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Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: KBguy ()
Date: June 24, 2011 07:13PM

Boy has Seven Corners changed. I worked there as a teenager in the late 70s at Kitchen Bazaar. A great place for a kid to work, they had a demo kitchen and the cooks kept us fed. I remember Crumpets of Georgetown across the hall, they had Tshirts that said "eat me" on the back. Also remember Woodies, Woolworths, Athens Pizza, where I had my first gyro, Jordan Kitts, The Magic Pan, Ritz Camera, Steven Windsor, and that little shoe repair place under the escalator. Can't remember any other stores that were there right now. This was long, long before they put the world's worst Home Depot there.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: The Donger ()
Date: June 24, 2011 07:37PM

KBguy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Boy has Seven Corners changed. I worked there as a
> teenager in the late 70s at Kitchen Bazaar. A
> great place for a kid to work, they had a demo
> kitchen and the cooks kept us fed. I remember
> Crumpets of Georgetown across the hall, they had
> Tshirts that said "eat me" on the back. Also
> remember Woodies, Woolworths, Athens Pizza, where
> I had my first gyro, Jordan Kitts, The Magic Pan,
> Ritz Camera, Steven Windsor, and that little shoe
> repair place under the escalator. Can't remember
> any other stores that were there right now. This
> was long, long before they put the world's worst
> Home Depot there.

That was back when white people lived there right?

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Arlingtonkid ()
Date: June 24, 2011 07:41PM

The Donger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KBguy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Boy has Seven Corners changed. I worked there as
> a
> > teenager in the late 70s at Kitchen Bazaar. A
> > great place for a kid to work, they had a demo
> > kitchen and the cooks kept us fed. I remember
> > Crumpets of Georgetown across the hall, they
> had
> > Tshirts that said "eat me" on the back. Also
> > remember Woodies, Woolworths, Athens Pizza,
> where
> > I had my first gyro, Jordan Kitts, The Magic
> Pan,
> > Ritz Camera, Steven Windsor, and that little
> shoe
> > repair place under the escalator. Can't
> remember
> > any other stores that were there right now.
> This
> > was long, long before they put the world's
> worst
> > Home Depot there.
>
> That was back when white people lived there right?


Pretty much.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 24, 2011 08:47PM

my moms patronized that shoe repair place like it was run by the Gods

Does anybody remember that florist that had the fountain and pond in their shop?

I loved the Orange Julius they that there

and the popcorn vending machine and the Sega Turbo video game they had at Woolworths :)

sigh to days gone by...........................................

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: TMS ()
Date: June 24, 2011 09:00PM

Now it's a dangerous filth-hole.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Ratamacue ()
Date: June 24, 2011 09:07PM

Sounds like your talking about Tyson's Corner Mall... before the re-build in the 80's? Seven Corners was further East on Rt. 7...

Seven Corners (further East on Rt. 7 into Fall's Church) had the STATELY Lord and Taylor Store. Quite, an edifice in the day. That's where ties and suits were purchased if you passed over Raleigh's Men at early Tysons...

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: not traditional ()
Date: June 24, 2011 10:05PM

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> my moms patronized that shoe repair place like it
> was run by the Gods
>
> Does anybody remember that florist that had the
> fountain and pond in their shop?
>
> I loved the Orange Julius they that there
>
> and the popcorn vending machine and the Sega Turbo
> video game they had at Woolworths :)
>
> sigh to days gone
> by...........................................

Wow, it isn't very common now, I can't imagine how uncommon it was to have two moms in the late 70's.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 24, 2011 10:14PM

I dunno about that cause I had yr mom last night LoLz :)

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: BITD Seven Corners ()
Date: June 24, 2011 10:26PM

Ratamacue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds like your talking about Tyson's Corner
> Mall... before the re-build in the 80's? Seven
> Corners was further East on Rt. 7...
>
> Seven Corners (further East on Rt. 7 into Fall's
> Church) had the STATELY Lord and Taylor Store.
> Quite, an edifice in the day. That's where ties
> and suits were purchased if you passed over
> Raleigh's Men at early Tysons...

Lord and Taylor was across Rt. 7 from the Seven Corners Mall itself (where Sears is now, if it is still there). Seven Corners Mall had a Woodies, as well as at least most of the other stores mentioned by the OP.

The florist was Karin's Florist, which still operates on Rt. 123 in Vienna, up towards Westwood Country Club. Still family owned and operated.

The Varsity Shop was the cool place to go for somewhat upscale teen fashion.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: old ()
Date: June 24, 2011 10:53PM

I remember going to Seven Corners when it first opened in '55 or so. "Malls" were a new thing and really cool we thought. Prior to that, you had to go to DC to find that many stores in one place. Hell, it wasn't even covered.

It had 2 anchors, Woodie's and Garfinkel's, one of which had monkeys in glass cages, I think it was Woodie's. I remember my mom taking us there to Hahn's Shoes to get new shoes for school.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: FC ()
Date: June 25, 2011 07:29AM

I remember an Athlete's Foot in there in the 80s...

