Monday, March 30, 2009

Consumer City

OCThen reader, Donald Wallace, shares his memories of living in Santa Ana, back when Knott's Berry Farm was still free...

I grew up in Santa Ana, When Knott's Berry Farm was free to go to and The Aligator Farm and some large Crystal/ Glass museum was there. Movieland Wax Museum and Cars of the Stars/ Planes of Fame were awesome. Lived close to 17'th Street and Grand Ave. where Gemco and Zodys were on opposit corners. There was a TIC-TOC market by our house thet I used to ride my bike to for candy, All 4 corners had gas stations. ABC was rthe market my Mom shopped at, And evety Friday we went to Consumer city and ordered burgers at BURGER CHEF out at the ens of the parking lot. I remember when they tore down the Orange Groves to build Gemco, Lots of more memories, But this is plenty
He mentions, "Consumer city". I'm just curious if anyone knows what that was, or where it was.

There was a reference to Consumer City in a comment here on OCThen on a different article entitled, "A Kid Growing Up in Santa Ana and Garden Grove"...
Wow, what memories of the Mc Fadden, Newhope, First street areas! Besides Red Ranch and ABC market does anyone remember Consumer City and The Potato Bin on First St? My sister recalls the cars (hot rods)from The Munsters TV show making an appearance at Consumer City!

9 comments:

  1. Consumer City was a department store at 2025 W. 1st St., in Santa Ana. From what I can tell, it seems a little like a Fedco without a grocery section. Or maybe a little Sears-ish. It opened in Fall 1957. They ran into financial troubled in the late 1960s and eventually filed for bankruptcy. Looks like they held on through Christmas of 1968, but that was about it. There was an "assignee's sale" in Feb. 1960. Whatever stock and fixtures remained were auctioned off in May, and a CHOC thrift shop opened in the building later that year.

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  2. "It opened in Fall 1957. They ran into financial troubled in the late 1960s and eventually filed for bankruptcy. Looks like they held on through Christmas of 1968, but that was about it. There was an "assignee's sale" in Feb. 1960. Whatever stock and fixtures remained were auctioned off in May,..."
    ***********************************

    I think that "assignee's sale" had to of taken place in February 1969, not 1960. Chris Jepsen knows everything about Orange County history, he knows all that stuff about Consumer City because he actually was there for the final auction.

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  3. Yes, 1969, not 1960. Stupid typo. Anyway, thanks for being a smart aleck. :-)

    I don't know everything about local history -- I just know where to FIND a lot of it.

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  4. I was Seven years old in 1966. I went to Hazard elementary

    We often shopped at ABC & Consumer city! the Burger chef, Ed Tunks,
    the Mc Donalds on 5st
    Griffin Hardware etc etc etc

    Man what a great Time to be a Kid We used to go to Disneyland on our Sting rays
    I remember my Green '64 like it was yesterday

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  5. When my wife and I first were married (circa 1961) we didn't have a TV. We shopped at the ABC store on West First St. in Santa Ana. I think the TV cost $179.95, it was an old black and white and we wanted in the worst way. I told the salesman we would buy it if he would throw in the the stand. He said he didn't do busines that way, I said OK, and my wife and I turned around and started to walk out. We were almost out of the store. The salesman stopped us and said will you buy the TV if I throw in the stand? I said yes. We has a deal. Best TV I ever had until color sets came along. To bad ABC went out of business.

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  6. WoW i grew up near that area off of Newhope and 17th by Sparkletts. My first guitar came from ABC got it for Xmas 1963. We would always go to Consumer City and then hit Burger Chef I still can visulize that sign. We always went shopping in downtown Santa Ana at the Pennys there and all the small bargin bin shops. Someone mentioned Griffin Hardware remember Steve? I believe he was the owner.So many great memories of that area Reds Ranch Market, the Pirate's cove,Cal-Va dairy and HEY lets not forget the CHEE-CHEE club!! LOL,, Wayne Hartel

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  7. My parents used to shop at both ABC and ConSumer City all the time. Chee Chee Club Woo Hoo! In 1984 I got a job at CHOC Thrift Store and ended up there for 20 years (though the main office and me moved to Santa Fe Springs in the 90's. Who knew in 62 - 63 that I'd work there so long.

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  8. WOW!!! I remember all of these places!! Born in 58, I grew up on 5th st. and Figueroa, which was a block east of Harbor blvd. I went to Russell elementary school, K-5th grade. I also remember a store called Crown, which was south on Harbor, but I don't remember the cross street. All these posts brought back great memories!! Anyone remember White Front stores??

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  9. Oh yes, I remember ABC. I worked there for two days before quitting when I was 15. Cal-VA Dairy, Reds Ranch Market (corn field next to parking lot), Zody's. U-Totem (I think that is what is whas called). Remember collecting coke bottles to turn them in for another coke. It was a big deal to go to the store for a Coke! Anyone remember the trampolines on 17th Street or the horse stables on 1st Street?

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