One of our customers at Spring Mountain tells us all about what USED to be here on the Coast & HMB. He often expresses longing for places that are no longer here. The OLD Cunhas Country Store & Grocery, the one that burned down in 2003. Peg Erikson's Gallery, or, more recently, the La Di Da Café, which served delicious pastries with your coffee, where you could dawdle and read a newspaper, or have your artwork hang on their walls.
Along the Coastside, many places - mostly restaurants - have bit the dust.
Who can recall the Crab Cottage in Princeton? The Village Green Restaurant, in El Granada? Sharon's in Montara? Or, when Barbara's Fish Trap was "Paul & Barbara's?" The ill-fated Charter House? A few even miss the old Montara post office. For the long-timers, there are many places which are missed.
But missing something doesn't necessarily mean that it is gone....some of these places are still here, but the folks who used to live here, and don't anymore, miss them.
My question: "What HMB/Coastside Places Do You Miss?" got some interesting answers:
Terry Baldwin: "The old Miramar, when they only served clams and hamburgers and Frank Torres old place. "
Laura Grigg: "I miss the beach, the horseback riding along the beach. I do not miss the fog, or the steep hills I had to walk to get to the beach. :) "
Michaele Benedict “There used to be a men's clothing store on Main Street in Half Moon Bay, called George's Toggery. The owner would buy our "spare" live roosters when we lived out on Purisima. We didn't like to slaughter chickens, and the store owner liked 'em fresh, so when we had too many roosters, we'd take one or two live ones down there. I think he gave us about $3.50 a bird.”
Deb: "I really miss June Morrall - not a place, but a person. I used to be able to ask her about this historic stuff. In her blog about George's Toggery she writes: 'George’s Toggery in Half Moon Bay was a favorite Main Street landmark because the historic hitching post on the street outside reminded locals that horse and carriages once carried folks to town to shop.'"
Rebecca Newlin: "Kerri's, Nick's, Peet's HMB, Sam's coffee shop, Sam's Chowder House, and SPANISHTOWN....oh my Spanishtown.hmmm, all food places."
Diane Mollison: "I lived in HMB for 12 years before moving back to the Peninsula. What I miss is the fresh ocean air! I miss the Andreotti barn on Kelly where I would buy my produce. I miss the 'original' Cunha's Store. And, how I LOVED the Bad Otter Restaurant on HI 1. It wasn't there long, but I loved those burgers."
Vi Heather McKay: " I miss the community, small town~ from Montara to Pescadero we would all come together. kindness for other, having manners. I live on the peninsula I really miss the the small town atmosphere."
Question to the reader: What HMB Coastside places do YOU miss?