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 25, 2011 08:48AM

@BITD Seven - was this the same Varsity Shop that operated in the Fair Oaks Mall during the 80s and 90's - that place was AWESOME

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Bill N ()
Date: June 25, 2011 09:48AM

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I dunno about that cause I had yr mom last night
> LoLz :)


Clearly she didn't tell you that it is impolite to laugh first at your own joke.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 25, 2011 10:11AM

@Bill - nah, she was a lil busy at the time :)
Attachments:
your-mom-is-a-whore.jpg

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 25, 2011 10:15AM

seriously, dont take my momma jokes to heart

here - have some 80's fun instead........
Attachments:
ghosts-and-goblins.swf

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Bill N ()
Date: June 25, 2011 10:53AM

Well Gordo, if my mother is still getting any, then more power to her.

And if you want to be the kid wearing glasses and a pocket protector who tells some lame joke and then goes giggle giggle snort giggle snort while the rest of us sit in deafening silence... well that might explain why you had to pay her.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: meade skeleton ()
Date: June 26, 2011 09:27AM

What was the name of the topless joint at 7 corners? I believe it was located on the now Bank of Americas branch.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: June 26, 2011 12:30PM

meade skeleton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What was the name of the topless joint at 7
> corners? I believe it was located on the now Bank
> of Americas branch.


It was Ichabods (not sure of the spelling) A motel and body shop were where the Bank is. Then Ichabods & a car dealer(where public storage is) and then Aamco transmission ( which is still there)
I spent some time in Ichabods back in the late 70's. OK dancers and really good food. I heard the police busted them for selling drugs out of Ichabods. I do know that when Ichabods closed the FOP (faternal order of police) took over the building, so maybe some truth to the drug rumor.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: meade skeleton ()
Date: June 26, 2011 06:22PM

Very interesting. My moms had a friend who's son worked as a manager at the place. I never could think of a way to ask her if...never mind

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 26, 2011 06:26PM

Bill N Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well Gordo, if my mother is still getting any,
> then more power to her.
>
> And if you want to be the kid wearing glasses and
> a pocket protector who tells some lame joke and
> then goes giggle giggle snort giggle snort while
> the rest of us sit in deafening silence... well
> that might explain why you had to pay her.


really? Dude, you really need to get a grip.........................

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Alexandria Forever ()
Date: June 27, 2011 05:37AM

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill N Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well Gordo, if my mother is still getting any,
> > then more power to her.
> >
> > And if you want to be the kid wearing glasses
> and
> > a pocket protector who tells some lame joke and
> > then goes giggle giggle snort giggle snort
> while
> > the rest of us sit in deafening silence... well
> > that might explain why you had to pay her.
>
>
> really? Dude, you really need to get a
> grip.........................

He needs to get a grip???? Your the one who started with "I slept with your Mom" jokes that really not funny.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Sunny D ()
Date: June 27, 2011 06:49AM

I remember Casual Corner and Hickory Farms. Oh the days!!!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 27, 2011 07:14AM

@Sunny D - HICKORY FARMS!! That place was AWESOME!!!

@Alexandria Forever - like I said before:

Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 25, 2011 10:15AM

seriously, dont take my momma jokes to heart

Get a grip, m'man..........................

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Sunny D ()
Date: June 27, 2011 08:11AM

Sooo true Gordon Blvd. You could have a full course meal for FREE with all the samples they always had out. lolllll

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Orangutane Julius ()
Date: June 27, 2011 12:20PM

Oh Noes! GordonBlvd got butthurt again! Cover up your pain and anger by making another joke and laughing at your wit...

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: WingNut ()
Date: June 27, 2011 08:01PM

*


idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 27, 2011 08:24PM

@Wingnut - THANK YOU!!!! Oh WOW you have just clarified YEARS of confusion!!!!!! Wish yr jerk was around so he could get his kick in the nuts he deserves.

@Orangutane - what are you talking about, dude? Get a grip :)

@SunnyD - the ppl there were ALWAYS so friendly, as well!

Man, Seven Corners used to be the SHITS! I'm still thinking about that Turbo game at Woolworths............


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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Seven History ()
Date: June 29, 2011 08:15AM

Seven Corners used to have an excellent S&W Cafeteria.

Also, there was a horse riding ring nearby that the kids loved!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Joven ()
Date: June 30, 2011 08:05PM

I used to love Garfinkel.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: WingNut ()
Date: June 30, 2011 08:55PM

Seven History Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Seven Corners used to have an excellent S&W
> Cafeteria.
>
> Also, there was a horse riding ring nearby that
> the kids loved!

Used to go to the S&W on Hillwood in Falls Church. Blue hair city, depressing but very cheap.

@Gordon Blvd the guy who told us about pissing in the orange drink was a major weasel and a klepto. I personally saw him get his ass kicked at least twice.


idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 5/31/1967 05:57AM by WingNut.

Last edit at 11/30/2015 01:37PM Last edit at 5/14/2015 03:52PM Last edit at 1/28/2014 05:57AM Last edit at 11/29/2015 01:10PM Last edit at 3/14/2011 11:52PM Last edit at 7/20/2012 04:07AM
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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 30, 2011 09:49PM

I'd like to make it a third time :)

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Brody Levesque ()
Date: July 01, 2011 12:56AM

WASHINGTON DC |

July 1st, 2011

Dear Folks,

Here are the front & back of a 1950's era postcard of one of the many motor courts that lined the Winchester Highway, (U. S. 50) this one which sat on top of the hill on Route 7, the Leesburg Pike at Seven Corners.

