(02-15-2020 09:22 PM)Purple Wrote:  In defense of a Harrisonburg icon, I have to point out that that's just cat food in that chili, not poop. A little Nine Lives never hurt anybody!

It’ll grow hair on your chest, right?

Another Harrisonburg “icon” closed this week too... Redfront grocery store.
The times they be a-changin’.

(02-15-2020 09:54 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(02-15-2020 09:22 PM)Purple Wrote:  In defense of a Harrisonburg icon, I have to point out that that's just cat food in that chili, not poop. A little Nine Lives never hurt anybody!

It’ll grow hair on your chest, right?

It'll grow hair on your teeth!

(02-15-2020 09:54 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(02-15-2020 09:22 PM)Purple Wrote:  In defense of a Harrisonburg icon, I have to point out that that's just cat food in that chili, not poop. A little Nine Lives never hurt anybody!

It’ll grow hair on your chest, right?

Another Harrisonburg “icon” closed this week too... Redfront grocery store.
The times they be a-changin’.

From what I've heard from friends in the Burg Redfront wasn't doing so well for a long time. I'm more surprised it lasted as long as it did considering how poorly it was being kept up.

(02-15-2020 10:34 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(02-15-2020 09:54 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(02-15-2020 09:22 PM)Purple Wrote:  In defense of a Harrisonburg icon, I have to point out that that's just cat food in that chili, not poop. A little Nine Lives never hurt anybody!

It’ll grow hair on your chest, right?

Another Harrisonburg “icon” closed this week too... Redfront grocery store.
The times they be a-changin’.

From what I've heard from friends in the Burg Redfront wasn't doing so well for a long time. I'm more surprised it lasted as long as it did considering how poorly it was being kept up.

Yes. The original owners retired, and sold the grocery store, but it was already in a losing situation and couldn’t compete against the national chains in Harrisonburg. 3 Walmarts, Costco, an established Kroger in a good location, Martins, god knows how many Food Lions and an Aldi. I’m surprised Red Front lasted as long as it did. Still, it’s closing marks the end of another era in Harrisonburg’s history of development.

One night, back in my college days, my buddy and I decided to go to that famous bar/dive out in the country. It was east of Troy NY and was literally located right on the state border with Vermont. I wish I could remember the name, it was something like The Five Flies or similar. What made this place unique is that at the time you had to be 21 to drink in Vermont, but only 18 in NY. The place had the dance floor in Vermont and the bar and drinking area in NY. So when you got tired of dancing you walked across the border and into the bar and got yourself a beer. Pretty ingenious I thought. As you can imagine it was loaded with all those hot college gals from Vermont and nearby Massachusetts. At least that was what we had hoped for when we headed out that night. Winter dark country highway/roads made the trip perilous back in the day when there was snow and ice on these roads until May. So with that in mind I limited myself to two beers while my buddy drank prodigious amounts to make up for it. Where the hell were all those hot girls from all those snobby Vermont/Mass colleges, well they were gobbled up by those snobby frat guys from all those same places. Us State College kind of guys were bottom feeders to them. That added to my buddy's drinking as it was turning into a night of grousing and grumbling and we headed back after 2 am or so.

On the way back, Reb, my buddy's nickname, how he got that name coming from Schoharie County, I never knew. Anyway, Reb said: "I'm hungry!! I got to eat something. When we hit Troy, let's stop and get some Charlie's Hot Dogs, they don't close until 4". So there we are at Charlies and we each order 2 with the famous chili stuff loaded on top. By the time I finished mine, I am calculating if I am going to be sick. Meanwhile, Reb who is loaded in more ways than one, announces that he is going to get a couple more. Now Reb is tilting as he walks/staggers up to the counter and bellows: GIVE ME 2 MORE CHARLIE HOT DOGS!!! I am thinking this isn't good. But wait it continues 2 at a time until he consumes 8 CHARLIE'S. From there back to Albany I kept saying: Reb, don't get sick, if you get sick tell me and I will pull over. Reb, this is my MOM's car! Reb! Reb!

I look over and he was asleep.

