SAW AN OLD FAMILIAR FACE TODAY................

[marie-elena (ferracano) r]

HELLO OLD & NEW FRIENDS,
DURING LUNCHTIME TODAY, I HELPED A CO-WORKER BRING HER CLOTHES TO THE DRY CLEANER. GUESS WHICH ONE? WELL I KNOW IN THE PAST I MENTIONED DISCOVERING THIS STORE. BUT TODAY I WENT IN & SPOKE WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF [b]"LELAND CLEANERS". HE NOW HAS THE STORE ON MACE AVE. OFF OF WILLIAMSBRIDGE RD, IN THE BRONX. NOT TO FAR FROM ST LUCY'S CHURCH. BETWEEN PELHAM PKY & ALLERTON AVE. BEING THE FAITHFUL "STRATTONPARK WEBSITE" GROUPIE, THAT I AM, I INFORMED HIM ABOUT THE SITE. I GAVE HIM THE EMAIL ADDRESS, TOO. JUST HAD TO SHARE THIS INFO WITH ALL OF YOU. IF YOU LIVE IN THE BRONX, OR JUST VISITING. TRY & STOP BY. HE LOOKS THE SAME. HE TOLD ME HE HAD THE LELAND AVE LOCATION FROM 1955-80'S. PART OF ME, FELT LIKE I STEPPED INTO THE PAST. I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO GO TO MINNIE'S CANDY STORE NEXT, TO GET SOME CANDY. THEN OFF TO SAL THE BUTCHER. TO PICK UP MY MOM'S SATURDAY REGULAR ORDER. SORRY TO SAY, I HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK! HAVE A GOOD ONE.........

[Lydia58]

Hey Marie,
Is this Stanley from Leland Cleaners? He had black hair & black-rimmed glasses, kind of looked like Steve Allen. You should take a picture of him and post it on this site. He's a legend.

[marie-elena (ferracano) r]

HELLO LYDIA & ALL OTHER NEAR & DEAR TO MY HEART,
YES, IT WAS STAN, HE LOOKS THE SAME,JUST OLDER. THINK THEY'RE THE SAME GLASSES TOO. I GAVE HIM THE WEBSITE ADDRESS. WILL TRY & SEE IF HE CAN POST SOME OLD PHOTOS ON THE SITE. OR LEND ME SOME & I WILL POST THEM (MY SON WILL DO IT FOR ME!)

DO YOU REMEMBER THE GREAT SCILIAN SLICES OF PIZZA, WE USE TO GET AT LENORD'S BAAKERY? OR THE ITALIAN BREAD. LIVE IN PELHAM BAY AREA & I HAVE TO GO TO SAL & DOM'S ON ALLERTON, TO GET THE BEST ITALIAN BREAD & PASTERIES. HAVE A GREAT NITE. WILL BE DREAMING OF CHOCOLATE COVERED CANOLLI'S, NOW!

[Cathy]

Hi Marie-Elena,
I remember that cleaners and Stanley clearly. I used it all the time when I lived on Taylor Avenue and also when I moved to Starling Avenue (shared a place with Susie Hetman), and later to Parkchester. If I remember correctly, G.I. was the delivery guy. Is that correct, or did he deliver for someone else? You also brought up another famous neighborhood place...Leonards Bakery. That pizza was fantastic and distinctive...never have had anything like it since. Which brings me to a question. What Bronx pizzeria has the best pizza now?

Cheers,
Cathy

[Lydia58]

My sister Lori worked at Leonard's bakery for a few years when she was a teen-ager. I could smack her for not learning how to make that pizza. I have never found pizza like that again. Does anyone remember Nicks Hero on Morris Park Ave. Their combo w/eggplant was out of this world. I think they just closed down recently. I have never found a hero place like that again.

[marie-elena (ferracano) r]

HI CATHY, LYDIA & ALL OTHER FRIENDS,

HAVE TO TELL YOU, I HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING GOOD PIZZA. I LIVE IN PELHAM BAY. THEY HAVE SOME OF THE WORSE PIZZA. I HAVE 1 PLACE CALLED "JOE'S" NOT TO BAD,ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE STARVING. I STILL BELIEVE THAT "3 BOYS" ON BURKE AVE., MAKES THE BEST. MY HUSBAND & I GO THERE EVERY SO OFTEN. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CRAZY, BUT IF YOU PARK OUTSIDE. IT'S O.K. DURING THE DAY, THEY'RE PACKED WITH TELEPHONE CO. EMPLOYEES
AND LOTS OF TEACHERS. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE FROM OUT OF TOWN, PICKING UP (AT LEAST) 1 PIE TO TAKE BACK HOME. I HAD TO GET CALZONES THERE ONCE, FOR MY EX-MOM-IN-LAW TO TAKE ON THE TRAIN HOME TO FLORIDA (SHE PACKED THEM IN A COOLER!) MOST PLACES HAVE ALL THESE NOVELTY SLICES. I'M SORRY BUT I CAN'T EAT "SALAD PIZZA". TO ME PIZZA IS PIZZA, MAYBE ANCHOVIES OR MUSHROOMS. BUT NO GREENS! DOES ANYONE EAT A SALD SANDWICH? SO WHY WOULD YOU PUT LETTUCE ON PIZZA DOUGH? JUST MY OPINION.

