Posted in Cleveland
May 01, 2017
10 Things You’ll Remember If You Grew Up In the 80s In Cleveland
If you grew up in the 1980s in Cleveland, you probably have some pretty awesome memories. After all, Cleveland is and was an amazing city. Let’s take a step back in time and reminisce with these ten 80s memories, shall we?
Cleveland wouldn't be Cleveland without the cheesy comedy of Big Chuck and Little John. The duo had a local TV series that began in 1979 and ran through 2007. The pair was known for their slapstick comedy routines, which often poked fun at their Polish heritage.
Santa's Cleveland sidekick, Mr. Jingeling, dates way back to the 1950s, but he was just as popular in the 80s. Children knew his song by heart and they'd line up to see him (and his pal Santa as well) at Halle's, and later Higbee's, department stores around the holidays.
Speaking of Higbee's, the downtown department store holds a special place in the memories of anyone who grew up in Cleveland in the 1980s. It was a big deal to head down to Higbee's for a special dress or suit or Christmas gifts. Who could forget that holiday display window?
This was back when The Browns were a great team-- and before they left for Maryland in Model's great betrayal. These were the Kardiac Kids under the leadership of Sam Rutigliano. Those were the days, weren't they? Anyone remember that song "The 12 Days of a Cleveland Browns Christmas" from 1980?
Being a kid (or an adult) in the 80s meant dining at Bob's Big Boy. If only social media had been around back then; those pictures with that big cartoon boy in the checkered overalls would be all over the internet. Remember piling your plate high at the Big Boy salad bar? Of course you do.
Ah, the 80s. The pre-Walmart, pre-Target era. Back then, we had Zayre (and Ames and Hills, too). The cashier had to input each item by hand at the checkout, because there were no optical scanners or UPC codes in the retail realm back then.
Clevelanders are still sore about the closing of our beloved amusement park, Geauga Lake. But back in the 80s, the park was flourishing. This was long before it got bought out by Six Flags or Cedar Fair; this was back when it was an old school fun park that was perfect just the way it was. Can you remember waiting in line for the Flying Bobs? Oh, the memories...
Finast was the first real supermarket to hit the Cleveland market. We had Pick-&-Pay and Stop & Shop, but when Finast came on the scene, we all stared in amazement at its enormity and vast selection of... everything. Maybe you picked up a box of Mr. T cereal at Finast... just maybe.
It was located across the lake from Geauga Lake, and it was a theme park many 1980s Clevelanders remember well. We can still feel the splash of Shamu and Mamu's live show on our skin...
Before Jacob's Field and Cleveland Browns Stadium came Cleveland (Municipal) Stadium. This 80,000 seat arena housed the Browns, the Indians, and special events before it was demolished (and rightly so-- it was falling apart at the seams) in 1996.
What other memories do you have of the CLE back in the 80s?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.