And So They Go. (Or, Time Passages.)
Two things of note that I haven't, frankly, had time to address until now. Both are passings that while not very important in the grand scheme of things, have taken away a little of the character and uniqueness of our city; as well as marking the passing of a certain part of my (and others I know's) lives.
First, the news that O's is trying to clean up their image a little. Never mind those of us that though that their image was just fine, as a place you could feel at home, wanted and welcome, without being self-conscious. (In fact, you could be UN-conscious, and not be harmed.) That re-imaging came at the expense of the graffiti, bumper stickers, and miscellaneous junk in the back room.
Okay, the graffiti I could do without, although there was something comforting about reading the same stale jokes about Tim bucking too for the ten thousandth time on the way to the john (or on the way out the back door.) But I have to say, the whitewashed walls (the paint job is only about half done, and going slowly) has stripped the back room of most of its character. And most importantly, not only did they take down my stickers (no reall loss, but irritating....)
THEY TOOK DOWN THE SECOND GRADE SIGN OVER THE MIDDLE BOOTH ON THE BACK WALL--THE VERY SIGN THAT INSIPRED THE NAME OF THIS BLOG.
It appears that they are going after a more sedate clientele. But I wonder if the traditions that made the place unique are being whitewashed with the walls. Oh well. If that were the worst news, we would be all right. BUT....there's more.
It seems that one of Fort Wayne's most venerable traditions has also gone by the wayside recently; how recently, I can't say. But Power's Hamburgers is NO LONGER OPEN ALL NIGHT. The one thing that made them an indispensible part of the fabric of the community--gone. I can't begin to tell the stories of late nights at Powers that I personally had a hand in--and there are many more besides. No more breakfasts with Bob Sievers on his way to start the day at WOWO. No more sliders with light onions. No more chili. No more Egg Rolies (named after the late proprietor.) What the hell happened? One too many drunks? One too many hoodlums? One too many no-show employees? I don't know. But first the current owner closed the Maumee Street location...now the cutback of hours at Harrison Street. Could this be the beginning of the end? Hard to tell. But it's not a good sign, by any stretch of the imagination. And it's just another hole torn in the fabric of downtown...of Fort Wayne...and of my life (and that of many others I hold near and dear.)
As I've said time and time again....Change...isn't always progress.
First, the news that O's is trying to clean up their image a little. Never mind those of us that though that their image was just fine, as a place you could feel at home, wanted and welcome, without being self-conscious. (In fact, you could be UN-conscious, and not be harmed.) That re-imaging came at the expense of the graffiti, bumper stickers, and miscellaneous junk in the back room.
Okay, the graffiti I could do without, although there was something comforting about reading the same stale jokes about Tim bucking too for the ten thousandth time on the way to the john (or on the way out the back door.) But I have to say, the whitewashed walls (the paint job is only about half done, and going slowly) has stripped the back room of most of its character. And most importantly, not only did they take down my stickers (no reall loss, but irritating....)
THEY TOOK DOWN THE SECOND GRADE SIGN OVER THE MIDDLE BOOTH ON THE BACK WALL--THE VERY SIGN THAT INSIPRED THE NAME OF THIS BLOG.
It appears that they are going after a more sedate clientele. But I wonder if the traditions that made the place unique are being whitewashed with the walls. Oh well. If that were the worst news, we would be all right. BUT....there's more.
It seems that one of Fort Wayne's most venerable traditions has also gone by the wayside recently; how recently, I can't say. But Power's Hamburgers is NO LONGER OPEN ALL NIGHT. The one thing that made them an indispensible part of the fabric of the community--gone. I can't begin to tell the stories of late nights at Powers that I personally had a hand in--and there are many more besides. No more breakfasts with Bob Sievers on his way to start the day at WOWO. No more sliders with light onions. No more chili. No more Egg Rolies (named after the late proprietor.) What the hell happened? One too many drunks? One too many hoodlums? One too many no-show employees? I don't know. But first the current owner closed the Maumee Street location...now the cutback of hours at Harrison Street. Could this be the beginning of the end? Hard to tell. But it's not a good sign, by any stretch of the imagination. And it's just another hole torn in the fabric of downtown...of Fort Wayne...and of my life (and that of many others I hold near and dear.)
As I've said time and time again....Change...isn't always progress.
posted by Steve "Tiny" Michaels at 11:21 PM
5 Comments:
NO 24 hour Powers?
Truly the end of an era.
I remember finding powers closed at 2am (I walked there from C-Street for some grub) back when Katy's Kapers was still, in fact, named Katy's Kapers. I think it was in 2001 or 2002.
Nah.....I've been there since 2002. Used to go a lot when I worked late nights before. Perhaps, Andrew, you went on a Sunday morning (Saturday night late.)They've always closed on Sunday, and I got the impression that business determined WHEN on Sunday AM they locked the door.
At any rate, a sad state of affairs...and just as I start to work till the wee hours of the morning again.
That very well could be, I seem to remember being drunk, and the rest of the details are fuzzy. Normally, I'd make that particular walk in a car instead of hoofing it so that has to mean something...
I think it would be great if Taka Oka made sliders on those big flat-top grills they use. That place would smell so awful...yet appealing...
a kinder gental'er O's
its going to known as a Softball Bar...
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