No memory of growing up in Linda Vista in the 1960s would be complete without stories of Jurgensen's, a neighborhood market that was the only commercial business in the area.
It was an upscale gourmet market, but to us, it was the first place other than school we went on our own. We rode our bikes there to buy candy bars for a nickel. We sweet-talked Rose in the bakery in exchange for a sugar cookie or two. We used our first pay phone. We looked at oddities like truffles, avocados, caviar, and $50 bottles of French champagne lined the shelves. I can still visualize the layout, and even some of the smells that were so prevalent while walking up and down the aisles.
The store closed in 1987 and was replaced with three homes. I guess some of other stores in the Jurgensen's chain lasted a bit longer before being shuttered, but I never visited any of them. There was this one Jurgensen's store for all I knew.
So, fast forward three decades to this box sitting here in Sacramento. My friends weren't sure where it came from, maybe an uncle who lived in LA a while back they suggested. But I've got dibs when they are ready to part with it.
Found this photo of the store in Linda Vista:
