MJHS's after-school fights!
  • On snow days, the police would actually close some streets down for sledding
  • The Dominion Post used to be Dominion News (morning) and Morgantown Post (evening)
  • The green WVU busses between campuses before the PRT was built


  • Tom Sloane (12 June 2006)
  • Whelan's Drug Store, Corner of High and Walnut.
  • The Kiddy Shop, in the Hotel Morgan, owned by Mrs. Sutherland
  • Sylvia's Togs, Mrs. Sylvia Moran, a children's shop in one of the alleyways of High St.
  • Mother Witherspoon's, a great place for hearing local groups, including the Mind Garage (psychedelic music), was in the spot later occupied by the Ruff Stone and Maxwells.
  • Louis Mantini's grocery on Overdale St. (Connie's uncle)
  • Homeside Market, Elmina St., owned by Fern Stenellis.
  • Superior Photo was on Elmina St., operated by the Lorenze brothers (Joe and Steve).
  • Baily Radiator, Elmina St., owned and operated by Harlan and George Baily for many years.
  • Sam Fratto had a barber shop right across from 2nd Ward School, and there was a corner soda fountain, Conner's, for many years, corner of Green and Wilson.
  • Heathcoate's Store sold great candy and those wax lips and moustaches, yoyos, too, on the corner of White Ave. and Wilson Ave.
  • A Bocci Court was located next to Tommy's Place and Gene's Beer Garden on Wilson Ave. I can remember neighborhood men, mostly Italian, playing there until late at night. (Gene's of course is still there.)
  • Gene Perilli ran a barber shop behind the beer garden for many years.


  • Charlotte Dalton (13 June 2006)
  • Osgood Bus Line
  • Roller Skating where Peerless Laundry is now
  • Tom Kittzmiller's Stables in Westover Park
  • Sleepy's Bar at the corner of Houston Drive and University ave.
  • The Bread Box in Sabraton where the Mexican resturant is now. Owned by Bill Hogan and Bud Isner.
  • The Miner's Lodge on the corner of Pleasant and University Ave. Gabriels was on Walnut Street, right next to Capallatis.
  • Sleepy's on University Ave. in Sunnyside became Stadium Inn and was owned by JT Thomas, Johnny Wassick and Dennis Shumate.
  • The Vo-Tec school was where Vic's Towing is now


  • Theresa Morgan(3 August 2006)
  • Teledyne which was later a Wendys and/or Long John Silvers across from Hills in Star City - on the right, before the bridge - you used to phone your order into the kitchen from a little phone on the table? My sister and I loved that place.


  • Margaret Obuch (3 August 2006)
  • A Different Strummer -- owned by Rob, was a laidback gathering spot for local musicians to shop for instruments and used records. At first, was on the second story of building at upper end of High Street, then moved to Pleasant Street above what used to Stillwell Bookshop.
  • Ray's Pastries (now on Pt. Marion Road) was once nextdoor to The Hotel Morgan in the 1960s and early 70s.
  • The Elegant Alley Cat was on an alley before it moved to High Street
  • Darinka's, a woman's clothing shop on High Street (Darinka also was the aunt to Dragan, who had Dragan's Steak House that used to be on the corner of High and ????)
  • Sebree's Music on University Avenue (now Cardello Lighting). My wonderful, late mother and musician extraordinaire, Frankie Obuch, worked there selling musical instruments and doing bookkeeping in the 1970s, and her employee discount enabled me to own a succession of guitars and amplifiers! In the 1940s, she worked for O.B. Fawley Music when it was on High Street.
  • Building now for sale on the lower corner of Pleasant Street and University Ave. had succession of live music clubs in it during the 1970s and 80s... Touch of Country... The Touch... probably some others.
  • What's currently an auto body repair on University Avenue next to Barry's Office Service (which just closed its doors) was a live music club called Bullwinkle's.
  • Jimmy's Sunoco (now on The Mileground) when it was across from The Ice House on Rt. 19 (Don Knotts Blvd.)
  • Someone mentioned the grocery on Richwood Avenue, questioning if it was The Cloverleaf. I believe it was The Cloverfarm.
  • Guido's Dept. Store in Granville
  • What is now the Dairy Mart in Westover on Holland Avenue was once called The Superette (but a lot of people just referred to it as "The Little Store")