If I run across more historic images of this area of Falls Church, I'll put them up within this thread.

Sincerely,


Brody Levesque
Attachments:
Hilltop Motor Court 7 Corners FC VA.jpg
Hilltop Motor Court 7 Corners FC VA 2.jpg

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Spacy ()
Date: July 01, 2011 02:47AM

I love old pics like this! What is there now, BOA?

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: July 01, 2011 06:26AM

I think they tore it down for the Bank of America if it's the place I'm thinking of. I think it was on the right if you were coming up the ramp to Seven Corners from Eastbound 50, across from Sleepy Hollow Rd from the Laundromat - which co-incidentally used to be a Roy Rogers :)

but I could be wrong about that.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Jimmy U ()
Date: July 01, 2011 03:32PM

The varsity shop always had the latest Bally's pinball machine.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: ShakyBetty ()
Date: July 01, 2011 10:30PM

Brody-Awesome picture! Gordon-For sure that's the one that was there until just a few years ago, where the self-storage place is, now. I always wondered how long they could possibly stay in business. So sad that many of the others have become homeless shelters. And I miss the strawberry shortcake at Roy Rogers!

I used to love playing the organs when I was little, in the early 80s. The Woolworths was there as late as the late 1990s. There was an elevator or staircase or something from the upper level near where the Payless is, now, too. Even then, I had a tough time imagining how it used to be an open mall, since by then, (the late 90s), all the stores were isolated from one another and that staircase/elevator was the only connection between the lower and upper levels.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Dominique ()
Date: July 02, 2011 01:26PM

Does anybody remember the Italian store being there?

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Brody Levesque ()
Date: July 03, 2011 08:24PM

Here's another period photo for the 7 Corners Center:
Attachments:
7 Corners 1950\'s.jpg

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Ol' Fogey ()
Date: July 03, 2011 08:54PM

Nice picture! That shot of Woodies is showing the Rt. 7 (upper side) where Shoppers Food Warehouse now resides. Only about two storefronts down from Woodies on this upper level was the Varsity Shops.

It was sort of a semi-enclosed mall back then. Woodies and the anchor at the other end had entrances directly from the parking lots. If you look closely at the above photo, you will see gaps in the brick in the part stretching away from Woodies. Those were breezeways that took you into a long corridor with shops on both sides. What you can see in the photo are the back sides of the stores that were located toward the exterior side of the mall, the storefronts facing into the long corridor. The layout was not too unlike today's malls, but the breezeways were not enclosed.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: F C HS, class of '84 ()
Date: July 12, 2011 02:39PM

Brings back great memories.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoyceMarie ()
Date: August 11, 2011 09:37PM

That was Karin's Florist. They are in Vienna now on 123, I believe.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoyceMarie ()
Date: August 11, 2011 09:40PM

omg ~ forgot about the horse riding ring. I have pics of my kids riding the ponies there!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Jon Laine ()
Date: September 08, 2011 02:27AM

Brody,
PLEASE post some more pics if you find em. i totally remember that motel. in the late 70's and 80's it turned into a dump and when I was about 7 y/o in '82, i remember riding by the motel on the metro bus with my mom, and seeing dozens of police cars.
I later found out a HUGE drug bust was going on there.

Also, i worked at Sam Goody my senior year at JEB Stuart high school at 7 corners mall.

im getting goosebumps remembering those days...
(sigh)

ps- my mother STILL lives near the mall! almost 40 years now.

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`
Posted by: WingNut ()
Date: September 08, 2011 09:24AM

`


idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 5/31/1967 05:57AM by WingNut.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DEStewart01 ()
Date: September 08, 2011 10:11AM

Yep that area is such a filthwhole... Sears, Home Depot, Dogfish Head Tavern, the Pub House No. 7, Chipotle, Barnes and Nobles, Starbucks, G Street Fabrics, Michaels, a new Bank of America (replacing a flea bag motel). Damn, I wouldnt want any of those substandard establishments in my neighborhood!

LOL some of ya'll are ridiculous with your adjectives. Have you forgotten that the closest neighborhoods to 7 Corners, besides a few apartment complexes (which are well maintained by the way) are Sleepy Hollow and Lake Barcroft! The horrors! The hood! A filthy hell hole! A disgusting pit of humanity!

Thanks I'll go back to my ghetto Sleepy Hollow neighborhood of houses worth between 500K and 2 million and just hide inside. I hear 7 Corners is "dangerous" LOL

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: mike w ()
Date: September 09, 2011 06:27PM

I remember the old playtime in falls church and the bums hanging out behind there. We used to get them to buy our alcohol when I was in HS...1982-1984. good times!!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: good ol' days ()
Date: September 09, 2011 10:20PM

You know what you don't see in the photo's???? illegal hispanics...ahhh the good ol' days

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Julius g ()
Date: September 10, 2011 09:54AM

DEStewart01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yep that area is such a filthwhole... Sears, Home
> Depot, Dogfish Head Tavern, the Pub House No. 7,
> Chipotle, Barnes and Nobles, Starbucks, G Street
> Fabrics, Michaels, a new Bank of America
> (replacing a flea bag motel). Damn, I wouldnt want
> any of those substandard establishments in my
> neighborhood!
>
> LOL some of ya'll are ridiculous with your
> adjectives. Have you forgotten that the closest
> neighborhoods to 7 Corners, besides a few
> apartment complexes (which are well maintained by
> the way) are Sleepy Hollow and Lake Barcroft! The
> horrors! The hood! A filthy hell hole! A
> disgusting pit of humanity!
>
> Thanks I'll go back to my ghetto Sleepy Hollow
> neighborhood of houses worth between 500K and 2
> million and just hide inside. I hear 7 Corners is
> "dangerous" LOL

The comments were probably from some guys who live in their parents' basements in Oakton and are so envious of any place that isn't totally bland suburbia that they talk about Culmore like it's Compton. Consider it praise.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: interesting ()
Date: September 10, 2011 04:03PM

I always wondered about the narrow minded remarks made in this forum - now I know it is from locals who have never been exposed to life outside of Fairfax County.

