Tuesday, April 3, 2012
End of an era
The announcement this past weekend that the original location of Valentino's pizzeria is to be demolished was greeted with a certain amount of melancholy by folks of my generation. It marks the end of an era. Everyone who lived in Lincoln during its heyday has fond memories of this most venerable institution. It was the site of my first date with Tonja, in 1969. Actually, it was a double date with my brother and his girlfriend: I wasn't old enough to drive. Like other great places (Arthur Bryant's at 17th and Brooklyn comes to mind, and the Runza, at Park Blvd. and Hill St.), there just is no way to improve on the original. Tonja saved this receipt from our junior year in high school, about a year after that first date, and pasted in a scrapbook. Notice that a large pepperoni was $2.25!
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14 comments:
And they misspelled your name.....
5:46,
Price has changed, misspelling hasn't!
Awesome post, that is really cool. You must have made a big impression on Tonja for her to keep the receipt.
Wow, are they moving or are they closing? Had it not been for Valentinos or Runza, I might not have left school a blimp and it would have only taken half the time to get ready to start testing for departments lol. Still...great times. God I feel old now.
I remember having to wait and wait and wait until a table opened when going to Valentino's as a kid! Sitting in the church pews in the waiting area at the 70th and Van Dorn Valentino's and having to smell the pizza; seemed like we would never get a table!
Kevin G.,
Building new on the spot and reopening.
Sad to see another landmark go. I'll miss it. Remember Ken Eddy's, the Patio, Circle drive-in and how about the Starview? This all makes me feel SO OLD!!
Disagree on your "heyday" characterization. Right now is Lincoln's heyday!
10:16,
I was referring to the heyday of the original Valentino's--not to Lincoln. I see that you could read it either way.
Can you imagine having office space above the Valentinos. You will come to work hungry, be hungry all day long, and leave hungry! That's cruel and unusual punishment. Hope a weight watchers office don't go in there.
Personally, I think that Lincoln's heyday was, in the 50s and 60s. Ahh, Ken Eddy's Big Twin Boy burgers...mmmmmmm.
I never understood the fascination with Val's Pizza. I was more into their all you can eat buffets. But I think that came much later.
Gun Nut
Pizza is good.
ARRRRG, I've never seen corn on a pizza before...
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