  • Anonomous (4 August 2006)
  • davidson brothers packard
  • hudson and international trucks and funeral home on chesnut st
  • chittum motors
  • creel motors olds dealer
  • 1032 university ave ,notorius for "gentlemen " pleasures
  • the "cabana club " on university at walnut st upstairs ran by harry finello and wife
  • blue's shoe shine parlor


  • Katherine Morgan Slavic (4 August 2006)
  • Cheat Lake Dairy Queen. This DQ was located at the entrance to Sunset Beach Road before you would continue out to Ruby and Ketchy's.
  • On Chestnut Ridge Road there was a Baskin Robbins (when it had the initial concept of 31 Flavors) next to Bill's Cleaners next to a laundromat next to the Old Mill Club.
  • Flatts Elementary was on the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road and Van Voorhis and Hizer's market was located about where the Dairy Mart is now.
  • There was a State ABC Store in Star City.
  • The Chestnut Pub was on Chestnut Street
  • Fat Daddy's was above what is now Chic N Bones.
  • The elevator and elevator operators in the old Morrisons Department Store on High St.
  • Country Club Beavers preschool off of Willowdale Road. I believe the golf course was still there at that time.
  • At one time Sound Investments was at the top of High Street.
  • The Flame Restaurant was located at 76 High St (now Cafe Bachus). You went with your prom date.
  • Going to grade school at Mount Pleasant School, now I think apartments.


  • Eva Martin (4 August 2006)
  • Wasn't there a "Winkie's" at the top of High Street in the late 60's right below Stengers? It was one of the favorite hangouts for students from the Morgantown Business School.
  • Did anyone mention the wooden foot bridge as part of the old Stadium Bridge.
  • How about Austin's Grocery at the top of Stewart Street.
  • The Sear's catalog center at the University Avenue/Greenbag Road intersection.
  • The WVU corn field along the Mileground before Rt. 705 split it.
  • The WVU Poultry Farm
  • When there were only Dairy Marts


  • John V Forte (17 August 2006)
  • The Twin Oaks bowling lanes on Holland Avenue in Westover. They had four bowling lanes, two pool tables and a bar. Quiet a nice place at one time. Also, had duck pin bowling.
  • Jay Kuhn's furniture store on Holland Avenue.
  • The Westover Cash Grocery and Westover Superette.
  • Forte's Barber Shop and Betty Janes Beauty shop on Holland Avenue.
  • Haynes and Haines Auto
  • J & K's at the corner of Holland Avenue and Cleveland Avenue
  • The Westover Post Office at the corner of Holland Avenue and Washington Street.
  • Paul Britton's gasoline station located when the bank is now in Westover.
  • The Triangle Lounge
  • Westover Cut Rite Drug Store and then the Village Shop Dress ShopHow about Westover Elementary School on Morrison Street and of course Westover Junior High School on West Park Street.
  • Does anyone remember whenever Lane Street was a dead end?
  • The Sunoco Station where Tarantini's is now located at the corner of Holland and Morrison.
  • The beautiful home and flower garden where Rotruck and Lobb Funeral Home is now located.
  • When the Westover Volunteer Fire Department was located at the corner of Holland and Gans Avenue
  • When the Mullens Home was decorated at Christmas and could be seen from all over Morgantown.
  • The collage of advertisements at the end of the old Westover Bridge painted each year by Mr. Bernard Summers.


  • Matt Ferrell (18 August 2006)
  • The Beaten Egg - Little breakfast shop in Sunnyside. Only open from 12 AM- 5- AM, it had a little half-door, and the best breakfast special EVER: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon or sausage, and 2 slices of toast for two dollars!
  • The Deli (I forget what it was called) that was where the Pita Pit is now... I used to LOVE their bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and their chicken soup.
  • The Stone Pony: Where Chasers and Dreams is now. If you wanted to get drunk on the cheap and possibly get into a brawl, there was nowhere better.
  • The Plasma Bank/"donation" center: Chic-N-Bones expanded into the space where this used to be. College students and homeless alike used to frequent this place to get beer money.