I moved to 7 Corners in the 80's. Woodies had the big staircase inside and Garfinkels was the other anchor. It was an open mall with a bakery, a cigar shop and an assortment of other interesting places. There was a Gap and a Bennigans around the block and a Montgomery Wards in another nearby strip mall.

It was a fun place to live back then. The new mall has no character and the layout is goofy.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Gunner ()
Date: September 10, 2011 04:21PM

There was a place called "NOVA 35" there a few years ago. Never figured out what it was. Does anybody know?

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­
Posted by: chuckhoffmann ()
Date: September 10, 2011 06:02PM

­



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2017 12:51PM by chuckhoffmann.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: September 10, 2011 07:42PM

Gunner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was a place called "NOVA 35" there a few
> years ago. Never figured out what it was. Does
> anybody know?


I think I remember that name. Where was it?

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: September 10, 2011 07:54PM

I know now, it was the Fraternal Order of Police. It was on the hill between the Hillwood motel and the car dealer. Where the bank and Public Storage is now. Back in the 70's it was Ichabods. A topless bar. I think we talked about this early in this thread. Rumor was that they got busted dealing drugs out of there and the police took the building over and made it a FOP lodge.

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`
Posted by: WingNut ()
Date: September 12, 2011 07:35PM

`


idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 06:36PM

tesrt

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 06:38PM

I used to work at 7C mall as a teenager in the early 80's...and my brother-in-law before me at L Frank. Anyone know what the name of the restaurant at the old Lord & Taylor was called.....tick tock.....The Birdcage.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 06:47PM

Heres a few things I remember...

-The huge twinkling snowflake they hung up outside of Woodies at Christmastime
-The tunnel that ran beneath the 7C complex where trucks unloaded (still there)
-The escalator halfway down the mall that took you between floors.
-Garfinkels also had a staircase in the middle of the store.
-Karin's Florist.
-Think the organist place was Jordan Kitts.
-Wasn't there an alterations/shoe repair place under the escalator?
-Woodies had its own escaltor inside their store and was two floors.
-They kept the tall 7C sign, but never lit it as I recall like post 70s.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 06:58PM

Back in the 70's-80's, there were basically three malls where everyone in NOVA shopped, Tysons, Sprinfield Mall, and Seven Corners. There was also Parkington, but it wasn't much, Springfield Mall, well, how sad it is to go there today. I tell my kids it was like the place to be and they look at me slackjawed. Maybe I should show then Fast Times at Ridgemont High so they'll believe me the mall was the cool place to work and shop and hang out...then again, maybe not as that was a trashy movie for its time, albeit funny in spots.

I remember the Time Out at Springfied Mall was the real burnout place for kids from broken homes to be unleashed to in the 70's (sadly a harbinger of what was to happen to most of America.)

Seven Corners was not the coolest place but drew from affluent neighborhoods like Lake Barcroft and Seepy Hollow Woods, and even North Arlington. The chicks that shopped and worked there were A+, so for a teenage guy working there was sweet.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 07:21PM

While I'm on a roll, taking oxygen hits between posts so I don't geeze too much...

-The Roy Rogers at 7C (where the Lavaderia is today) made a mean roast beef. You had to wind your way through the fake wooded fences (corralled) under the beaming gaze of old Roy himself - towering over you with like a 100 by 100 lit up poster - to place your order. They had "free fixins" and as a teenager I would basically help myself and make a full salad with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles on the foil wrapper from my cheap Roast Beef. Fries were served in holster like cardboard sheathes. They had Pappy Parker's fried chicken in a bag, but don't remember eating much of it. The McDonalds at Route 7 and Seminary Rd at Baileys Crossroads was also a Roy Rogers. The Hot Shoppes where Best Buy is now at Baileys I think also served Pappy Parkers chicken.

-The Athens place in the 7C mall made a mean calzone and decent gyros.

-Think the English Pub was called like Country Cookin' or something like that.

-The NOVA 31 was indeed an F.O.P. bar at some point.

