Getting around town these last few months has been a tremendous joy seeing and trying out all the different choices we have as Ogdenites for dining, music, night life, shopping, recreations and on it goes. So often people say that there is not much here to do in this valley. But I have to disagree. Chances are people have not been aware of all the underground and sub culture sort of events that take place in all the nooks and cranny’s here in Ogden. It’s easy to see the obvious but it is the hid away events we are after as well. That is now the assignment given to me by STREET Magazine, to go out and about and discover and experience all the happenings around town, and report on it. Especially finding the out of the way places and Ma and Pa stores that perhaps our community is not aware of since it has not been reported very well so far. That’s our goal here at the Historic 25th Street Gazette, to bring awareness of all these treasures and places for our readers to experience. So that we can as a community, have choices and support all the wonderful offerings bestowed upon us. This last several weeks while preparing and gathering the research for this article has been the time of my life. I have the best job in town I think. My assignment is to go into all the fun places and seek out the best of the best. Such as dining, shopping, listening to great music and just observing the growth and changes and people who are the movers and shakers of the community. To follow both new and old. And there are many businesses, some family owned still, that have thrived throughout the decades. Not many but some such as JO Woody Printing, Les Olsen Office Machines, and the Gift House. Can you imagine a better assignment? I invite your input to this column through the months to come. You can contact us through our email or website: H25G@aol.com and our website www.Historic25thStreet.com. Let us know of the best hideaways and Ogden’s best hid secrets so we can share with everyone else.

The best accomplishment and pleasant surprise findings was to discover all the underground and local music, bands and musicians playing at several outlets here in town. By far two of the original promoters are Tommy Melorna from Kamikaze’s and Brad Wheeler of Beatniks whom have perhaps the best assortment, diversity and variety of local, regional and national bands traveling through Ogden. See our Live Music Calendar to check out the schedules of all the Blues acts playing at Beatniks and all the clubs here in Ogden. They both have a full line up on weekends but the difference is that on Tuesdays is the big night at Beatniks with National Blues acts while on Wednesdays is the bit night at Kamikaze’s. This is the PSN, Poor Students Night and gets a large crowd for discount pitchers but mostly for the local bands that play on this night. I’ve enjoyed many unique local bands on these nights such as SAM, Sand, Kristagong, Velvet Jones and many more. I’ve had the pleasure to listen to dozens of acts between the two outlets and many others too. I’m working my way down the Boulevard and around town as there are so many places to go still. Jordy’s has music almost every night including Sundays when most other clubs are closed. It is a lively and happening party on that night. Marlene and her partners from Jordy’s have worked hard at their night club to make it inviting and cleaned up after many years of decline before Marlene came into the club. All the club owners mentioned have worked hard to create an environment that is refreshing and comfortable. Esquire Club’s recent renovation was a nice addition to the infamous corner of Twenty-Fifth and Washington. After all it is the ultimate intersection of Ogden. I remember when that location was the trendiest clothing store in town, the Blue Door. And yes the door was blue. If you shopped at the Blue Door you were the coolest. The wonderful 70’s here in Ogden. Downtown was the best place in the 60’s and 70’s. I am so grateful that I grew up as a teen in those decades to experience downtown Ogden at a lively time. All the buildings were in tact and in use. To take a bus from Washington Terrace with my good friend David we would spend the entire day going all around the town. So many places to go: Competition, Buehlar Bingham, Nik Nak Shak, Fun Shop, Hobby Shop, Fred's Burger Chalet and Karmel Korn to mention just a few. And to mention the big stores like Fred M. Nye Co., B & B Clothiers, Jack Lyons, Tanners, Castletons, Buehlar Dunn & Branz and of course the Bon Marche at the end of the street. All this reminiscing. I’m sure many of our readers remember this with fondness. Going downtown for Christmas was just like you see in the movies on the AMC Channel. Santa’s ringing bells, hustle and bustle of busy shoppers and lots of packages to carry from shop to shop. Families and friends all gathered in town. All this ended as we all know with Mayor Dirk's Ogden Mall in the 70’s. One by one the small stores closed. Then the large ones next. Into a virtual ghost town for over a decade. But that is changing. Just look at all the great stores now located on downtown clustered around the queen of them all, the Egyptian Theater, which we almost lost believe it or not. Many have hung in there throughout the drought of the 80’s on Washington Blvd such as the Bookshelf who has been in their location for nearly 25 years when there was nobody else there. Capricorn's Lair also has thrived these days and has now expanded the gift shop into the space next door which was a pawn shop prior. It is tremendously fun to go in and get a latte at their espresso bar and shop and look at all these unique gift items. Even the blocks on throughout downtown are revitalizing. There is much more to go but it is at least moving in the right direction. Bigger buildings are in repair and probably the most noted is the former David Eccles Office Building which will now be the Crown Plaza Hotel. Such an exciting development with a restaurant and club to be inside as well. What a great use of a great building. Unfortunately the old J.C. Penney’s (and originally ZCMI) on 24th and Washington didn’t fare so well. This building went down for the controversial mall. Now a huge brick wall stands where the old building dating back to the turn of the century once stood. But we will not get into that subject now as so much has been written on it recently anyway. And besides we all know the story. Time to move on. During these Saturday escapades we would hang out with my cousin, Loretta who operated the elevators in the J.C. Penney 's department store. Yes, there was an elevator girl who announced each of the three floors while letting shoppers off. We would just ride up and down for hours. And that was pure enjoyment. Then we would go to Fred’s Burger Chalet during her lunch break, and you would order your lunch by a telephone that was at each booth. You could hear yourself order to the kitchen, it came over a loud speaker. What a novelty and what an adventure it was. Now we look at Ogden’s Berlin Wall or penitentiary as it appears and always has to me. And thankfully it is going down just like the original one did in Germany. Finally, and thankfully to all the ambitious and enterprising individuals who have invested their time, money and efforts to restore buildings and businesses in downtown Ogden, particularly on Washington Blvd and 25th street. It is coming back to life. And all along during the 80’s as the Historic 25th Street was developing the downtown dried to nothing. Now they are both revitalizing and again our children will be able to enjoy what a downtown is like rather then malls, strip malls, giant chains, franchises and corporate giants. This atmosphere exists more so everyday on 25th Street now. All this for our community to enjoy and partake. I urge you to take advantage of all the great things available to you: dining, shopping, night spots and live music, galleries and the entertainment offered right downtown at the wonderful Egyptian Theater, Beatniks, Kamikaze's or comedy at Wiseguys Comedy Shop where national acts travel through our town weekly. There are alot of choices. It is all for your enjoyment and I am happy to report that the options are numerous.

Steven Andrews can be reached by email at Streetmagazine@aol.com

February 2002

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