  • Rita Christopher-Close (5 September 2006)
  • Actually before O.B. Fawley's was in the Monongahela Building, it was down across from the Warner Theater and Old Morgantown Post Office, next door was a store that sold G.E. appliances and steel kitchen cabinets called Shellhammers.
  • A great place to party was "Pap's Tap Room" at the end of the Star City Bridge, just before you turned down into Osage.
  • Also, Luci's (on Powell Avenue across from Marilla Park) and Dallas Pine Room.
  • The Old Mill Club started out in Sabraton before the interstate came thru and took Sterling Faucet, Savasta's Barbershop, and Nick Kugolas's General Store. At that time it moved to the intersection of Stewartstown Road and 705 in an old home on the corner. It was then moved to the Suburban Lanes Plaza where Kegler's is now.
  • Pat and Sandy Rundle who ran Fat Daddy's, had a bar called the Tin Pin Lounge underneath the Bowling Alley.
  • Other places to eat included "the Hav-a-Lunch", Richard's Restaurant just south of Mgtn and The Carousel Drive-In on the Mileground.
  • Besides Finn's women's store on High Street, there was Fashionable Shoe Store, owned by Larry DeLynn. ( Maurice Fabre was the Sales Clerk there. His son, Ronnie played the drums in the band, "The Bonneviles".)
  • There was also Sidler's (owned by the Cohens, Milt and Bert), The Ash Hat Shop, Family Shoe Store, the Vanity Shop, Goldsmith's and The Lady Goldsmith (where the pawn shop is now located), Kaufman's and the Darling Shop.
  • In 1951, Virginia Chittum School of Dance was on the 3rd floor above Merle Norman Cosmetics at the Corner of High & Walnut and then it moved to the second floor across the the Courthouse Square.
  • The Franklin Hotel was on Walnut Street (where the PRT Station now stands) and underneath the Hotel was Summer's Barber and Beauty Shop.
  • Across the street was "Pete, the tailor" and Cappellanti's (where you got the best fish sandwiches). That corner later became Sherwin & Williams Paint store. It is now a law office.
  • The people of Suncrest usde to get their groceries from either Sellaro's Suncrest Market (where Patterson Drive & University Ave meet) or at Claudios Superette on Collins Ferry Road.


