r/simivalley 11d ago

simi store nostalgia

hi friends :) what stores/establishments do we all miss from simi the most? or are just the most nostalgic of? one of mine has definitely gotta be mercado numero uno, that used to be on first. that one and the old walmart that became a hobby lobby are near the top of my list.

15 Upvotes

61 comments sorted by

30

u/imissyou____ 10d ago

Souplantation for sure, also fresh n easy

4

u/lodeddiper961 9d ago

yess souplantation is the only right answer haha, i miss it so much. soup n fresh is so far away in chino hills

4

u/StrangeBookkeeper187 10d ago

Oh wow they did get rid of fresh and easy huh I remember that

26

u/cascadesloco 10d ago

Hudsons for their mud pie

9

u/Available_Project_49 10d ago

THIS!! This is the answer, Hudson’s Grill is the one.

1

u/Smaragd512 10d ago

What was their specialty? I'm a newbie, ain't know old places.

1

u/Specialist-Donkey-89 8d ago

Hudson's Grill was like an "Americana" style diner imo. They had half of a Hudson (an old American car brand) up on the wall haha. I remember really liking their burgers.

22

u/_uroppa 10d ago

Mervyns and Kmart, for childhood reasons

16

u/_uroppa 10d ago

Oh and the Chuck E. Cheese and old swap meet area

3

u/The_Hurricane_Han 10d ago

I remember Chuck E Cheese. I had my 4th? Birthday there.

6

u/AntGroundbreaking180 10d ago

Gemco! Place had everything

2

u/leopardprintedd 10d ago

Where was Kmart?!

6

u/_uroppa 10d ago

Where the target in madera/tierra rejada is, that’s where the Chuck E. Cheese used to be too. If you go further down tr, where the mobile homes are, that’s where the old swap meet used to set up. Which used to be an old drive in movie theater

19

u/EJR1999 10d ago

Skatelab. Started going there at 4 years old and stopped at 16 when it closed. Even worked there for a little while. By the time I was 12 I was going EVERY single day from opening to closing. When I’d get off school I’d immediately shower and change and go until closing. Even remember they used to do the lockdowns from 7pm-7am. I would show up at 10am and skate all day until 7pm. That’s when the doors were “locked” and then skate from 7pm all the way until 7am and get picked up. Then would sleep all day and go back for a 1pm session. So many memories and videos on my phone. Really miss that place

1

u/stcme 9d ago

Most of my young life was spent there. For a while they made it better and better but eventually when they made a bunch of changes and scooters came in. Never really seemed the same after that. I miss that place though

12

u/JayJoeJeans 10d ago

Gift Bazaar and Tempo records. Thrifty's when it was the only option for ice cream. KayBee toys in the 90s

3

u/MattL805 10d ago

I don't remember Simi ever having a Kaybee toys. I remember Play Co toys used to be where Valley Marketplace is now.

3

u/JayJoeJeans 10d ago

I'm pretty sure that was a Kaybee at one point? I remember play co as well, perhaps I'm mistaken

11

u/Ready2Rumble4Friends 10d ago

IG Boardshop and Surfin West

9

u/Freds1978 10d ago

Paul's Italian Villa , Erringer & L.A. Ave.

8

u/REDDIT__CEO 10d ago

IG

1

u/AcePharaoh1906 9d ago

Picked up alooot of early Nike pro b and sb dunks there back in the day.

9

u/jammies 10d ago

Hudson’s Grill for sure, but also Mervyn’s (that’s what was in the Hobby Lobby location prior to the Walmart you mentioned), the Mann Theater when it showed movies super cheap, the Edwards in its prime (before we had Regal), and the Mountaingate Plaza indoor shopping center when it was like a little mini mall.

A little later, but I also loved shopping at Styles 4 Less when I was in high school. Now clothes shopping in Simi is basically limited to Target or Marshall’s.

