Kristian Knutsen
Nick's, Goodman Jewelers and the Orpheum Theatre are a few among the handful of businesses on State Street that were open in 1966.
In this week's You Are Here column, I write about what Madison was like when my parents brought the family here from Los Angeles in 1966. While much of Mad City today would be recognizable to a resident of 40 years ago, other aspects of Wisconsin's capitol have been transformed. Little of State Street circa 1966 remains, for example, and to stroll along its length then is to take a walk down Memory Lane.
The scattered survivors listed in bold remain on State.
Starting from Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge at 101 State St., the first block was also home to Commercial State Bank, Olson's women's clothing, Dykman's Repair, Dykman's Restaurant, Dyer's Shoe Store, Gersbach Voice Studio, Leath Furniture, a YWCA, Smith's Jewelry, Art Mart, Blum's Jewelry and Trophies, the Gourmet Shop restaurant and deli, Murie's jewelers and Kissin Cuzzin's confection shop.
On the 200 block: Singer Sewing Center, The Big Shoe Store, Paul's Club, the Capitol and Orpheum theaters, Arenz Shoe Co., Madison Pen and Card Shop, Montgomery Ward, Weber's Restaurant, Goodman's Jewelers, The Clothes Post, Thom McAn Shoes, Nick's Restaurant, Sergenian's Carpets, Rentschler Floral, Capitol Tog Shop, a tailor and seamstress shop, Gill's Men's Wear, Caramel Crisp Shop, Madison Paint and Wallpaper and Colonial Shoppe furniture store.
The 300 block included a dentist, Triangle Superette, Madison Musicians Association, Stephenson Insurance, Christian Science Reading Room, DiSalvo's Casa Di Pizza, DiSalvo's Chicken on Wheels, Pyx & Post coin & stamp shop, Uptown Shoe Repair, Hack's Furniture and Appliance, Sonotone of Madison, Central Barber Shop, Chicken Delight, a tavern, Tellus Mater, Uptown Grill, Fur Fin & Feather, Riley's Liquor, Condon Jewelers, Spudnut bakery, Wisconsin Blue Print Co., Lindsey's Shell gas station and Neff's Beauty Salon.
Continuing along the 400 block, shoppers found Victor Music, Badger Liquor, Capitol Hearing Aid Center, Remington-Rand Electric Shaver Service, Meuer Photoart House, Patti Music Co., Peet Paint Co., Wood's Corset Shop, Badger Sporting Goods, Martin's Tailor Shop, Wisconsin Beauty School, Bluteau's meat market, Army Surplus Store, Ella's Deli, Wisconsin Typewriter Co., Dane County Guidance Center, U.S. Army and Air Force recruiting centers, Beecher's Stereo, Tony & Len's Barber Shop, Gargano's Pizzeria, Electric Shaver & Pen Service, Schwartz Jewelers, an optometrist, State Street Wee-Wash laundry, College Boot Shop and Chocolate House Ice Cream & Candy.
On to the 500 block, past Stop & Shop grocery, another stamp and coin collectors' shop, Gum Chow laundry, Jones Typewriter & Office Equipment, Oriental Specialties, Wehrmann's leather goods, Meuer Art & Picture Frame, Block System cleaners, The Church Mart, Pinneke Fur Salon, Nedrebo Formal Wear, Davis Frank Co. business machines, Coryell Jewelers, Chesty's Restaurant, Stemp Typewriter, Hershleder Furs, Sanitary Violet Ray Wash & Dry, Spic & Span laundry, Gino's Restaurant, Varsity Bar, One Hour Martinizing, Pic-A-Book, Michael's Shoe Service, Toddle House Restaurant, Jean's Campus Talls women's clothing, Kazik Jewelers, The Pub, Yarn Bar, Olson & Son men's clothes, Pantorium Cleaners and the Campus Corner Beauty Shop.
The 600 block started with The Perfume Shop and continued with Hansen Imports from Denmark, Fireside Pancake House, State Barber Shop, Mitchell Optical Dispensary, Cardinal Beauty Shop, Yost's Beauty Lane, The Grotto Restaurant, Yost's Campus Shop, a photographer's studio, a geophysical consultant's office, Haslem Gallery, Redwood & Ross men's wear, Wagner's Town & College women's clothing, Petrie's Sporting Goods, Rengstorff Book Store, DeLonge Photo Studio, College Barber Shop, the Italian Village and Burgerville restaurants, Travel Ease, Discount Records, Troia's Steak House, Antoine's women's clothing, a second College Barber Shop, the Warner-Medlin Photo Studio, Paul's Books and a Rennebohm Drug Store.
On the 700 block, there was Andere's men's wear, University Book Store, Calvary Lutheran University Chapel and Student Center, the Kollege Klub tavern, St. Paul's University Chapel and Student Center, UW's Memorial Library and the University Club.
If you live in Madison back then, go ahead and exhale a nostalgic sigh.