  • Robert Cress (6 September 2006)
  • Barry's Office Service, Inc


  • Rich McGervey
  • Charlies, a bar that used to be at the corner of Pleasant St and University Ave, across the street from where Wings Ole is now.
  • Nyabinghi Dance Hall, where 123 Pleasant St is now.
  • Gargoyles, a bar that I named and built on Pleasant St., where Madelines started
  • The Blue Tick Tavern, the original bar in the basement of the Mountainlair
  • Bullwinkles, bar on the corner of Fayette and University Ave, across Fayette from the Co-op. Shank, Swing and the Divots, a local band of MHS'ers used to play there a lot, along with old cover bands like Abacab.
  • J.D. Bentley's, the original "nice" restaurant at the Mountaineer Mall
  • Granville Lunch, THE place to go at 2 or 3 am after drinking in town
  • Colby's, a bar that was next to Scotchels car dealership in Westover, I think it's an apartment now.
  • The skyscraping boiler smokestack next to Stansbury Hall
  • The Rosewood Theater, which just recently closed after a short stint, which was on Walnut Street and is where: The Walnut Street Flea Market, on Walnut Street, which was run by the two sisters, Alma and Irene, which was where: The National Record Mart, which was on Walnut Street, and later became the flea market and the Rosewood, next to Speedy Gonzales restaurant.
  • The flea market under Fox Automotive and Mountaineer Nautalis, downtown next to the Chevron.
  • Zack Morgan's, which was the restaurant before Gibbies. I worked there when they closed in the late 80s. The feds were after the owners for money laundering, and apparently, unbeknownst to most of the employees (such as myself), they were drug dealers from of state. At least that's what we were told.
  • The Fashion Bug, which was on High Street across from International Outdoors (the pawn shop), and is now a bank. It closed in the mid to late 80s I think.
  • The 21st Amendment, a bar my friend Dave Vannoy managed, which is in the single story building behind the old stone house and next to the old parking garage between Chestnut Street and University Ave/Don Knotts Blvd. It's a lawyers office now.
  • A&P Grocery store that was in the parking lot next to where the Dairy Mart downtown is now. It was in a big corrogated metal building that looked like an airplane hanger. It was torn down right around the time we moved to Morgantown, or just after, because I remember shopping there, and they gave out green stamps.
  • Smoky Joes BBQ, which was the original restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender briefly.
  • Blueberry Hill, which was the second restaurant where Back Bay is now. I worked there as a bartender for one week, when I was also working at J.D. Bentleys at the (now) old mall. Blueberry Hill didn't last long either, and was mostly just doing business on weekends as a place to listen to a live DJ spin oldies.
  • Hostetlers Café, which was where Los Mariachis mexican restaurant is now in Suncrest.
  • Jessie's snack bar and grocery store on Brookhaven Road, which later became the Sterling Faucet employees credit union, and is now a private residence for sale and I hear still contains a big bank vault.
  • Sterling Faucet employees credit union, which was where Jessie's used to be on Brookhaven Rd, and is now a private residence that is for sale.
  • Classic Iron Cycles, owned and run by Gary Tannenbaum, who now owns the Blue Moose. It was in the metal building just under the Walnut Street Bridge on the South Park Side.
  • David Weis Jewlers, which was in the first stand alone building up on the hill by the old Mountaineer Mall, which is now Dunhams Sporting Goods. My sister got her first management job there.
  • The building I previously said that Charlie's was in is the same building Margaret identified as housing the Touch of Country and the Touch, and I think it was The Edge before it was Charlies. The last business in there was the Rag Bag, run by Joyce Clay, and she is the last owner of the building, although I think she just sold it.
  • Bud Keeners Exxon. The ORIGINAL Exxon in Sabraton, before they rebuilt the one that is there now, and Exxon screwed Bud over and yanked his franchise. His case went all the way to the US Supreme Court. Essentially they yanked his franchise just because the company that owns the store now wanted more stations, and poor Bud was a solo businessman.
  • Bud Keeners Auto Repair, which was in the middle of the mileground where the landscaping business is now. Bud was my mechanic. I wish I knew where he was now! I moved and he closed up shop at some point, so now when I'm in town I have to go to other mechanics!
  • Tonique Hair Salon, which was in the house where Walgreens is now across from Sheetz.
  • The Golden Ram, which was where the Lums was in the Morgantown Mall, after Lums. It's been vacant ever since the Golden Ram went under. It was run by a manager named Angie and her brother.
  • There was a chinese restaurant in the castle next to where the beauty store is, late 80s I think, it didn't last long either.
  • The Roller Rink that sat in the old yellow block building between where the new Municipal Building is and the Deckers Creek end of Fayette Street. It was pretty much falling off the hillside and they tore it down in the 90s after they build the new city building.
  • Whitetail Bicycles when it was down on Beechurst, the original location. I bought my first mountain bike there, a Schwinn.
  • Dr. Pizza delivers twins. Dr. Pizza started out over in Suncrest, in the western end of the building that also has Pizza Hut and the Boston Beanery. Then they moved down to Beechurst Avenue for many years.


  • Emma Fisher (18 September 2006)
  • Vavoom clothing store at the bottom of Pleasant Street !
  • The flea market on Walnut, right down from the Blue Moose.
  • The pet store on High Street, where I bought a Beta that lived for WAY too long.


  • Dave (18 September 2006)
  • The Bon Ton Roulet!! A music bar just down from Chico's Dairy in the late 70's. The wood floor would bounce up an down as way more people than the place could hold would jam in and dance dance dance to the Paradise Rangers. Bon Ton Roulet's slogan was "Park your rig at the sign of the pig"


  • Phil Belt (18 October 2006)
  • The Suzy-Q Diner just outside of Westover
  • Hot Sam in the Mountaineer Mall
  • Bobette's (candy store across the street from Second Ward school)
  • Gene's - also near Second Ward school on Wilson Ave (NOTE: Is this gone? I thought it was still around)
  • Tony's Barber Shop on Fayette St (above High St)


  • georganne christopher Gallo (6 November 2006)
  • Old Star City Fire Hall Roller Skating one night a week. I think it was either Tuesday or Thursday night.


  • Anita Christopher Walters (10 November 2006)
  • The Fashion Shoppe on High Street next to Warner theater
  • Red Cellar below Tony's restaurant


  • K. McCormack (17 May 2007)
  • The General Store of West (by God) Virginia. They sold soaps, lotions, music, pipes, papers, posters, a little bit of everything
  • Morgantown being such a safe place that no one locked their doorsave something that you think should be added to the list, please e-mail me with your ideas.


