Have you seen the subtle changes? Well, maybe they aren’t so subtle after all. I’m talking about East Liberty. The area native Pittsburghers affectionately called “S’liberty,” has gotten a face-lift.
I know if the memories are fond for me they have to be fond for you. Do you remember going to the big blue Sears for paint and tools with a lifetime guarantee? On the way to the parking lot we picked up a hot dog and a soda.
We didn’t have too much interest in the softer side of Sears then, the store was known for its hard lines. That means Kenmore washers and dryers and stoves.
If you wanted entertainment there were the Regent and Sheridan Square movie theaters. I’ll never forget going to the movies with my girls Vickie and Cindy to see the “Days of Wine and Roses” with Jack Lemmon at the Sheridan.
My mom called the theater and told me to come home. What she doesn’t know is that movie was largely responsible for me disliking alcohol. What I saw the actors going through didn’t look like fun to me.
East Liberty was the spot. There was a department store called Mannsmens, candy stores and restaurants. Of course, these were the days before the mall and big box stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s.
Slowly and surely East Liberty is changing. The area even has a new name; it’s now the East Side. That sounds hip and fresh, you know east of Shadyside. Shadyside, the home of the old Gazebo Restaurant and Pittsburgh’s answer to the East Village, what could be cooler than that?
On a recent trip home from work I stopped at Whole Foods for some soup. You could feel the energy of the area in the parking lot. After I picked up the soup I walked over to Walgreen’s.
Isn’t Walgreen’s the store Lou Rawls spoke about in one of his songs? Now we have Walgreen’s right here in Pittsburgh, on the East Side no less.
I made a note to file to visit to Eva Zabo upstairs for a facial. As I made my way to my home I passed the new apartments that have replaced one of the infamous high-rises. They are beautiful. It seems like some residents have moved in and are beginning to add their personal touches to the balconies.
We can’t forget the Station Street Hot Dog shop. It’s back. Remember stopping there after a night of partying because it was one of the few places that was open late?
What I’ve noticed as I’ve been over to the East Side is that I don’t see too many familiar faces. Let’s not forget this community is right in our backyard.
Don’t let the new name East Side throw you out of the box. My marketing mind tells me that is what the name change was designed to do. Get in the mix and check out the new stores and restaurants.
Put your face in the place and check out Borders, Trader Joe’s, Giant Eagle Market District and that wonderful new Wine and Spirits store. The area is convenient and exciting.
Stop through on your way home from church or work but don’t sleep the East Side, the zip code still says S’liberty.
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Breaking the chains of debt: balance your checkbook.
(E-mail the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com.)