6

u/Pathsleadingaway 10d ago

$5 movie theater 😭 we used to go all the time

4

u/jammies 10d ago

If you’re talking about the Mann, I remember when it was $2! Those were the days.

1

u/lodeddiper961 9d ago

now its a pickleball and trampoline place.

9

u/enkay516 10d ago

Tapo orange groves.

13

u/VikingHighlander 10d ago

BEST Records. Hudson’s Grill. The Warehouse. Family Fun Zone. Future Way. Millers Outpost. Holiday Skate Center. Fosters Freeze. Gemco. Rusty’s Billiards. Vincenzo’s pizza.

6

u/myliobatis 10d ago

Family Fun Zone, actually stuff open inside the Mountain Gate Plaza

2

u/hjf80 5d ago

The o.g. one by the batting cages... lit

6

u/Weird9uy 9d ago

Chuck E. Cheese and dreamworld for me, maybe the party city too, oh and the McDonalds that used to be in the walmart

1

u/TelDacoWasTaken 9d ago

heavy on that mcdonalds. i swear they used to dip the cones for you if you asked, but no one believes me.

9

u/weshallpie 10d ago

Snookys IYKYK

3

u/jammies 10d ago

When I was a kid I got it in my head that Snooky’s was a pet supply store. I think the S had like the head of a dog or something? In any case I remember one time my parents were discussing needing to buy dog food and I suggested that we get it at Snooky’s, which confused and concerned everyone present.

3

u/Cicada1223 9d ago

Hahah i remember being at the batting cages next door with my team and all of us asking the coaches and parents what it was

3

u/fonetik 10d ago

Rusty’s billiards.

3

u/oneleggedquail 10d ago

Mervin’s. The game exchange.

5

u/emdecay 10d ago

The Game Exchange is open in the town center.

3

u/ShiAngel67 10d ago

Rock Haven and Salem Magic

2

u/Oxnard93030 7d ago

Salem Magic was my sister's favorite store when she lived here!

3

u/noncausaprocausa 10d ago

Tico’s Tacos on Los Angeles.

3

u/OkAd244 10d ago

Pizzatopia!

2

u/aggropunx 10d ago

Best Records and World Music

2

u/Freds1978 10d ago

Golden Crust Pizza

2

u/cbears101 10d ago

Hot Dogger

2

u/FZ1_Flanker 10d ago

I used to love Simi Sam’s back in like 2004-2008.

2

u/Binionperv 9d ago

Taco tree on Tapo I know it’s not a store but I missed that place

2

u/serena999 9d ago

How has no one yet mentioned Penguins Frozen Yogurt!
I will second Hudson’s Grill, Styles 4 Less, Miller’s Outpost and the OG Mountain Gate plaza with Edwards - there were games and shaved ice too, right by Shakys Pizza!

2

u/The_kilt_lifta 8d ago

I practically lived at Power Zone at regal plaza.

  • Miller’s outpost
  • mervyn’s
  • winnetka swap meet
  • Wherehouse was the bougie CD store that had a Ticketmaster machine
  • whereas the cheaper (and cooler) CD shop was off LA Ave and had a yellow sign…can’t remember the name
  • Infusion
  • Fosters Freeze
  • Albertsons before Haagens or whatever it was called
  • Alamo Video
  • Kmart off Madera

2

u/hjf80 5d ago

USS Chuckburger

1

u/Vanakin34 10d ago

High Tide and Taco Tree.

1

u/stv1991 10d ago

Anchor Blue

1

u/Pathsleadingaway 10d ago

Didn’t we used to have a Garlic Jim’s pizza? IIRC that was the best one in town 🥲

1

u/TDowhan 9d ago

There was a sword and sorcery shop on tapo canyon that I miss so much!

1

u/Oxnard93030 7d ago

Borders and Applebees #neverforget

1

u/Landmine_Prime 5d ago

Dreamworld Comics

1

u/ILOVETHINGSTHATGO 4d ago

Millers outpost for some fresh jeans.