  • John Crynock, III (11 June 2007)
  • the old Morgantown Raceway or Race Track by Cheat Lake, across from Ruby and Ketchies Restaurant. The Saturday night races were a blast as a kid and their french fries were an extra special treat. "Snooks" Johnson was the best driver back in the 60's I believe but it was always fun.
  • "the rocks" down the path from Mont Chateau was a great swimming place and hang out in the summers. Many an MHS senior skip day was had there. Also, the Harris family used to run Mont Chateau when it was an Inn and Restaurant. I went to school with their daughter, Barbara, class of '66.
  • Communtzis Restaurant at the Airport. I used to hang out there while learning to fly and passed many an hour with Gus talking about the old days, drinking coffee and studying.
  • Southside Lumber and Westover Lumber


  • J. D. Hatcher (September 12, 2007)
  • On Chestnut Street was Fat Daddy's, but it also had the name After Dark and a few other names as well.
  • The College Inn in Sunnyside had 25 cent beer on Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't remember which.
  • Sticking with Sunnyside, there was Mutt's Place and Choosy Mothers down on the corner by the stadium bridge.
  • I remember the square pizza at Scotto's. I wonder what ever happened to Charlie.
  • At the Mountaineer Mall, there was a store for children, The Gingerbread House (GH), next to Murphy Mart, now Walmart. Across from GH was a bank and then Sweet William, an ice cream store. I can still remember the Rum Raisin ice cream.
  • On down the mall was The Bottomhalf, the place for jeans. The Mountaineer Cinemas was next to Lum's Restaraunt--I worked there one long, hot summer. Across from the cinema was Pizza Inn, a pitcher of light or dark??
  • Downtown was Bullwinkle's as mentioned, which was across the street from Wilkins Motors. Was there a place called Computer Corner across from them?
  • On High Street (ally actually) was the Yukon Railroad, you could ride the bull. And Granny's near the ally. You had to go downstairs to get there. They also had a bull to ride. Later it was renamed, Speakeasy.
  • Bowsher's Barbershop was across from Cappelanti's Grill and Stinger's (spelling?) was a place to get candy, magazines and newspapers back in the 60's. Giavonni's Pizza was up on the corner. The Burger Chef was across the street. (Remember the Burger Chef in Suncrest that burned down? It is now Wing's Ole'.
  • There was a mini golf on the Mile ground near the old Foodland. I remember going to the fair inside the Armory as well.
  • Bishoff Motors near the Westover Triangle and a tavern named the Kopper Kettle nearby
  • No one should forget Fuzzy's Sunoco on Old Cheat Road.
  • Oh, the guy named Andy, who owned the motorcycle store on the corner of Brockway Avenue, He could be a Sulka.
  • Harry's Superette on Collins Ferry Road actually delivered groceries to the house.
  • The Spruce Street Sub Shoppe has the best subs--whatever happened to the Yester brothers, Steve and Gary??


  • Jim Goldsmith (15 September 2007)
  • Violent Death Ray (Violet Ray) laundromat - across from Borman Hall.
  • Head shop in the basement, under the gun shop and dry cleaners near the Dairy Queen on High street. Called something like "Cowboy and Indian Supplies"
  • RPM records in Sunny Side.
  • School Kids records in Sunny Side (3 albums for $10).
  • Stadium Inn - Sunny Side
  • Listening Lounge in Moutainlair
  • Choosy Mothers - Sunny Side
  • (Biff) Noah's Cafeteria - Biff later owned the College Inn (last I heard he had a drywall business in Mgtn. ). I too tended bar at the CI.
  • BTRF: CI inside joke Bar Tender's Relief Fund (picnic)
  • Ray's sandwich shop behind Thorofare in big curve of Richwood Ave (street name?). Near Arnold Hall.
  • Blue's Shoe Shine (and Blue himself).
  • WVU computer center in basement of Stewart Hall.


