Meijer vs. Walmart!

I went on vacation, and I finally got a chance to see Meijer stores and other Wal-Marts. So, what was the prognosis?

First, let's go over a few things. I was spoiled by size by my local Walmart: 254,000 is huge, and I'll rarely get more than that.

I visited two Meijers and one Walmart Supercenter (in Marquette, MI)

The first Meijer I visited was north of Ann Arbor (en route to Flint, I believe) and was very dated. Signage was all in teal and had early-90s-type italic fonts. There were no drop ceilings, but it was still low. There wasn't even alcove shops in front, just a large window. It was the type of store that almost felt like a craft store, but the 1990s look was just enough for me to think "this needs a renovation" rather than "I wouldn't be surprised if I saw a Lisa Frank notebook around here somewhere" or "why don't they stock Nintendo 64?"

Photos coming soon.

The second Meijer I saw was much more akin to an actual hypermarket. It had alcove shops, higher ceilings, and more. It had towels and more. Unfortunately, I couldn't check the departments and Made in Whatever as well as Kmart. I do, however, have a directory.



I was disappointed that the "restaurant" was only a Starbucks Coffee, but they did have a barbershop, an actual butcher, a substantial produce section, and non-food dry goods.

The Wal-Mart Supercenter (it was branded as "Walmart", but a "Wal-Mart Supercenter" labelscar was visible) in Marquette was much better than the local one, despite being smaller. It too was an expanded Wal-Mart, and had a McDonald's (instead of a Subway), a pharmacy as an alcove shop, a portrait studio, and even an arcade. The arcade, sadly, was just a bunch of animal crane games and one of those "bubble of plastic" things. Said Wal-Mart also had some gourmet cheeses.

Finally, for the sake of completeness, the College Station Walmart directory, showing us that bigger isn't necessarily better.


Leave comments, ask questions. And another blog post will follow by tomorrow.

Sgt. Pepperoni's Pizza

This is a restaurant I visited in January 2007 but it is sadly gone now (as of early 2010). The name is derived from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and like the album, it was pretty good. There are other Sgt. Pepperoni's in the USA, but they aren't related. Anyway, the place had good pizza rolls, arcade games (I think? There was definitely another room), and ceilings out of another era.

It was a pit stop after driving on a long road in the county that stretched 32 miles, starting as a hilly rural road, crossing a railroad, becoming an urban four-lane road, crossing the highway, before doubling back on itself, crossing the highway and the railroad again, before going through cotton fields and ending at Texas 105.

That's about where Sgt. Pepperoni's was.

Here is the menu:

What? No anchovies?


So is the pizza man frowning? Or is that just his chin?
update Nov '13: cleaning up

Today's TWR Post, Brought to You By...

The Old San Francisco Steakhouse, once with several locations in Texas, has been reduced to just one in San Antonio (the Old San Francisco) distributed a map of Houston in the 1980s. While you cannot get an ice cream sundae for free or visit the restaurant in Houston, you can view this map.


Sorry for the slight distortion.




Wow. You can see how the Galleria and Memorial City Mall have grown since their early 1980s incarnations (the Memorial City Mall anchors at this time were Sears, Montgomery Ward, Lord & Taylor, and Foley's) but sadly, both the MKT railroad (paralleling I-10) and the Old San Francisco Steakhouse are completely gone.




Nothing to see here, with the minor exception of Westwood Mall and Sharpstown Center. Westwood is now an office complex, and Sharpstown is in bad shape, with an upcoming remodel plan to make it Hispanic-oriented.





If you squint on Northwest Mall, you'll see the script "Foley's" written. A nice touch (by the way, the original map was a bit darker and higher-res than this scan, but not too much). Also note Hanna-Barbera Land and Greenspoint Mall.





Sadly, the 70s looking Holiday Inn is still there though sources indicate it recently traded hands to Crowne Plaza (another Holiday Inn brand). Astroworld is NOT there, sadly, not under ANY name.



Gussie who?



I've neither driven through Washburn Tunnel or visited Gulfgate Center. Well, I will never be able to do the latter.


The ""sunken subdivision" is just east of here.




A steakhouse with the 1800s equivalents of strippers? What were those "saloon women" called anyway?

Anyway, that was the Houston map that I've been wanting to scan since around October (literally). For more vintage Houston, check out the HAIF's "Historic Houston". While not the foremost place for Houston history, there are many vignettes and stories not found in other, likely more comprehensive websites. Or download Google Earth and drag the time slider back to 1978.

And oh, on This Is Why You're Fat they featured the McDonald's Holiday Pie (née the Custard Pie). I had it in 2002, but I don't think I can get it locally. :(

Deliciously unhealthy-looking, isn't it?

TOMORROW: We wrap up 2009 by comparing it to 2008, 2006, 2004, and 1999. Predictions, resolutions, fireworks, and lots of booze (kidding) will follow.