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Knott's Miniature Doll Museum and a Santa Ana Grocery Store

by Steve
Friday, July 06, 2007

Caydea, an OCThen reader, submitted a couple of questions for other readers. One involved the name of the grocery store located on 17th Street, just past Santa Clara St.

The other question was concerns the Miniature Doll Museum at Knott's Berry Farm. There was a wooden chain hanging from the ceiling made from a single piece of wood. She wanted to know what happened to that chain.

You can read her full post for the details...
I lived from 1953 to 1969 in Santa Ana. Graduated from Santa Ann High School in 1969. I went to Willard Junior High and Hoover Elementary School. Growing up I lived in three houses in Santa Ana. Two on Avalon St. off Santiago and then my folks third and last house was on Poinsettia about 4 blocks away, off Edgewood. From 1969-1974 I lived all over OC. Until I took off for good. In the mid 90's I had my folks join me where I landed, Charlotte NC. My last trip 2 years ago was to the other California to visit my step-son, he lives in SF. I have remained in Charlotte with my husband and our daughter and my Mother. We love Charlotte but Orange County holds such a warm place in my heart. We will be coming back that way next Spring. Does any one remember the Orange County Academic Decathlon?

I discovered this blog while trying to find the name of a grocery store in Santa Ana. My brother was no help! He didn't even seem interested. Since my Father's death my Mom and I spend many hours reminiscing. Our favorite ethnic restaurants Koo's Chinese Food on Main, La Fonda Mexican on Main too? Kono Hawaii the first time I was introduce to Yam noodles and Tofu in Sukiyaki. Back to my reason -the grocery store was on 17th Street on the right side of the street. It was just past Santa Clara Street. Many of the High School fellows worked at the grocery store when I was growing up. I think it might have closed in 70's and then it became a Discount Toy store. I remember my Mom had an account and she was billed for her groceries. You just went in and signed your name. Well if you can remember that would be great!

Reading the blog I have a question for those Knott's folks. In the 80's I brought my husband to see Knott's Berry Farm. We had Chicken, rhubarb, bread and butter pickles, and the best boysenberry jam, pie and syrup. My Dad loved that restaurant. Did I mention Biscuit oh my! While we are talkin food my first and last waitress job was Marie Calendars on Tustin 1969-1971. Back to my question there was an exhibit in the Miniature Doll Museum (that was amazing) from the ceiling they had strung chain links all carved from one piece of wood. We did have a picture and I will look it up. It was something to see and my husband does some amazing things in wood and he was very impressed. I wonder what happened to the chain.

I will prompt my Mom and see if she can add to any of the memories. They were well connected in OC. My Father was Principle of two schools, in Santa Ana Lincoln and Logan at the same time! That was back in the 50's.

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9 Comments:

  • Mott's Miniatures is long gone. They tried a couple locations outside KBF before closing their doors and eventually auctioning off much of the collection. I have no idea what happened to the wood chain, although I have seen others similar to it.

    OCAD is still going strong, as far as I know. I last heard something about it a year or two ago. (I was "art director" for our team in high school, long ago.)

    Sadly, the Kono Hawaii closed long ago, and was bulldozed a few years ago to make way for a Vietnamese church. I had hoped to talk the owners into letting me "uninstall" the tikis inside, but the wrecking ball beat me to it.

    BTW, the aforementioned Marie Calendars Restaurant on Tustin Ave was the first in the chain.

    CJ

    By Blogger Chris Jepsen, at July 07, 2007 11:00 PM  

  • I actually have two questions regarding restaurants. My family used to go to a Mexican restaurant that was just east of Main but I can't remember if it was on 1st, 4th or 17th. It was run by a family. The father usually sat at the register and would give us lollipops when we left. They had the best food. I remember this meatball soup. In fact I have only had a similar soup one other time and that was at a small Mexican restaurant in Venice. Anyway I would love to know the name of the restaurant. Also there was a smorsgabord and (i think) miniture golf restaurant near/across from Hart Park. Anyone know what I am talking about?

    By Anonymous Kathryn King, at July 19, 2007 10:14 PM  

  • Santa Clara and 17th Streets run the same direction....was there another cross street?

    By Anonymous Lynda, at September 08, 2007 2:15 PM  

  • First off, it is NOT Knott's Miniatures, it is Mott's Miniatures.

    After a change in management (ownership?) at Knott's following the death of Walter Knott, Knott's started changing from a family oriented theme park to something else I won't go in to here.

    Knott's started buying up all the privately owned shops and attractions and forcing out those who would not sell out. When they came to our door we said NO and apparently President Yoshikawa had never heard NO before and did't take kindly to it. We rejected their repeated offers as well as their "other" efforts we won't go in to here.

    After a few tries to re-open the museum (people came to see it but expected it to be free), we finally closed it for the last time and sold the collection at auction in Beverly Hills in 1992.

    However, our Miniature and Doll House store is still open... www.minishop.com
    2471 E. Orangethorpe Avenue
    Fullerton, CA 92831
    714-992-9063

    Our web site also has images of our museum collection and we sell a book with pictures and a history.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 26, 2007 12:25 PM  

  • I found you because I was searching for a website for Kono Hawaii Restaurant. My mom worked there for 21 years, and I worked there for 5 years from 1973 to 1978. I still keep in contact with many ex workers but I'm trying to find more. I have many memories, glad you liked the sukiyaki because I used to have to "prep" it in the kitchen and I still make it to this day. Linda Brokaw linda@bulen.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at October 20, 2007 10:00 AM  

  • The grocery store might have been
    Hill View Market!!! I used to shop there once and a while very cute store.. I hope this helps! I was wondering about the miniatures too
    thanks for asking now we both know.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at November 16, 2007 8:00 AM  

  • The market had to have been Michael's Market. It was on the corner of 17th and Lincoln near the railroad tracks. It became a toy store and is now a Home Town Buffet.It was my favorite market, tho small it had everything we needed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at February 18, 2008 3:23 PM  

  • I went to Hoover and Willard too, lived on Valencia, I probably went to school with you. It was Michael's Market, 17th and Lincoln, then a Toys R Us, now Home Town Buffet. The two boys next door to me were "box boys" there. Ann

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at March 06, 2008 10:34 AM  

  • About six years ago I went to Koos Chinese Restaurant. Obviously it's closed, but all the kitchen stuff was still in there though kinda rusty and worn out. I guess they use it as a meeting place or something.

    By Blogger P38DLightning, at April 07, 2008 4:52 AM  

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