  • Veronica Travinski Allison (24 September 2007)
  • I worked at Moore & Parriott Drug Store and knew Mary Angotti and Ann Dinardi. Ann was house mother when Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West were big stuff at WVU.
  • Jerry West dated one of my good friends Mary Jane Smith who is now Mrs. Robert Konchesky....both were my classmates. We graduated in 1957. The Koncheskys own a bar/tavern?? on Cheat Lake Road....I was too young and rode buses so I didn't know the roads.
  • When I was 4 I remember riding a ferry in a car (which scared the heck out of me) every Sunday we went to St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Crossed that huge river and landed on Walnut St. That brick street. We drove to Fairmont from Bertha Hill where I was born, to get on that ferry.
  • I'm shocked but not surprised that the convent and St. Francis de Sales school are not there. Very old building when I went there.
  • Our class graduated 8th grade there. My brother Bob graduated high school there. Our class was the first freshman class to be in the new school.


  • Delores Eddy Moore (17 October 2007)
  • Living on Grand Avenue and attending Seneca School with its three foot stone walls in the basement, Rex Smith was the principal. Mr. Spiker was the janitor and would play ball with us in the playground.
  • Riding to Suncrest Park (now Krepps Park) on my bike called Bobtail because it lacked a rear fender.
  • No Monongahela Blvd at that time, only woods beyond Eight Street. We would ride our bikes up what we called the Incline through the woods.
  • New Suncrest had only one home belonging to Jean Brown on Rotary. When Dupont came houses were built here to house the executives at the plant.
  • Playing kick the can on the street and when there was a sufficient amount of snow the City would close the street from Fourth Street to Eighth Street so we could sled ride.
  • Walking to the airport to take flying lessons in the early 40's. After I soloed I remember landing at Morgan's field, the WVU tennis courts, the Colesium and Nataorium occuply that space now. Memories are God's gift to us all.


  • J.D. Curry (20 January 2008)
  • Morgan Leather. It used to be across from the old Morgantown Junior High which was torn down long before I moved away. I think the name of the street they were on was Spruce?


  • Steve Fox (27 January 2008)
  • Blue Ridge Diner on Walnut St with it's hangover curing breakfasts.
  • An excellent bar in 5th ward called Mundays.
  • The head shop in Sunnyside called The Tribe.
  • A weird bar on Beechurst called the Red Light. (it was under an Italian restaurant).


  • kraeusen (3 February 2008)
  • Red Rose Chinese Restaurant in the "old mall": super-spicy szechuan chicken...crispy, golden egg rolls...best chinese food ever served in the county. there was only one american waitress in the joint, and she was smokin' hot. long, dark hair with blonde streaks, dark brown eyes...tastalicious....even better than the food. i believe she worked there until they closed...
  • Mountaineer Mobile: the first cell phone joint in the area, on the corner of fayette and university where bullwinkle's used to be. they remodeled the building, and started selling (what now seems like) outrageously-priced bag phones and those rocking phones that installed in your car...there was a big two stall garage where they would install the bad boys. back then, i think you got 200 minutes for $99 dollars a month. I worked for a cleaning business at the time, and cleaned this joint in the evenings....set off the security alarm at least once every couple of weeks.
  • Pathfinder Book Store: a storefront on walnut street that only sold politically-related volumes, and was staffed by a passel of fidel-loving, hemp-wearing, pseudo-intellectuals. it seemed that the place had a definite anti-american agenda. pamphlets and other hoo-hah, and only a few books. while skipping my entire sophomore year at mhs, i once made the mistake of innocently entering the pathfinder bookstore....that evening my dad jacked my (rear) up, telling me that the govt was watching the place from an apartment across the street (above chrisitan help?), and that i was going to federal prison. still can't figure out how he knew i went in this joint.
  • Apples/Apples Pizza: the big grocery store on university avenue between evansdale and star city. it eventually became bilo, last i knew. on the star city end of the parking lot, they built a little shop where they sold hugantic, rectangular pizzas. my tightwad grandfather celebrated every special occasion with a big apples pizza with mushrooms and green peppers. mushrooms and green peppers? better yet, whether there were 3 people or 35 people, he always got one of those pizzas. i can still see my grandmother cutting those slices in half so that everyone could get their 1"x1" slice.
  • Hostetler's Bagles: someone already mentioned this place as being where los mariachis now is; i remember it being on the mileground right across from the entrance to the airport and beside back bay restaurant. owned by jeff hostetler, this place makes the best breakfast bagle sandwiches EVER. better than anything out of NY.
  • Kegs N Us: nice little bodega to pick up a late-night case of brew, or perhaps even a keg. located on south university avenue, on the right, across from the new wharf district. the business is now defunct, but the building still stands, along with its take on the toys r us logo.