-When I worked at 7C, an old lady told me Khruschev visited the mall when he visited the US in the 50s or early 60s, but not sure if that was a rumor. Also, she said Shirley Temple (when grown up) came to 7C mall and shopped at Garfinkels and other stores.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 07:39PM

I know a guy who worked as a stockboy at one of the small boutique type stores in the late 60s. It was near the middle of the 7C mall as I recall. One day he got a call to come and clean up something in the ladies dressing room. Well, someone had deficated in the dressing booth - and then wiped themselves on the curtain that you used for privacy! Gross! He said he quit on the spot and said no way in hell! I doubt that. He probably cleaned it up and and to add insult to injury was later ordered to run out later and get the fat old ladies that worked there Cherry Cokes from the lunch counter at Woolworths. Hey $1.95 an hour went a long way in the late 1960s.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 25, 2011 07:56PM

I don't think 7C was ever "open air." Maybe some are confusing this mall with Landmark Mall which is the one that had the Ralieghs and Woodies, and The Underground, all of which were enclosed when they remodled the mall in the 90s.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: BITD60s ()
Date: September 25, 2011 09:43PM

JoeMama Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't think 7C was ever "open air." Maybe some
> are confusing this mall with Landmark Mall which
> is the one that had the Ralieghs and Woodies, and
> The Underground, all of which were enclosed when
> they remodled the mall in the 90s.


The area walking along the aisles of stores was covered, but there were breezeways spaced along the upper and lower levels, in between the anchor stores, so it technically was "open air". In other words, you did not enter through a set of doors to get into the mall, you walked through an open air breezeway. But not "open air" like Landmark or Parkington, where the walkways between stores were mostly open to the elements, even from above.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Dining ()
Date: September 26, 2011 01:24AM

Remember the S&W cafeteria? That place was great!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: I miss the 70s ()
Date: September 26, 2011 08:42AM

old Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I remember going to Seven Corners when it first
> opened in '55 or so. "Malls" were a new thing and
> really cool we thought. Prior to that, you had to
> go to DC to find that many stores in one place.
> Hell, it wasn't even covered.
>
> It had 2 anchors, Woodie's and Garfinkel's, one of
> which had monkeys in glass cages, I think it was
> Woodie's. I remember my mom taking us there to
> Hahn's Shoes to get new shoes for school.

Hahn's Shoes...Oh that brings back memories. That dreaded back to school shopping trip that signaled the end of summer. Hush Puppies and cordory pants, new binder & #2 pencil and the fear of 6th grade. And Garfinkel's - wow, I remember getting my first suit there when I was maybe 10 or so for my aunts wedding. Huge collar and shiny... ugh.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 26, 2011 08:11PM

I don't remember 7C having any open air spaces. They always had glass doors closing it off from the open air as far back as I can recollect didn't they? Can anyone remember when it was partially open air?

Weren't the monkeys in cages down at Kahn's where Clarendon is now?

I kind of remember a Giant Music or Giant Records (not afiliated with the food chain.) at 7C at some point.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: say ()
Date: September 26, 2011 09:45PM

I miss the 70s Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hahn's Shoes...Oh that brings back memories.
> That dreaded back to school shopping trip that
> signaled the end of summer. Hush Puppies and
> cordory pants, new binder & #2 pencil and the fear
> of 6th grade. And Garfinkel's - wow, I remember
> getting my first suit there when I was maybe 10 or
> so for my aunts wedding. Huge collar and shiny...
> ugh.

Oh yeah, Hahn's Shoes, only it was the 60's for me. I always Hahn's pissed off because my ma refused to spring for Bass Weejuns. I always had to settle for the house brand of penny loafers. Even they were probably higher quality than anything you can buy today, but I was still pissed.

Only thing I remember about Garfinkel's is my ma caught my brother and me looking up a mannequin's dress. I told her, "Hey Ma, there's a rod up this lady's ass!"

She still slapped the shit out of us.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: September 26, 2011 10:23PM

JoeMama Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't remember 7C having any open air spaces.
> They always had glass doors closing it off from
> the open air as far back as I can recollect didn't
> they? Can anyone remember when it was partially
> open air?
>
> Weren't the monkeys in cages down at Kahn's where
> Clarendon is now?
>
> I kind of remember a Giant Music or Giant Records
> (not afiliated with the food chain.) at 7C at some
> point.

My mom worked at 7 Corners and at one time it was partially open air. Just think of what you remember but without the doors and it was also open above the smaller shops that lined the exterior of the mall. They closed that space in with glass and put the doors in. I'm trying to remember when they closed it in, early 70's maybe? I know for a fact it was before 1976.

The record store I think was called Music Time? Lower level on the Garfinkels end. It was one of those stores that lined the exterior like Karins Florist.

The shoe repair shop was under the escalators

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Brody Levesque ()
Date: September 27, 2011 12:16AM

SEVEN CORNERS CENTER
Arlington Boulevard / US 50 and Leesburg Pike
Fairfax County / Falls Church, Virginia

Building began on the Washington, DC region's first suburban shopping mall in June 1955. It was situated on a 32 acre tract, located 6 miles southwest of the District, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

The area was named for the junction of five roads; Arlington Boulevard, Leesburg Pike, Wilson Boulevard, Sleepy Hollow Road and Hillwood Avenue, which merge at a point northwest of the shopping center tract and form "Seven Corners".

SEVEN CORNERS CENTER, a split-level, 25 million dollar complex, was developed by DC-based Kass-Berger Incorporated. Its grand opening took place October 4, 1956.

The 475,000 square foot, open-air center was anchored by a 4-level (90,000 square foot) Woodward and Lothrop ["Low-thrup"] and 2-level (50,000 square foot) Julius Garfinckel and Company; two Washington-based department stores.

There were also an S and W Cafeteria, L. Frank Company ladies' apparel, Peck and Peck apparel, Chandler's Shoes, Mayer and Company Furniture and forty other inline stores.

