XL used to be a combination gas station and laundromat. The right side of the building was the laundromat, with a row of industrial dryers and twelve washers back to back. My parents came here when they were first married, and my dad remembers bringing massive loads (no pun intended) of diapers when my brother and I were babies.
The building is on the edge of a residential neighborhood, across the street from the Randolph branch of the library. My dad would pay fifty cents per washer, then spend hours reading while the clothes churned.
- - -
Speaking of libraries, one of my childhood favorites was the Highland branch.
I loved storytime with Miss Caroline, who I still see around town, and who still remembers me. I loved that it was a two-level library, with stairs leading up to the fiction section in a loft.
Unfortuantely, the floods in May 2011 caused a lot of damage to this location, and there are currently no plans to reopen.
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I hate to make Memphis seem like a town that discourages reading, but it sure seems that way after Bookstar was closed in January 2011. The bookstore, located just a few blocks from the Highland library, was housed in an old movie theater. The owners kept the old architecture intact, using the ticket taker's window for displays.
The landlord of the location was insistent on raising rent, despite the economy. Bookstar, a branch of Barnes and Noble, gave up the lease and left the area without
a refuge for bookworms, unless you're a student using the nearby university
library and bookstore.
Clearly, the landlord made a good choice when
insisting the property would rent quickly.
- - -
And finally...
If you can't make it selling fried chicken in Memphis, you can't make it anywhere.
Shame about the bookstore. I bet it was really cool.
ReplyDeleteAh, Mrs Winner's... childhood memories. We used to get so excited about their cinnamon rolls.
ReplyDeleteThis is sooooo sad to see. I get sad when places close down too.
ReplyDeleteAlex - It was my favorite bookstore. I browsed there at LEAST once a week. Coolest bathrooms, too - there were websites dedicated to them.
ReplyDeleteKatie - I didn't discover Mrs Winner's until 3 or 4 years ago, and then I was ashamed I had missed out on such goodness for so long, and now always will.
Victoria - I know! It's creepy to see so many deserted storefronts. Land is STILL being cleared for new strip malls, for some reason. Gross.
How depressing. So many great places gone.
ReplyDeleteIt really is depressing, Stephanie. The worst part is, now I'm noticing more and more empty buildings when I go out.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I always hate to see things close down, but I'm fascinated with the empty buildings. We have warehouses and office buildings close to our house and I'm dying to go inside. I'm weird though :) That bookstore sounded amazing. Perhaps when the economy gets better, something equally cool will open there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shereen! I like exploring abandoned buildings too, as long as I can see what I might be stepping on or what might be coming for me!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Winner's has gone out of business completely! Every branch in Atlanta has closed down, too. Nuuuuuu.
ReplyDelete