Drive-In Car Wash closes after 64 years in business
The Drive-In Car Wash on Sixth Street is closing its door after 64 years in business, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Springfield, Ill. The car wash has built and started by Henry Grebler in 1955 and was taken over and ran by his son, Peter Grebler, in 1972. Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register
From The State Journal-Register: Sam Madonia began his wedding day at the Drive-In Car Wash.
That was June 7, 1969.
“I was staying on Fifth Street and woke up and decided to get the car washed. Then I drove to Lincoln and got married,” said Madonia, visiting the same car wash one last time.
The car wash at 1814 S. Sixth St. with the iconic neon sign closed Tuesday after being in business more than 64 years.
Peter Grebler’s father, Henry, started it in 1955, modeled on car washes he had seen in Madison, Wisconsin. Peter Grebler began running it in 1972 after his father had heart surgery.
“Forty-seven years is a lifetime,” said Peter Grebler, in the cashier’s booth overlooking the line at his full-service car wash.
Iconic neon sign along Lomas comes down
From KRQE: Watch Video
Top 10: State Farm downtown building sale
A worker applies a new coat of red paint to the bright red neon sign that blazes atop the tower of the State Farm Downtown Building in 2013. DAVID PROEBER, PANTAGRAPH FILE PHOTO
From The Pantagraph: BLOOMINGTON — When a planned sale fell through, State Farm sent shock waves through Bloomington-Normal with news it would demolish its original headquarters in downtown Bloomington, birthplace of the largest property-casualty and automotive insurer in the U.S.
A purchase agreement with an undisclosed buyer was announced in March, but State Farm issued a statement July 18 that the sale fell through and the building would be torn down, citing the continued costs of maintaining the building and the negative impact on downtown of leaving it vacant.
The masonry, art deco-style landmark is listed as a contributing property for the Bloomington Central Business District’s listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Seattle losing part of its history as University Seafood and Poultry closes
VIDEO: Pike Place newsstand and University and Seafood closing on New Year’s Eve
From KIRO: In the same week, both the Pike Place Market newsstand and University Seafood and Poultry closed.
When the University Seafood and Poultry first opened, Dale Erickson was a teenager. Now at 91-years-old, he’s hanging it up.
“It’s getting harder to get the type of product we want in here,” said Erickson. “It’s getting harder to get the workers too.”
Op-Ed: Many Americans drop the ball on New Year’s Eve
The ball drops during the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in New York. Brent N. Clarke / AP
From The Center Square: “New Years is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody.”
– Mark Twain
As the confetti in Time Square falls at the stroke of midnight each year, the New York winter winds carry a stream of insanity throughout the world. It brings with it a storm of vows, pledges, hugs and kisses, and even fights as people get caught in the chase on New Years Eve. According to the New York Post, there are more guns fired New Year’s Eve than on any other holiday. Over 100 million people go to parties and 200 million watch events on TV. More alcohol is consumed on New Year’s Eve and more people wake up hung over than any other holiday. And 3 percent of the party-goers never make it home, while one in 12 forget or regret what they even did New Year’s Eve.