Man, everywhere you look, things are changing in our area. A lot of the stores we once knew are gone. I was never a big Kmart shopper, but when I was a little girl, my dad often went. Saturday mornings, we would head into Kmart to grab a few things. Do you guys remember when the food court was attached!? I vaguely remember it but know sometimes we would go over and sit at the tables. Dad never let us leave there without getting a slushie and soft pretzel. There was nothing like walking into Kmart, knowing you were coming out with a snack. Now, we have Hobby Lobby which is awesome! If they just had a slushie and pretzel bar as we left, now that would be nostalgic.
Country Cupboard closed? Come on now. That place was a staple. I loved their buffet! There was nothing like going there with your fat pants on, ready to indulge. It was like a race you prepared for all day. Not eating much, so you went there with a big appetite, ready to indulge in some amazing food. I loved their pumpkin muffins, baked corn, mac n’ cheese, and fried chicken. Plus, the salad bar was top-notch with the real bacon they had to top on your salad. My kids would later go out to the store with their wooden nickel given to us by the waitress and could go get some penny candy with it. Kids won’t remember this anymore, and that makes me sad.
Can we talk about the mall!? For real. The memories there as a kid. The memories as a teenager. The memories with my own kids. I walked the halls of that mall with my Grammy Perry for years and years. Pap would sit on the bench for hours watching folks walk by as Gram and I would shop our hearts out. We loved Value City and the Hallmark Store; they were our favorite stores. JCPenney is a place where Mom and Dad took us for new shoes. We would get new shoes, then go to dinner as a family at Dino’s inside the mall or Pizza Hut on the golden strip. (Hey, at least Pizza Hut is still surviving!)
I also knew JCPenney’s dressing rooms really well. We not only got new shoes at JCPenney, but Mom would buy my brother and me new clothes from there. Luke was easy-going and younger, so whatever Mom picked out, he didn’t have much to say. Then there was me — a feisty little firecracker. (Hey, I have one of them now too. Eight years old and about 4 ft. tall.) Let’s just say my mom and I in no way had the same fashion. She loved the cute frilly ruffle crap with the big shoulder pad stuff. I, on the other hand, did not. She would make me try this stuff on, and I would fight it. Needless to say, the JCPenney changing room was my butt whoopin’ center. Even if we weren’t trying on clothes, I knew I had crossed the line when she said let’s go to the changing rooms. *enter the laughing emoji here* Ah yes. Good ole JCPenney. Where my momma set my booty straight. Years later, when I was much older and became a momma myself, Mom and I would go to the mall together and park outside JCPenney. I would tease her, saying, “let’s hit up the changing rooms for old times’ sake,” and we would just crack up about it. I told her someday that the famous JCPenney butt-whooping would end up in the Webb. And here we are!
The mall had so many good memories. My husband, who was once my boyfriend for five years, walked around holding hands on Friday nights. My son Tyler’s first restaurant was Friendly’s at only a week old. There he sat in his baby seat next to me in the booth. In front of me sat a big old Reese’s sundae after a delicious BBQ chicken sandwich. A big sundae for a new mom is just what the doctor ordered. I was exhausted.
I love some sour cream and onion Auntie Anne’s pretzels with a fresh lemonade. They better relocate; I don’t know what I’d do. There and Maurice’s are my two favorite mall spots, which surprisingly are both still there even though the mall will never be the same.
Does anyone remember Heavenly Pasteria in downtown Williamsport? Oh my goodness, we ate there so often with Mom and Dad. My dad especially loved it there, and he really loved the garlic knots. The owner was such a sweet Italian man, and we got to know him after going pretty often on the weekends.
Places like this I miss. The places that were connected with memories. But hey, things change. People change. But all I have to say, after losing all these good places and feeling bummed about it, at least we got a TEXAS ROADHOUSE now, baby! Yee-haw!!
Homemade Pretzels with Cheese Sauce
Ingredients:
• Can of refrigerated biscuit dough
• 4 cups water
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg, beaten
• Coarse salt
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 cup milk
• 2 -1/2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch cayenne pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°. Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray.
To make the pretzels: Quarter each biscuit, then roll each piece into a ball. Using a knife, carve an X into each ball. In a medium saucepan, combine water and baking soda. Bring to boil then reduce to a simmer. Add balls and cook for 30 seconds. (The dough will float to top.) Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to baking sheet, making sure the pretzels aren’t touching. (They will look like a hot mess, but look glorious when they come out of the oven. Trust me.) Brush beaten egg over each pretzel, then sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Meanwhile, make cheese sauce: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in milk and bring to a simmer. When milk begins to thicken, stir in cheese, whisking constantly until sauce is smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Serve with the pretzels.