I love Charlie's and I love Jess's

http://www.hotdogcharlies.com/troy-location.html

(02-16-2020 08:48 AM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  One night, back in my college days, my buddy and I decided to go to that famous bar/dive out in the country. It was east of Troy NY and was literally located right on the state border with Vermont. I wish I could remember the name, it was something like The Five Flies or similar. What made this place unique is that at the time you had to be 21 to drink in Vermont, but only 18 in NY. The place had the dance floor in Vermont and the bar and drinking area in NY. So when you got tired of dancing you walked across the border and into the bar and got yourself a beer. Pretty ingenious I thought. As you can imagine it was loaded with all those hot college gals from Vermont and nearby Massachusetts. At least that was what we had hoped for when we headed out that night. Winter dark country highway/roads made the trip perilous back in the day when there was snow and ice on these roads until May. So with that in mind I limited myself to two beers while my buddy drank prodigious amounts to make up for it. Where the hell were all those hot girls from all those snobby Vermont/Mass colleges, well they were gobbled up by those snobby frat guys from all those same places. Us State College kind of guys were bottom feeders to them. That added to my buddy's drinking as it was turning into a night of grousing and grumbling and we headed back after 2 am or so.

On the way back, Reb, my buddy's nickname, how he got that name coming from Schoharie County, I never knew. Anyway, Reb said: "I'm hungry!! I got to eat something. When we hit Troy, let's stop and get some Charlie's Hot Dogs, they don't close until 4". So there we are at Charlies and we each order 2 with the famous chili stuff loaded on top. By the time I finished mine, I am calculating if I am going to be sick. Meanwhile, Reb who is loaded in more ways than one, announces that he is going to get a couple more. Now Reb is tilting as he walks/staggers up to the counter and bellows: GIVE ME 2 MORE CHARLIE HOT DOGS!!! I am thinking this isn't good. But wait it continues 2 at a time until he consumes 8 CHARLIE'S. From there back to Albany I kept saying: Reb, don't get sick, if you get sick tell me and I will pull over. Reb, this is my MOM's car! Reb! Reb!

I look over and he was asleep.

I love Charlie's and I love Jess's

http://www.hotdogcharlies.com/troy-location.html

Glad that Reb didn't get sick in your mom's car, but i bet he paid for eating those 8 CHARLIE'S dogs the next morning.

ohh man hadn't heard about redfront. That place is walkable for me, but it was always the backup grocery store. Shame to hear it closed.

(02-15-2020 10:11 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(02-15-2020 09:54 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(02-15-2020 09:22 PM)Purple Wrote:  In defense of a Harrisonburg icon, I have to point out that that's just cat food in that chili, not poop. A little Nine Lives never hurt anybody!

It’ll grow hair on your chest, right?

It'll grow hair on your teeth!

As someone who worked in meat processing for 14 years and now works for a media company that covers the pet food manufacturing and poultry industries, I can assure you that cat food is too expensive to use in hot dog chili. Mechanically separated meat is cheaper and has the meat flavor and lack of texture one experiences in cheap hot dog chili. You may not be able to make "a silk purse from a sow's ear", but you can make scrapple, or as it is called here in NC, Livermush.
Bon Apetit.

PS: What is put in the chili is no worse than what they make those hot dogs from. I still love both the chili and the dogs.

Damn. Jess' closed?

(02-16-2020 10:48 AM)NC Tribe Wrote:  

(02-16-2020 08:48 AM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  One night, back in my college days, my buddy and I decided to go to that famous bar/dive out in the country. It was east of Troy NY and was literally located right on the state border with Vermont. I wish I could remember the name, it was something like The Five Flies or similar. What made this place unique is that at the time you had to be 21 to drink in Vermont, but only 18 in NY. The place had the dance floor in Vermont and the bar and drinking area in NY. So when you got tired of dancing you walked across the border and into the bar and got yourself a beer. Pretty ingenious I thought. As you can imagine it was loaded with all those hot college gals from Vermont and nearby Massachusetts. At least that was what we had hoped for when we headed out that night. Winter dark country highway/roads made the trip perilous back in the day when there was snow and ice on these roads until May. So with that in mind I limited myself to two beers while my buddy drank prodigious amounts to make up for it. Where the hell were all those hot girls from all those snobby Vermont/Mass colleges, well they were gobbled up by those snobby frat guys from all those same places. Us State College kind of guys were bottom feeders to them. That added to my buddy's drinking as it was turning into a night of grousing and grumbling and we headed back after 2 am or so.

On the way back, Reb, my buddy's nickname, how he got that name coming from Schoharie County, I never knew. Anyway, Reb said: "I'm hungry!! I got to eat something. When we hit Troy, let's stop and get some Charlie's Hot Dogs, they don't close until 4". So there we are at Charlies and we each order 2 with the famous chili stuff loaded on top. By the time I finished mine, I am calculating if I am going to be sick. Meanwhile, Reb who is loaded in more ways than one, announces that he is going to get a couple more. Now Reb is tilting as he walks/staggers up to the counter and bellows: GIVE ME 2 MORE CHARLIE HOT DOGS!!! I am thinking this isn't good. But wait it continues 2 at a time until he consumes 8 CHARLIE'S. From there back to Albany I kept saying: Reb, don't get sick, if you get sick tell me and I will pull over. Reb, this is my MOM's car! Reb! Reb!

