tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post1817218673439975835..comments2024-03-21T01:17:34.038-05:00Comments on Pleasant Family Shopping: My Trip to the French Market.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-89642623262057013472017-06-26T11:08:53.520-05:002017-06-26T11:08:53.520-05:00I'd come home on Christmas leave from the Navy...I'd come home on Christmas leave from the Navy in '62 and the folks took me up there (we lived at 71st & Hardy - right across from what WAS Milburn JHS). Neat place, open, airy, and "inviting". A real shame to see it just sitting there... and now Metcalf South is gone. The icons of my youth gettihg torn asunder.T C Daileyhttp://www.daileyservices.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-1990428642837309082014-11-27T00:18:06.446-06:002014-11-27T00:18:06.446-06:00Great childhood memories here. I was born in 1956...Great childhood memories here. I was born in 1956 and looking at these photos has brought back some great memories for me.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12692170857496442623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-35329961960175244642014-06-29T00:13:53.328-05:002014-06-29T00:13:53.328-05:00Though I usually chime in about Springfield, MO, I...Though I usually chime in about Springfield, MO, I know this building as well. My stepmother grew up not far from it, just off 87th and Metcalf. I remember seeing this building over 30 years ago, on my first trip up, and thinking how neat it looked! I've driven past it countless times over the years. I did not know, until reading this article, about its original occupant, but it sounds like it was a fascinating place to shop. I don't think I was ever in the building; too bad, since it appears the structure will be coming down. I am definitely going to have to ask my stepmother about her memories of French Market; its existence would coincide with her teenage years. <br /><br />Metcalf Avenue was (still is!) home to some great mid-century structures, like the CVS you referenced (I still prefer Springfield's mid-century CVS with the folded-plate canopy that brought me to your blog to begin with). There was the great mid-century Glenwood Theater near this French Market/K-Mart) that too is sadly gone. At least I got to see a movie there once - Cloak and Dagger with Dabney Coleman!<br /><br />Thanks for the great little history of French Market!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794382516478990237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-2903862311788455962014-06-04T22:07:09.450-05:002014-06-04T22:07:09.450-05:00Lowe's and Home Depot rarely remodel than buil...Lowe's and Home Depot rarely remodel than build new, and they've torn down buildings (including Kmart buildings) that were far newer and better maintained.Pseudo3Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848368606946150471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-26539959301510192852014-06-03T17:46:47.375-05:002014-06-03T17:46:47.375-05:00Hi five! This is worth the wait, though I'm a ...Hi five! This is worth the wait, though I'm a bit confused/disappointed at why some of the pictures are so small. From the tiny map, it looks like the "Gifts" was actually several smaller stores. <br /><br />It's too bad in the even in the best of days, Kmart didn't go out and convert this to a Super Kmart...or if the French Market managed to remain open, even if the wonderfully kitschy "French" 1960s décor was progressively de-themed over the years.Pseudo3Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848368606946150471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-81911863162009788772014-06-02T07:54:39.960-05:002014-06-02T07:54:39.960-05:00Thank you for the fine memories. I was born in the...Thank you for the fine memories. I was born in the Kansas City area, and lived in Shawnee Mission until I left for college (1965 to 1983)(yes I am old). I remember shopping at French Market with my mother.Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10880916203103730085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-56480765945896626332014-05-30T19:15:01.667-05:002014-05-30T19:15:01.667-05:00Have you seen how Kmart (as opposed to Walmart) ca...Have you seen how Kmart (as opposed to Walmart) cares for the physical condition of their stores? 40+ years of that miserable treatment this building has endured, and is most likely beyond repair.Geno Washingtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-73024275951082109142014-05-30T17:23:22.192-05:002014-05-30T17:23:22.192-05:00The building has much history behind it. I have s...The building has much history behind it. I have seen pictures of it all over the internet. Why can't Lowe's just remodel the building and use it? Such a shame to tear it down.Cool4Christhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00460486941955456943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-67374619739907669082014-05-28T02:53:18.100-05:002014-05-28T02:53:18.100-05:00This post is just invaluable! My memories of FM ha...This post is just invaluable! My memories of FM have faded a little, so this is greatly appreciated. As a kid I didn't appreciate the all the design touches. But now, I must say that I am really impressed with details that went into the interior design. For memories: I seem to remember being fascinated with the conveyor system that sent groceries outside to be loaded into your car. I too was fascinated with the tank of lobsters. But less as food and more as aquatic life (I was a kid then). Also remember (maybe towards the end of FM) the "starving artist" paintings hung in the tower entrances and available for purchase. I seem to remember a lot of "black velvet" paintings. I was a regular customer of John's Barbershop at the north end of the building. Later, after he moved his barbershop to Ranchmart, the door to his old FM location was bricked over. <br />Again, thanks so very much for this wonderful post!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-39801448797396477402014-05-27T08:52:38.999-05:002014-05-27T08:52:38.999-05:00Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I recently m...Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I recently moved back to the Overland Park area after living in Southern California for the past 27 years. Every time I drive past the old French Market and Metcalf South locations I get a little depressed. I remember shopping at the French Market with my Mother. We would make a special trip there just for the French bread and to visit the Bon Bon counter. I was also fascinated by the tank of live lobsters in the seafood department. Hey, what can I say. Growing up in Kansas, it was the closest I had ever come to visiting the ocean. <br /><br />And it is equally sad to see the nearly abandon Metcalf South these days. I spent much of preteen and junior high years hanging out at that mall on the weekends; Pitching pennies into the center court fountain from the upper balcony and trying to sneak extra friends into the movie theater on one ticket. Michelle Wedemeyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192942400291640712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-91878480747137306722014-05-27T01:45:55.743-05:002014-05-27T01:45:55.743-05:00For decades I have wanted to know about the histor...For decades I have wanted to know about the history of the magnificent structure. Along with this being magnificently written, the accompanying photos just knock it out of the park. Thank you so much for your time invested to bring this to us!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03433965097233777186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-40028508004837545672014-05-26T23:28:38.485-05:002014-05-26T23:28:38.485-05:00I'm quite amazed by how much this particular s...I'm quite amazed by how much this particular section looks like a Kroger superstore <br /><br />http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHaHtdmXWRE/U4PohjDkhDI/AAAAAAAAFdo/XM9P6-nxv-w/s1600/pleasantfamilyushoppingfmdairycolor.jpg<br /><br />As much as the Kmart interior of the early 70s is remembered, it had to be underwhelming comparded to what had preceded it.Kennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-77679021318908968972014-05-26T22:57:36.773-05:002014-05-26T22:57:36.773-05:00Thanks for the kind words, Darrell. And many thank...Thanks for the kind words, Darrell. And many thanks for your awesome photo-chronicle of the Greater KC Area (and beyond!).Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-22553071597513170802014-05-26T22:18:32.645-05:002014-05-26T22:18:32.645-05:00OMG--Best. Post. Ever. So much rich informatio...OMG--Best. Post. Ever. So much rich information. Thanks for this. Darrellhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/darrell_james/noreply@blogger.com