THERE ARE NO GREAT IRISH DELI'S ANYMORE EITHER. I MISS THE DELI ON ARCHER ST. ESPECIALLY,THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY USE TO PUT LITTLE PILGRIMS, INDIANS & TURKEY CANDLES ON THE COUNTER TO PURCHASE. I STILL HAVE THE SANTA & CHOIR CHILDREN CANDLES FROM THERE. THAT I BOUGHT MOM, ONE CHRISTMAS, WAS I WAS ABOUT 8. I AM A BIG CATALOG SHOPPER. "THE VERMONT STORE" CATALOG HAS THE RETRO CANDLES @ 3 CANDLES FOR $12. I THINK I PAID 25 CENTS FOR THEM. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER HOW IN THE CANDY STORES, YOU PICKED A CARD THAT WAS IN PLASTIC & THE STORE OWNER WOULD TAKE IT OUT OF THE DRAW FOR YOU? NOW YOU CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO HELP YOU FIND AN ENVELOPE, THAT GOES WITH A CARD, IN ANY CARD STORE. JUST SOME OLD MEMORIES I NEEDED TO SHARE.

[bronxbombertoo]

Response to question on best pizza and near Pelham Bay......try the Crosby Pizza on (you guessed it) Crosby Avenue, just south of the Buhre Ave. station on the # 6 train.....FOX NEWS once had it as the best pizza in the city!..............we have at times got off a crowded Hutch Pkwy and wandered in for a slice.........

[Marion Farrell Cronin]

You are right - Crosby is pretty good. How is Louie and Ernie's these days? When I first moved here, everyone said they were the best but haven't tried them now in years.

[marie-elena (ferracano) r]

HELLO MARION,

HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING? YOU MENTIONED "LOUIE & ERNIE'S PIZZA". THEY ARE GOOD IF YOU LIKE A THIN CRUSTY SLICE. BUT FOR A HEAVIER PIZZA. I STILL SAY YOU CAN'T BEAT 3 BROTHERS ON BURKE AVE.
WE HAVE SOME NICE RESTAURANTS NEAR ME ON CROSBY AVE. BUT I DON'T EAT AT MANY ITALIAN RESTAURANTS. I LIKE TRYING DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESTAURANTS. FANCY/EXPENSIVE DOESN'T IMPRESS ME.

5 OR 6 YRS AGO, MY LANDLORD WAS REDOING THE PLUMBING IN MY OLD BUILDING. SINCE I HAD NO RUNNING WATER. I HAD TO FIND A QUICK & CHEAP PLACE TO FEED MY 2 YOUNG SONS. RIGHT NEXT TO MY BUILDING WAS THE "LAUNDRY ZONE"( LAUNDROMAT), WHICH HAD A WONDERFUL SNACKBAR AREA. ( MANY YEARS AGO, IT WAS A BOWLING ALLEY & THEN SKATE KEY RINK.) SO I TOOK THE KIDS,DID SOME LAUNDRY. HAD HOT DOGS & NACHOS.FOR DESSERT, WE HAD FRESH BREYER ICE-CREAM. WHEN ASKED AT WORK THE NEXT DAY, WHERE DID WE HAVE DINNER. I TOLD MY CO-WORKERS. MY KIDS TOLD THEIR FRIENDS TOO. BUT I WAS TEASED IF I WAS GOING TO GET MY NEXT MEAL AT THE LOCKSMITH SHOP NEXT! I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A GOOD CHINESE TAKE-OUT. MY FAMILY STILL GOES TO "HAWAIIN SEA" FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. JUST HAD TO SHARE THIS OLD STORY. THE LAUNDRY ZONE IS CLOSED, I STILL WORK IN THE ALLERTON AVE AREA. EVRY SO OFTEN I GO PAST THAT BLOCK & THINK ABOUT OUR DINNER IN THE LAUNDROMAT.

[Marion Farrell Cronin]

Hi Marie-elena - hope you and your family had a nice Thanksgiving. Time to think about putting up the Christmas decorations!

Speaking of food, we haven't eaten often in the Pelham Bay area but are always looking for something moderately priced with decent portions (I guess we are all looking for that). Kind of getting bored with same old stuff here in the Neck. Any suggestions?