  • Robert Cress(10 March 2008)
  • Barry's Office Service


  • Frances Joseph-Billie (23 May 2008)
  • Beaumont Glass located off of Beechurst Ave.
  • Feddies, a great place to get hotdog was located on Beechurst Ave. I believe there are apartment there now.
  • Jessie's Place was located on Brookhaven Road. Sterling Faucet Credit Union was located there for a while and now it is apartments.
  • Riskie's also know as TKB located in Sabraton where Archie's is located.
  • Dog n' Suds was located across from Picway Shoes where the Roadhouse is now in Star City.
  • The Carousel was located on the Mileground across the road from Paw Prints.
  • The Bead Box in the old Heck's Plaza in Sabraton and Bill's Laundry.
  • Kroger's was located in the opposite end of Heck's


  • Diann McCoy(29 Jun 2008)
  • The bakery on Walnut Street was called Aunt Jenny's and you could buy a slice of pizza for 20 cents. They also made the best chocolate pastries and cream horns.


  • Doug Wiley(29 June 2008)
  • I remember Phantom Pizza (the first delivery service of cold cardboard, covered with tomato sauce) and Pizzeria Italia (the very first Pizza in Morgantown and maybe WV).
  • There was Household Furniture (where us poor people could actually buy new furniture at a decent price) and Hill Used Furniture (Suspiciously burnt down in its prime of life in the now glamorous Wharf District).
  • There was Jimmy's Sunoco on University Ave (Now Don Knotts Boulevard). They actually filled your tank up, cleaned your windshield with a smile and even had a 'non-computerized' credit system if you did not have enough cash (they also had regular customer tabs and probably still do up on the Mileground).
  • Moore and Parriot's (Ann Dinardi) was not only a Pharmacy, but had the Ice Cream Parlor.


  • David Pompili ()
  • Westover cab co. located at the end of the bridge in a little shack built against the rocks
  • Beanies on WVU freshmen
  • Boat races on the Mon River
  • Westover feed store on Tower Lane
  • Bondfires on the old drill field at WVU (behind what is now Mountainlair) - BEFORE football games and no couches
  • Skating rink beside Mgtn Jr High where Lou Christy appeared one night
  • Aunt Jemimah appearing at a VFW pancake breakfast
  • Santa giving out goodies at Westover VFD
  • Friday night dances at Wesley church gym
  • Morgan theater Saturday movies for 10 cents - Met and Warner were 25 cents
  • Nehi Bottling Co just across from and below St Teresa's church
  • Biafora's men store on Pleasant St - before moving to High St
  • Shorty's Texaco station in Westover at Holland Ave and East St with 25 cent gas - seriously, and re-cycled oil in glass bottles
  • Riverside Park and pool
  • Granville baseball field where the carnival came every summer
  • "Chiefie" Newbraugh, Westover's only cop
  • F&P Pontiac across from Sanitary Dairy, where Chick 'n Bones is now
  • Westover Observer - a weekly newspaper
  • Manhattan market on Pleasant St, then moved to a new building at corner of Spruce and Walnut


Original link: http://klishis.com/Misc/Townies.php
You should pin this. VERY interesting thread.
 
I remember the night that Gus Communtzi went off on my roommate. One day my roommate, Terry, and I were having dinner at Communtzi', this would have been around '63-'65. Terry decides to have a hamburger...back then I'm guessing it was 35 cents...he then decides he wants to make it a cheeseburger and asks the waitress how much that would cost. She tells him it will be an additional 25 cents. The roommate is like <<<WHAT>>> 25 cents for a piece of cheese? The waitress places the order and a few minutes later Gus Communtzis shows up at our booth. He's mad as hell and starts lecturing Terry on the cost of adding the cheese. He goes on and on about the prep time, the cost of the cheese and the extra overhead involved in adding the thin little slice. You have to remember that back then we were living on a $1 a day food budget so that slice of cheese took a big chunk out of it. Right after, over the years we got a laugh out of the incident, quite comical, but Gus blew his top.
 
  • Like
Reactions: skygusty
I know a fella that did the same thing over a fresh sliced tomato on a hamburg. He/she still posts here.
 
