The Five & Dime Antique Mall in Bakersfield, California, is filled with retro treasures. But for those who want to experience the past firsthand, the store also offers a piece of living history: the last operational Woolworth’s lunch counter.
By the end of the 20th century, Woolworth’s was struggling to compete with other retailers, and in 1997, it closed its last American store. Although the luncheonette at the Bakersfield Five & Dime is no longer officially owned by the company, it’s almost exactly as Woolworth’s left it. With its vinyl stools, vintage signs, and formica countertop, the luncheonette is the last of its kind: a fully operational portal to the past where you can still enjoy a burger and a shake before diving back into bargain-hunting.
ht/ fdr in hell
Ahhhh—that’s worth a trip to Bakersfield…
^^^
I can see you’ve never been to Bakersfield.
If they move that antique mall out of Californicate & not to another state controlled by Progs, then I’ll gladly go. I’ll not allow the state tourist & sales taxes I’d pay to be stolen & stuffed into the Prog Politicians pockets.
Yes it does look like a great place though.
No thanks. It’s in commiefornia.
I recall eating lunch at the Woolworth on Queen St. in Martinsburg, WV with my Grandma after a morning of shopping.
It also features the four original 1960 sit-in protesters, but you’d better hurry is you want to see them. Those guys are getting pretty old.
🙂
There is a retro lunch counter in that style still functioning at the intersection of rts 17 and 301 in Port Royal, VA.
Hornes Diner. http://hornesva.com/
Americana as you remember it.
Been to Bakersfield many times the last 60 years. Went for the “Bakersfield Boys” – Merle, merle + Buck. we watched Budk + the Buckaroos every week when I was a kid (I was not always old).
Never herd of this place; but I was “Honky Tonkin” not shopping.
I really miss “the Boys”!
@There Be Dragons Here
I live in CA. I know what Bakersfield is like. Still worth a trip to revisit a working Woolworth’s counter.
My grandma worked the Woolworths counter in Queens. She would serve us grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes.
@PHenry ~ been to Horne’s several times … heck, most of Rt. 17 brings back old memories
Woolworth’s and Newberry’s when American towns were still civilized and products were affordable and USA made. Ideal places to Christmas shop for kids with dimes and nickles, not dollars.
We had a Woolworth’s with a lunch counter in my little town when I was growing up. We also had a S.S. Kresge’s with a lunch counter. They were the predecessor of Kmart. At at both many times as a kid. Good milkshakes.
We had both a Woolco and a Woolworth’s in the town where I grew up. I liked Woolworth’s better as they seem to have a better toy selection and for a young boy that was the most important thing when choosing a favorite store. And yes, they had the soda shop/lunch counter and it was my favorite place to get a sandwich. I miss stores like that.
Our Woolworth’s in my home town had terrific fries. Crispy on the outside, pillow soft and HOT on the inside. YUM.
Downtown Alexandria LA still has a Drugstore with the still operating lunch counter that was Woolworth’s until it closed.
To me it harkens to the day when the difference between the political parties were minimal.
No trip to Bakersfield is complete with out a visit to the Buck Owens Crystal Palace.
Here’s a nice video of Buck and Merle talking about Bakersfield and the Bakersfield sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8r3xf2llj8
“When we used to be America.”
The downtown Woolie’s had excellent fresh strawberry pie and real fish sandwiches. None of that McD’s pressed food type substance. The best thing was the massive craft and fabric department in the basement. In high school I worked at the Roses’s lunch counter. Wood floors, ceiling fans, fried chicken and warm banana pudding on Saturday’s.
The Bon Marche, Rhodes, Fredrick & Nelson, Meyer&Frank, Sears, Montgomery Ward all had coffee shop/lunch counters when I was young.
There Be Dragons Here
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The central valley is all conservative Puff. Just don’t venture to where the sand meets the sea.
The one in Portland, ME had the best milkshakes in town when we were kids. Then they moved to the new Mall and it was a great place to go for an inexpensive decent lunch.
Always loved punching the balloon to see how much discount you’d get on the milkshake!
My mom operated the Woolie’s counter in Laural Maryland the day George Wallace was shot outside her store.