PARKWAY HAD THE MALTS


Dennis Hoffman and I loved chocolate malts. Parkway Sundries was located across the street from the Shoe Factory where I was once promised a Summer job. At one time, it was a very busy factory in MTV. They even blew their loud whistle at noon and closing time. It could be heard from blocks away.

Also Horace Mann Grade School was right across the street. Next to Parkway Sundries was a tavern called The Corner. Surprisingly, it's the only one of the four still in operation, though Horace Mann and the Shoe Factory may house other enterprizes now.

But Max Stull's Parkway is no more. And it wasn't because of the malts. Thick and chocolatey and served in those cold tumblers, you got plenty for a quarter. There were other guys who'd make the walk of about six blocks to partake, but I remember having most of my drinks with Dennis or Butch as we called him in old neighborhood days. We'd sit at the counter where he served lots of burgers for noon time workers at the factory. He had magazines and art supplies, too. Some that you couldn't get anywhere else in town.

An old fashioned bowling machine was in the south corner and sometimes after a haircut about three doors down, I would stop and pump a dime in the machine before walking back home. I don't think I was very proficient at it, but it was fun. But those chocolate malts...