PRINTM.I.A. Memories
May 15, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
The past 10 years have seen huge changes in Columbia — some more welcome than others. Favorite restaurants, recreation areas and businesses may be long gone, but their impact remains in the memories of area residents.
Ellie Stansberry
Time lived in Columbia: 20 years
How has Columbia changed?: Ever since that marketing started downtown to make it The District, it has done well. The new storefronts of Broadway have changed within the last five years. The face of downtown has changed. The newest thing that I’m excited about is the new YouZeum. I went on a tour, and it’s like The Magic House mixed with the (St. Louis) Science Center. All local artists have come together. It is the first place that 5-year-olds and 65-year-olds can do something together.
What do you miss?: There used to be a restaurant called Widman’s. It was so cool. I loved it when I was a little kid. Everyone would go to watch the train go around the top of the entire restaurant. At night it turned into a bar scene. It was the most diverse and really fun atmosphere.
Jill Graham
Time lived in Columbia: 23 years
How has Columbia changed?: Probably the biggest change is how much it’s grown — and not necessarily in population. I do think that since I’ve moved here, there has been an interest in improving downtown and making downtown better. It is much more attractive.
Now there is no smoking. That is a big change. They have also made the Flat Branch Park area really nice with the goal of making it a downtown walking area.
What do you miss?: There used to be a skate station by Stephens Lake. We would go (skating) there when my kids were young.
Linda Green
Time lived in Columbia: 23 years
How has Columbia changed?: We had a business downtown – Acorn Books. When we came here, there were nine empty spaces from Broadway to Locust. It looked like a downtown that was hurting. Once the mall opened, there was an exodus of businesses. Then when Lakota came, that was the beginning of turning things around. The street seemed to perk up and the spaces began filling in.
What do you miss?: Glen’s (now located in Boonville). It was a Cajun restaurant — unusual food. I really miss having Columbia Theater downtown. One of the productions was Little Mary Sunshine; my husband was an actor in that production.
John Blodgett
Time lived in Columbia: 9 1/2 years
How has Columbia changed?: I work at the university. There are changes within the area that I work in. In the department that I work in, there were 25 people that I worked with there. Now, there are five left.
What do you miss?: I miss the old grocery store Megamart. We now have a lot more Wal-Marts. It was my favorite grocery store. Now, we have HyVee. There wasn’t anything super(sized). It was a nice store, and it went under. It was out there in the Broadway shopping center at Broadway and 63.
