After doing a quick walk-through of the latest display at the West Central Illinois Arts Center (that would be the old Maurices, to some of you) on Saturday and then taking a quick walk, C-Nor and I happened to pass Pagliai’s Pizza and noticed that it appeared to be kaput.
I have to admit, I’d only patronized the place maybe twice in my life. But still, it was kind of a bummer to see another spot in the Square stand open (and therefore subject to more insurance/lawyer/tax offices setting up camp).
This new gap is on the same side of the Square on which the former Magic Dragon toy store used to be located. And the side where the historic Randolph House appears to be suffering from neglect. Then, on the same walk, we passed long-standing Gumbardt’s, which had a “closed” sign taped to the window and appeared to have some sort of metal framework-y thing inside, almost like a pull-down gate you might see at the mall (if there was a mall to be seen. HA!) Closed for good, or closed for remodeling? The sign didn’t say.
SO: are/were you a fan of Pagliai’s? Got any idea if there’s something new coming into the space? (OR, even better, got enough money to start up a coffee shop that stays open past noon? Do it!)
Tags: businesses, food, Macomb, MacombSquare, places
And unless I’m mistaken, that “Pepperoni’s Pizza” place is already closed (what was that open for – 6 months?), and Ford Hopkins closed its doors yesterday (http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/x1355383416/A-historical-loss)
Someone with a proper business plan and understanding of the needs of Macomb citizens (both us homies and WIU students) needs to start plugging these holes in the square!
I took a girl on my very first date there. What could be considered a date. Lunch, really, but it was with a real live girl, nonetheless. Eating a meal. With me. On goddamned purpose. Summer of 2002. It was also the summer I first kissed a girl, this same girl. On the couch at Sullivan Taylor, which is still there, thankfully. The couch, too, now that I think of it.
I split my time that summer between the Western Courier and hanging out on the Porch at Chandler Boulevard. And, eating three dollar bowls of spaghetti at Pag’s. G’bye, Pags.
Hey Craig,
A real live girl, huh? On goddamnded purpose even. LOL You, sir, are hilarious. Thanks for sharing that memory with such wit.
I remember only one visit to Pagliai’s. Nothing special, just me, my parents and two younger sisters, my aunt and step uncle and two younger cousins. I had the spaghetti. It was good. Boring as hell compared to your first date memory.
I do have a lot of memories of the square though, JC Penny, Newberry’s, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and the Illinois theater. And of course, the court house. It was, during my childhood, painted all gray on the outside. Glad it has since had that aweful paint removed.
When I was a young kid, 5 or 6 years old in 1968 or so, there were public restrooms at the court house accessible from the outside, you didn’t have to go into the court house proper to get to them. That was where mom would take me and my younger sister for potty breaks while shopping on the square. Given my age, mom didn’t want me going to the men’s room by myself so she’d take me into the ladies room with her and my sister. I could tell she wasn’t really comfortable with it, getting looks from other women who were using the facilities, but hey, sometimes a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do.
Hey JT
I’m a former Forgotonian living in DC. As much as I love living in nation’s capital I’m sick to death of how damn expensive it is to live here. On more than one occasion I’ve given serious thought to trying to get a small business loan and seeing if I could make a go of it with something back home in McDonough or Fulton County. What type of place do you think might meet the needs of Macomb homies and WIU students?
Personally, I’d love to open a coffe shop or tea room type place with poetry readings and small scale theater and musical performances. I’d also like it to be geared toward a progressive/liberal-minded customer base. What are your thoughts?