And the walls came tumbling down

Looking East over the old Dousamn St bridge. The old Port Plaza logo in the background and one of the anchor stores H.C Prange Co. to the right along with the old Ramada Inn (formerly the Beaumont and later would be a Day's Inn)

This is obviously not the most timeliest of postings on this subject, since the demolition is nearly complete. So now it is no better time than now to talk a little about the old Port Plaza shopping mall in downtown Green Bay, WI.

Like so many I too have fond memories of Port Plaza, from shopping with my parents when I was little to hanging out there as a young teenager. Some of the early memories are a blur and same as some of the dates for when certain things happened. I would have to say for me the best memories probably were from 13 to about 16 or about '87-'90. These were the days when I got my first job at Kroll's West making $3.35 and hour and I would take my bi-weekly paycheck to the bank then off to the mall and other places in the downtown area like Surfin' Bird Skate Shop , The Exclusive Company, and Imports Plus. The usual routine once we got to the mall was to stop at Osco Drug and buy a carton of Old Gold smokes, either meet someone or put in the call for a bag, stopping at either Taco Bell ($.49 menu items back then)

Old School Taco Bell Sign, anyone remember these?

 or McDonalds. I would always get the McChicken sandwich and put a BBQ sauce on it, back then they were virtually one giant Chicken McNugget not the gross version they are now. I also remember the windows clearly saying $.35 hamburgers and $.45 cheeseburgers.


Then how could a trip to the mall be complete without a stop at the Gold Mine arcade. I can remember when I was a real little kid and being with like my Mom, and when we would pass by it that it seemed so dark and mysterious. It was as if the place not somewhere little kids should go, like as if there was some shady pedophile lurking in there ready to kidnap a kid. Once I got older and started to go there quickly you realized it was nothing like the image I imagined as a real little kid.

I can remember getting my Ramone's style knock off Perfecto leather jacket from Wilson's Leather. Though it was not an expensive authentic one, it still was really good quality. I still wish I never sold it, though these days it is highly unlikely that I could wear it even in my dreams..haha

I also remember many times my Mom taking me out to eat at the Crockery or sitting with my Dad in Diamond Dave's while my Mom and Sister would be shopping. Orange Julius and Hot Sam were both favorites of mine. Back then it was great because both Port Plaza and Bay Park Square had them. though the Bay Park Square Orange Julius was better it was a sit down and had a full menu.

Looking at an old mall directory it said there was a Port Plaza Twin theater. That I do not remember at all, anyone who does remember should chime in on it. Was it short lived or what?



Now with the mall gone it is reminiscent in an eerie way of what the city had to do to pave the way for the mall to be built, basically create a big empty vacant area of land.

Downtown Green Bay 1950

Destroying the historic downtown

Looking North down Washington. These would be razed to add a 3rd anchor to the mall and a parking lot.

Concept Art for the mall and surrounding area 1974

The area that was razed facing Cedar what is now Main St, JC Penny would anchor this side of the mall.

Another picture showing the large amount of area that was razed then to make way for the redevelopment downtown then

Ironically it all comes full circle

It was fun when the mall was the place to be, but as with everything all good things eventually come to an end. For better or worse Green Bay tried to experiment with redeveloping the downtown back then just as they are doing it now. Every time we go out with the old and in with the new there will be those who oppose it and those who welcome it. There had to be obvious economic reasons back then and just as there is now to do what they are trying to do. If we don't take risks and bring in change we get stuck and then there is never any growth. I never got to really see downtown before the mall, I don't remember it. I have to imagine it was a dying area for awhile and not nearly as happening as people try to make it. If it was they would have never thought of redeveloping it. We tend to want to remember the past as a little better than it really was. Lets hope that the new phase of downtown redevelopment can bring a positive economic change back to the downtown area. Retro is in so I guess we should take advantage of it along with the modern too, just make it built to last a couple decades and give room for growth and improvement too.

Just so happened yesterday :P^^

So I was biking to the store yesterday to pick up some milk and I was going to bike downtown, but my bike is such a pain and it also was a bit chilly yesterday. I had planned to get some Japanese food for lunch but instead ended up going to Margarita's at 1241 Lombardi Access Rd Green Bay WI
This is another one of those places I just really like. One dish I can never get enough of is their  Spicy Chicken Chipotlé Molé, it also comes in pork as well. Besides the standard dish they also offer it in a burrito and chimichanga versions as well. I was able to make it in yesterday during lunch time and because my eyes are bigger than my stomach I ended up ordering too much food. I went with the Chicken Chipotlé Molé chimichanga and their 2 crispy taco (shredded beef) lunch special. 

Could have used some help eating all this!!

1961 Wild Turkey Ad

I also had a really good Wild Turkey and Coke along with some of their house chips and salsa. Everything I had to eat and drink yesterday at Margarita's was fantastic, just as it is every time I go there.It is no wonder the places that are consistently good in the quality of food they serve will always get me to keep coming back time and time again. Margarita's isn't some small mom and pop type Mexican place, it has the feel of a national chain in appearance but I do recommend it none the less. I know I feel lucky to live about one mile from it, so I can easily bike there and back (help burn off the calories I eat there...haha).

On another note, while I was at the grocery store yesterday I took a stop in the Liquor store as well. Copps Food Center liquor store had 12 pack bottles of Blue Moon products on sale for $11.99. I thought this was a pretty good deal for Copps so I picked myself up a summer sampler pack. This is a new version of the summer sampler, it has 4 different beers compared to the usual 3. The original three Pale Moon; Belgian White; Summer Honey Wheat are all there, but this time they also included some limited edition Agave Blonde Ale. Yesterday I was so stuffed and super tired that all I had was the three Pale Moon that came in the 12 pack. The kids go with their mother this weekend so I will be checking out the Agave Blonde Ale tonight, as well as drinking up the rest too. I mean we wouldn't want any of the other bottles to feel lonely now would we?

Funny how I left the house yesterday with one plan and in the end it ends up being completely different than what I had originally planned. Oh well, the day was still good despite the change in plans and the not so great chilly and eventually rainy weather.

Pretty cool !!^^ Scale of the Universe

User ArlJim78, over on the Pace Advantage horse racing forum, posted a link in the off topic section on the 15th of April. This is a interactive Universe to scale, from the smallest known in theory to the largest known. I thought it was pretty cool to get a perspective of just how small and how large things in our Universe really are. This is the second edition from this site, virtually the same thing just that this one is a little larger in terms of viewing size and of course some different objects they use.

Well here is the link, I hope you enjoy it The Scale of the Universe 2

Hubble Ultra Deep Field

Here is a video zooming in on the Hubble Ultra Deep Field picture.

Lambeau Construction

Lambeau Field prior to current construction

So I figured I should post the video I took yesterday showing some of the Lambeau Field construction. The current construction is seeing the installation of two new HD scoreboards, new gate, and additional seating to the south end-zone.

Sorry the video is a bit noisy with the wind from the car.!!

Lambeau really has grown up so much since the days of living at my parents old house across the street on Shadow Lane. Sadly though the neighborhoods around Lambeau, even though still fun party atmosphere, are not like they use to be. It has almost turned into a commercialization and harassment to get people to park at the houses surrounding Lambeau. Still either way it is one of the coolest neighborhoods you could ever live in. I am still glad I am within a mile of Lambeau, I don't think I have ever lived more than 2 miles away to be honest. 

Here are a few older Lambeau Pictures taken from my parents old backyard. They are in no particular order in regards to what year, enjoy!