The shopping venue's F.W. Woolworth and Peoples Drug had two levels. An auto center / service station and Fairfax County National Bank main office were outparcels of the main structure. In addition, there was a freestanding Food Lane supermarket. Operated as a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Food Fair, the 32,000 square foot store came inline November 28, 1956 and was rebranded, as a Food Fair, September 15, 1960.

SEVEN CORNERS CENTER was the preeminent shopping destination in northern Virginia until the malling of the area gained impetus in the 1960s. Alexandria's LANDMARK CENTER {4 miles to the southeast, in Alexandria} was dedicated in 1965. TYSONS CORNER CENTER {5 miles northwest, in Fairfax County} opened in 1968. In order to compete, SEVEN CORNERS CENTER was fully-enclosed.

The malling of Metropolitan Washington continued unabated into the 1970s and '80s. By 1988, there were twenty regional shopping malls in the area. The days of SEVEN CORNERS as a major, upscale center were coming to an end.

This was exacerbated by the closing of the Garfinckel's anchor in 1990, which was followed by Woodward and Lothrop's demise in 1995.

The old Garfinckel's location had been leased by Pleasanton, California-based Ross Dress For Less. In 1995, this store was left standing, with the remainder of SEVEN CORNERS CENTER being torn down. It was replaced by a 561,000 square foot power center of the same name, which opened during 1995 and 1996.

The second generation SEVEN CORNERS CENTER is anchored by Ross Dress For Less, Home Depot, Shopper's Club Foods, and Barnes and Noble. It is managed by Bethesda, Maryland-based Saul Centers Incorporated.

SEVEN CORNERS CENTER TENANTS 1956
(PARTIAL LIST):

WOODWARD AND LOTHROP / JULIUS GARFINCKEL AND COMPANY / FOOD LANE (a subsidiary of Food Fair) / F. W. WOOLWORTH / PEOPLES DRUG / L. Frank Company ladies' apparel / Joseph R. Harris ladies apparel / Bond's Clothes / Peck and Peck / Holiday Shoes / E.D. Edwards Shoes / Chandler's Shoes / Thom McAn Shoes / Russell Stover Candies / Fannie Mae Candies / S And W Cafeteria / William Hahn and Company / Ike's Barber Shop / Mayer and Company Furniture / Fairfax County National Bank

Circa-1956 site plan of Washington, DC's first shopping mall. It was
situated on 2 levels, with an underground service tunnel accessed at
the north and south ends. In unincorporated Fairfax County in the
beginning, the mall site was eventually annexed into the "independent
city" of Falls Church.
Attachments:
7 Corners Shopping Center Layout Circa 1956.JPG

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Brody Levesque ()
Date: September 27, 2011 12:35AM

This area has some fascinating historical facts:
Taylor's Tavern, Falls Church, VA, during the Civil War (courtesy of Library of Congress). The tavern, built in the 1850s, was located along the Leesburg & Alexandria Turnpike (VA-7), just to the west of today's Seven Corners. Before First Manassas, the area around Falls Church was under Union control. On June 24-25, 1861, Professor Thaddeus S.C. Lowe made the first aerial reconnaissances in U.S. military history from a balloon floating above Taylor's Tavern.
Attachments:
7 Corners Taylor\'s Tavern, Falls Church, VA.jpg
7 Corners  Falls Church Area In 1862.jpg

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: ROCKO MEATS ()
Date: September 27, 2011 10:38AM

The pony ring was down RTE.7 a ways in Baileys Crossroads next to the Veterinary Hospital that is still there today. The loading dock under neath the shopping center was unsual for the off loading of trucks to each merchant.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Giddeeyup ()
Date: September 27, 2011 11:39PM

Pony rides were near Giffords and directly across from the Howard Johnsons

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: September 30, 2011 08:28PM

Great posts everyone. Thanks. I'm sure a number of people could start a whole other thread about Giffords.

There was a small circus at Bailey's Crossroads where the self storage place is now. I think most people assumed it was related to the Bailey family. I heard rumors when I was a kid the circus wintered there. Everyone thought the area Bailey family had something to do with Barnum and Bailey's Circus. The Bailey the crossroads is named after was not the one in Barnum and Bailey's circus but it was his cousin or something, but the guy the x roads was in the circus business.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Patrick in Silver Spring ()
Date: November 30, 2011 07:39AM

I grew up down the street from 7C mall back in the late 70s/80s. A few other stores in the mall I haven't seen mentioned in this thread are B. Dalton's bookstore, Irving's Sporting Goods, the Russell Stover candy store, and Tiffany's bakery. I think Russell Stover and Tiffany's were across the hall as you came down the escalator. The "While U Wait"shoe repair was right at the bottom of the escalators, and tucked behind the escalator was men's restroom we were always warned not to enter because of the shady characters who supposedly were in there. Of course there was also the Magic Pan restaurant.

I can't recall the name of the store, but as you went down the escalators, on the right there was a women's fashion store that always had silver mannequins in the store window. For some reason those silver mannequins are burned into my memory.

As a kid, a friend of mine and I got yelled at once by the manager of the Varsity Shop for putting a Canadian coin into the pinball machine, even though we didn't actually do it! Someone else had put the coin into the machine, and he just assumed we had done it and tore into us. My mom then came along and ripped him apart and made him apologize.