That's great stuff... I see my contributions to the list that I did 10 years ago in 2005.
A few others:

- Yup Yup Man
- Fitzy Fitzpatrick, the English Professor and Rugby coach (guy was a genius or nuts or both. Had some English classes he taught. If you took the Monday Night class and the Redskins were on MNF, he was at the bar, not class)
Here's a website about him: http://www.wvurfc.org/fitz.html some good WVU Rugby photos
- Freshmen drinking at Speedy's
- The Dungeon (was in that spot behind High street, back behind the Cleaners and Mario's) Wed Nite .25 drafts
- "Heaven" up in the Pi Phi Sorority House (if you were 'lucky' enough to get up there).
- TGIFs
- Death Dogs at Dairy Mart
- kegs of Rolling Rock
- The Foxfire
- The Stacks in the Library
- Pledge Run up High Street
- When kegs were allowed in the blue lot
 
I know a fella that did the same thing over a fresh sliced tomato on a hamburg. He/she still posts here.

It should be noted that the tomato was included in the cost of the burger sandwich..... And despite the shortage they (Wendy's) were not giving a discount if you chose not to get the tomato. .....there's so much more to this story.

.......it's only interesting in the correct context....or if you already know it.
 
I remember the night that Gus Communtzi went off on my roommate. One day my roommate, Terry, and I were having dinner at Communtzi', this would have been around '63-'65. Terry decides to have a hamburger...back then I'm guessing it was 35 cents...he then decides he wants to make it a cheeseburger and asks the waitress how much that would cost. She tells him it will be an additional 25 cents. The roommate is like <<<WHAT>>> 25 cents for a piece of cheese? The waitress places the order and a few minutes later Gus Communtzis shows up at our booth. He's mad as hell and starts lecturing Terry on the cost of adding the cheese. He goes on and on about the prep time, the cost of the cheese and the extra overhead involved in adding the thin little slice. You have to remember that back then we were living on a $1 a day food budget so that slice of cheese took a big chunk out of it. Right after, over the years we got a laugh out of the incident, quite comical, but Gus blew his top.

What was the name of where bar on high street that used to have the mechanical bull?
 
The window at Redbeards lower Sunnyside, the darts and pizza at Redbears when they moved to the high end of Sunnyside. The Blue Tic in the Lair. Houses on Falling Run Road. Casual sex without the threat of AIDS. All night studying in the Lair during finals.
 
Remember the Caboose house off Falling Run Road? Does anybody remember the bands Jubal and Copperlake from the 70's? The hissing cockroaches in the basement of Deahl Hall? The rat labs under the old football stadium bridge? The sand greens on the old golf course behind the coliseum? The Frisbee Dog Totie? The fat guy who danced to YMCA at the basketball games? Uncle Sam on stilts with red baby shoes at the Alumni Parade? Capri Pizza? Carlyle Hall? Frugal McDoogle? Great memories in this thread. So much wasted youth!
 
Remember the Caboose house off Falling Run Road? Does anybody remember the bands Jubal and Copperlake from the 70's? The hissing cockroaches in the basement of Deahl Hall? The rat labs under the old football stadium bridge? The sand greens on the old golf course behind the coliseum? The Frisbee Dog Totie? The fat guy who danced to YMCA at the basketball games? Uncle Sam on stilts with red baby shoes at the Alumni Parade? Capri Pizza? Carlyle Hall? Frugal McDoogle? Great memories in this thread. So much wasted youth!

From your screen name, I thought you might be a pilot. I’ve been working on a project this week, examining some satellite photos in southern WV, and noted the small community of “Skygusty”. Learn something new every day.
 
From your screen name, I thought you might be a pilot. I’ve been working on a project this week, examining some satellite photos in southern WV, and noted the small community of “Skygusty”. Learn something new every day.
Yep a tiny little coal town with a name that doesn't reflect the town much at all. Basically a railroad track and a few houses crammed between the road and the mountain. Sounds like a good description of the weather in late fall. I didn't grow up there, just loved the name.
 
Yep a tiny little coal town with a name that doesn't reflect the town much at all. Basically a railroad track and a few houses crammed between the road and the mountain. Sounds like a good description of the weather in late fall. I didn't grow up there, just loved the name.
Sounds like about 80% of Southern WV.
 
ADVERTISEMENT