I look over and he was asleep.

I love Charlie's and I love Jess's

http://www.hotdogcharlies.com/troy-location.html

Glad that Reb didn't get sick in your mom's car, but i bet he paid for eating those 8 CHARLIE'S dogs the next morning.

He was OK, but it wasn't safe to light a match anywhere near him.

There was a story when I was in high school (during the Lincoln administration) of a guy well-known in the burg. He was a big dude and went into Jess's one night and ordered six hot dogs. Gus asked him how many he thought he could eat and the guy said 30. Gus challenged him and told him that if he could eat 30, he wouldn't have to pay for them. So, the guy started ordering, some with mustard and onions, some with chili, some with ketchup, and Gus kept bringing them. The guy ate all 30 and then ordered two more. Gus got pi$$ed off and threw the guy out. He went across the street to another hot dog joint and ordered two hot dogs to go. He took them across the street and ate them right outside the plate glass window which was right in front of Gus' grill. He stood there eating his hot dogs and staring at Gus, who was just a few feet away, tending the grill. The rumor was that Gus was madder than anyone had ever seen him, which is saying something since he was in a pretty foul mood most of the time.

Jess's dogs and a couple of longnecks. Hard to beat that!

(02-18-2020 10:28 PM)Purple Wrote:  There was a story when I was in high school (during the Lincoln administration) of a guy well-known in the burg. He was a big dude and went into Jess's one night and ordered six hot dogs. Gus asked him how many he thought he could eat and the guy said 30. Gus challenged him and told him that if he could eat 30, he wouldn't have to pay for them. So, the guy started ordering, some with mustard and onions, some with chili, some with ketchup, and Gus kept bringing them. The guy ate all 30 and then ordered two more. Gus got pi$$ed off and threw the guy out, who went across the street to another hot dog joint and ordered two hot dogs to go. He took them across the street and ate them right outside the plate glass window which was right in front of Gus' grill. He stood there eating his hot dogs and staring at Gus, who was just a few feet away, tending the grill. The rumor was that Gus was madder than anyone had ever seen him.

Jess's dogs and a couple of longnecks. Hard to beat that!

Okay! Now we're rolling. This thread needs more hot dog stories. Who's next?

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

Great thread! The original naughty receipt caper and Animal house-ish storytelling!

Anyone recall the name of the meat and three around the corner on the side street?
Best 4 bucks one could spend when one could afford it

(02-19-2020 07:30 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

I'm with you. It was a decent hot dog, but with a sharp aftertaste of heartburn & regret. Don't get me wrong I still did it... but only when I worked a few blocks from downtown. Now I much more prefer Jack Browns or Billy Jacks for my heartburn & regret.

(02-19-2020 07:30 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

You’re not alone in thinking that way. Soon it will take on mythic status, when all it ever was just a small town greasy-spoon that specialized in hot dogs.

(02-19-2020 07:30 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

I enjoyed the small town diner atmosphere just like I enjoy L&S Diner.

(02-19-2020 08:42 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(02-19-2020 07:30 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

You’re not alone in thinking that way. Soon it will take on mythic status, when all it ever was just a small town greasy-spoon that specialized in hot dogs.

It was a landmark. 5 generations of my family ate lunch a Jess'.

(02-19-2020 01:42 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-19-2020 08:42 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(02-19-2020 07:30 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

You’re not alone in thinking that way. Soon it will take on mythic status, when all it ever was just a small town greasy-spoon that specialized in hot dogs.

It was a landmark. 5 generations of my family ate lunch a Jess'.

Bingo. You didn’t go there because the food was great, or even that good. It was a local spot downtown when there was slim pickings. . You belly up to the bar with your family and friends and order a cheeseburger and a dog.

Then go watch Animal House or Jaws at the Downtown theatre

In the 70’s and 80’s it was like the SNL skit with Belushi and Aykroyd.
Cheeseburger cheeseburger, chip, Pepsi. (No coke)

(02-19-2020 01:22 PM)JMU83 Wrote:  

(02-19-2020 07:30 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for the place. Lot better spots for a quick meal. Maybe not in the 1980s, but in the early 2000s there definitely were.

I enjoyed the small town diner atmosphere just like I enjoy L&S Diner.

Its been a long while since I've been there but L&S made a great fried chicken back in the day.