I spent so much time at that mall growing up. It really is a shame that place has turned into just another cookie-cutter, charm-free shopping center. You don't know what you have 'til it's gone.

As someone else mentioned, the Bird Cage restaurant was atop the Lord & Taylor across the street from the mall, and it was always a treat to go there. Someone mentioned the British pub that's in the neighborhood now-- that was Brinkley's Lounge for many years.

My parents still live over there, but the area sure has a different feel to it today.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Batista ()
Date: November 30, 2011 07:57AM

It seems to have improved from what it used to be
Attachments:
mexicans1.jpg

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Joven ()
Date: November 30, 2011 03:51PM

Memories.......

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: ShooterMaghee ()
Date: December 02, 2011 10:06AM

Any body remember the Old Country Squire Restaurant across from the Old Lord and Taylor? I think the place has been demolished and there are now condos on the site. But back in the 70's and 80's they served some great food and the wedding preceptions and Christmas parties were fun times.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: ShooterBurgerSpecial ()
Date: December 02, 2011 05:27PM


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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Susan ()
Date: December 28, 2011 09:57PM

Anyone remember the name of the store at the old Lord & Taylors, which later became Sears. I think it started with an "E"? It's driving me crazy.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: BITD ()
Date: December 29, 2011 12:34AM

Susan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyone remember the name of the store at the old
> Lord & Taylors, which later became Sears. I think
> it started with an "E"? It's driving me crazy.


"Evans" ?

Sort of like Best or W Bell & Co., an in-store catalog ordering system?

I don't remember one being in that building, but I could be wrong.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: December 29, 2011 08:18AM

Susan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyone remember the name of the store at the old
> Lord & Taylors, which later became Sears. I think
> it started with an "E"? It's driving me crazy.

It was Calador. A store along the lines of Ames and Kmart
It became Sears after Calador closed.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: December 29, 2011 08:29AM

ShooterMaghee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Any body remember the Old Country Squire
> Restaurant across from the Old Lord and Taylor? I
> think the place has been demolished and there are
> now condos on the site. But back in the 70's and
> 80's they served some great food and the wedding
> preceptions and Christmas parties were fun times.

I remember the Country Squire. I delivered papers in the Chateaux apartments next to the Country Squire. I think there are townhouses there now.
My mom told me that she read in the paper back then, that one Thanksgiving the Country Squire served some bad turkey and some people died from it and that is what lead to them closing. Anyone else ever heard that?

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Tasty food ()
Date: December 29, 2011 10:08PM

How about the nearby Hot Shoppes with the curbside service? Thy would hang the tray with food on the side window of your car.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Bill.N. ()
Date: December 29, 2011 11:17PM

Tasty food Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about the nearby Hot Shoppes with the curbside
> service? Thy would hang the tray with food on the
> side window of your car.

I didn't know there was a Hot Shoppes at 7 Corners. I am fairly certain there was one at Baileys Crossroads, a few miles down route 7.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Tasty food ()
Date: December 30, 2011 12:32AM


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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: DH ()
Date: December 31, 2011 08:01AM

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tasty food Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How about the nearby Hot Shoppes with the
> curbside
> > service? Thy would hang the tray with food on
> the
> > side window of your car.
>
> I didn't know there was a Hot Shoppes at 7
> Corners. I am fairly certain there was one at
> Baileys Crossroads, a few miles down route 7.


Only one I rmember is the one at Baileys, where Best Buy is now.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: JoeMama ()
Date: January 09, 2012 08:24PM

The curb service was at the A&W I think where the McDonalds is at Carlyn Springs and Route 7 near Skyline. It was a Roy Rogers for a long time and they kept the covered parking behind the place where they used to serve the cars.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: OldtimeResident ()
Date: January 09, 2012 10:14PM

JoeMama Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The curb service was at the A&W I think where the
> McDonalds is at Carlyn Springs and Route 7 near
> Skyline. It was a Roy Rogers for a long time and
> they kept the covered parking behind the place
> where they used to serve the cars.

That location was originally a Tops - the home of Pappy Parker Fried chicken before Roy Rogers. There were three Tops that I remember - The one in Seven Corners, The one in Bailey's Crossroads next to Toy's R Us that became the first Roy Rogers, and the one in Annandale where the Roy Rogers was on Columbia Pike. All three had car service.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2012 10:14PM by OldtimeResident.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: OldertimeResident ()
Date: January 10, 2012 06:05AM

Tops used to also be at Glebe and 50 (McDonald's is there now, used to be Gino's) and one on Rt 1 just south of the intersection with Buckman/Mt. Vernon Mem Hwy (235).

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Joven ()
Date: January 11, 2012 03:18PM

Gino's 50&Glebe? Good stuff; there used to be one on Columbia pike&4mile run.
McDonald's on Rt 7 & Carlyn Springs used to be a DMV.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: tops this ()
Date: January 11, 2012 08:30PM

There was also a Tops on Route 1 just south of Hybla Valley. It was at the top of the hill right past the old drive-in theater. There's now a restaurant called Amanacer that I believe is the old Tops

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: CJ ()
Date: August 18, 2012 05:35PM

The fast food place that became Roy Rogers in 7 Corners was a HOT SHOPPES JR one of the first few in a very short lived experiment.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Frank P ()
Date: April 03, 2013 02:44PM

The Donger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KBguy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Boy has Seven Corners changed. I worked there as
> a
> > teenager in the late 70s at Kitchen Bazaar. A
> > great place for a kid to work, they had a demo
> > kitchen and the cooks kept us fed. I remember
> > Crumpets of Georgetown across the hall, they
> had
> > Tshirts that said "eat me" on the back. Also
> > remember Woodies, Woolworths, Athens Pizza,
> where
> > I had my first gyro, Jordan Kitts, The Magic
> Pan,
> > Ritz Camera, Steven Windsor, and that little
> shoe
> > repair place under the escalator. Can't
> remember
> > any other stores that were there right now.
> This
> > was long, long before they put the world's
> worst
> > Home Depot there.
>
> That was back when white people lived there right?


I worked at Woodward & Lothrop AKA Woodies at Seven Corners Center from 1976 till 1983 and I do remember every store that KBguy wrote about, as well as; Tiffany's Bakery that was located at the bottom of the escalator, Karin's Florist on the upper level near Garfinkels, Joanne's Nuts at the top of the escalor and next to Athen's Pizza, their was a women's clothing store on the lower level as you left Woodies, Hahn's Shoes, a bank (name ?) on the lower level next to the escalator, S&W Cafeteria (which closed and became The Magic Pan). That is all I can remember of that charming little shopping center for yesteryear:-)

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Sleepy Holla ()
Date: April 03, 2013 03:07PM

@FrankP, Here is one for you from the 50's...
Attachments:
woodward-&-lothrop.jpg

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: love me some roy's ()
Date: April 03, 2013 08:19PM

The Varsity Shop was on the upper level. The owner always said that if i could carry out the Pinball machine that I could have it. Actually ran into the owner about 5 years ago. he had a place at Fair Oaks that was closing. cannot remember the store for the life of me.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Love This ()
Date: April 19, 2013 10:16AM

I grew up right there and hung out at 7 corners in the 70's... loved Athens Pizza, was friends with Jenny...whose family owned it. I loved 7 Corners then. I worked at the Lord and Taylor from 1980 to 1988 full time and loved my job there.... 7 Corners is totally different now as is all of Falls Church and Annandale...so sad to drive around there now. It used to be so nice and clean and upper class, now it is nothing but a shit hole filled with non english speaking people who have brought that entire area down to dirt!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: love me some roy's ()
Date: April 21, 2013 10:22PM

In response to the query about a Hot Shoppes restaurant at 7 corners, there was one located at 50 and Patrick Henry where the current McDonalds is. Closed in the mid late 70's, becoming Little Feet teen disco.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Larry Rafey ()
Date: May 06, 2013 05:31PM

I recall the earliesst days of the mall (I beleive it was about the very first one in the nation). I worked at The Country Squire and was friend of the owners (the Johnsons) back when I was at JEB Stuart in the early 60s. I later worked briefly at the Hot Shoppes, Jr. I used to take all my dates to the Hot Shoppes at the Crossroads where they did serve us outside as well as inside. Loved their banana splits but they also had the most luscious burgers like you just can't get anymore. I recall going to the drive in theatre at Bailey's Crossroads and watching the private planes take off at what is now Skyline. I also well recall the poly rides as my younger borther would ride on them almost every weekend. My father still lives nearby and I must say that, whenever I visits, I am so dissapointed at what a terrible rund down place the mall area has degenerated into. All that is left is the memory. But what memories. I still recall seeing D.C. in flames in 1968. You could actually see the flames from 7-Corners! Some memonries not so great!

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: scottydfl422 ()
Date: May 06, 2013 05:39PM

KBguy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Boy has Seven Corners changed. I worked there as a
> teenager in the late 70s at Kitchen Bazaar. A
> great place for a kid to work, they had a demo
> kitchen and the cooks kept us fed. I remember
> Crumpets of Georgetown across the hall, they had
> Tshirts that said "eat me" on the back. Also
> remember Woodies, Woolworths, Athens Pizza, where
> I had my first gyro, Jordan Kitts, The Magic Pan,
> Ritz Camera, Steven Windsor, and that little shoe
> repair place under the escalator. Can't remember
> any other stores that were there right now. This
> was long, long before they put the world's worst
> Home Depot there.


You forgot Garfinkle's

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: Montgomery ()
Date: May 06, 2013 07:16PM

love me some roy's Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Varsity Shop was on the upper level. The owner
> always said that if i could carry out the Pinball
> machine that I could have it. Actually ran into
> the owner about 5 years ago. he had a place at
> Fair Oaks that was closing. cannot remember the
> store for the life of me.


The store in Fair Oaks was Varsity Shop too. It's now a Hot Topic.

I also worked at Seven Corners.....sort of. I worked at Montgomery Ward in the early 80's. I think it's funny that one of the country's first, if not *the* first, indoor malls is now a strip center.

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Re: Seven corners in the late 70s
Posted by: love me some roy's ()
Date: May 07, 2013 08:35AM

montgomery------ I used to live on that side of 50, so going to "Monkey Wards" was permissable as a youth. They had a nice place to get a bite to eat by the automotive department and I am pretty sure a Coleco game system and a Brown Dirt Cowboy pinball machine up just down the aisle from there. Miss stores like that...

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