Independence Boulevard through the years
Photos from four decades of the road we love to hate...
Independence as it crossed old Thompson Orphanage Farm, about 1955,
prior to building of Charlottetown complex.
Heavy Rain Flooded Intersection of Eastway & Independence. July 20, 1966.
LIGHTS OUT: The Krispy Kreme at Independence Boulevard and Hawthorne Lane
closed to make way for the widening of U.S. 74. (1994)
Traffic on Independence inbound at sunset. 1998.
Feb. 2000 - Independence Blvd. traffic passes Lebo's turning onto Albemarle Road.
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28 comments:
Hey those nice two lanes that are not used in the middle of Independence, except by buses and emergency vehicles once in a while were sold to us as High Occupancy lanes.
But then they said that would make too much sense and stop the light rail from getting in as folks demand more rail when they keep traffic tied up.
So it all works out like it should the tax sucking light rail is in place and new tax sucking rail in in the works.
I would love to see more old pictures of Charlotte. It brings back a lot of memories and it's fun to compare the locations to what they look like today
Thanks, Andy S. Maria David just started this blog, so please subscribe to it or check back frequently to see more photos from the Observer archives.
Sincerely,
Observer staff
Interesting how there are no pictures newer than 2000. I guess any newer than that would show the ruin that has fallen on E Independence neighborhoods since the widening of Independence started.
Edwin, the whole point of this blog is to show older photos of Charlotte. Thus the title, Retro Charlotte.
Parking lot at the Krspy Kreme, yeah, baby, that brings back some memories.
No pictures of the lingerie shop!!???
I remember my mom taking me and my brother to the AutoBurger and we could get filled up for less than $5.00.
I remember next to Lebo's was first, Chucky Cheese (first in state with a huge cheese crawl underneath) and CC was replaced later by the first ever Dine in(not drive in) Movie theater/Restaurant in the Region Called the Silver screen Cafe (saw eight men out there). Was cool because you could eat steak and drink beer while watching a film in regular dining cushy chairs. A few years later (after it closed) the Pterodactyl (under 21 club) opened. Good memories. I just wish someone had pictures of the old Regency Theater on Albermarle road (old torn down shopping center where the Aldi's is now). also love the pic of the old Krispy Kream. Walked across Independence many a nights to grab a doughnut or ta slurpie from the 7/11 behind the KK. Want some more flashbacks for those not from here. check out the group IDLEWILD CREW on facebook. Might learn something about the locale that the CO doesn't.
John Nuyen - I hope to post photos of old movie theaters soon. I loved going to the Capri on Independence!
Our family always started our beach trip going Independence / 74East. We almost always stopped at the Krispy Kreme on the way out, what a memory.
Thanks Maria, I have fond memories of going there as well. Think I saw either Superman or Star Wars there back then. Oh wanted to throw this out as well (was hiding around back of my brain). There used to be a little ice cream parlor in the walkway where Harris Teeter and TJ Max were combined on Independence. It became a Chinese dining place after the 80's. the shop is still there (boarded up and empty now next to the DMV tag place). but def good memories.
Great photos Maria---thanks for sharing!
I remember trying to turn left off the plaza onto east independence... nightmare. No left arrow and you might squeeze 3 cars each light cycle. The light cycles were nearly 5 minutes for independence and 30 seconds for the plaza.
John - I didn't know the Chinese place used to be an ice cream shop! Do you remember the little Coin Shop down the alleyway? btw, I knew the folks who ran Silver Screen -- loved it! Tx again for ideas!
The coin shop was Independence coin and they are still in business on Pineville Matthews road close to Carolina Place Mall.
Mayberry's Ice Cream
Yeah I remember the coin place (had a bunch of old Pennies appraised there out of curiosity once way back when) And thanks Anon, That was the place used to get triple scoop then. first place I saw down here with waffle cones to.
If you want to see something wierd,, check out this youtube video of Charlotte in 1986 http://youtu.be/3cYQi-J7vfQ
Check out Jeff's video and see if you notice the same things I did.
We changed fast over these last few years, our city is now dirty and nothing but traffic jams now.
Oh and another thing, but for some reason I forgot, I will look again.
Could we just plant rows of trees in front of the vacant buildings on Independence? What an ugly start for visitors to our city.
Before Silver Screen was called Cinema and Draft House. First memory of Independence was the first McDonalds in Charlotte, going there after swim meets at Rama Swim Club.
To John Nuyen @ 2:40........there is no group on fb called IDLEWILD Crew.......in caps or lower case. I even tried "the idlewild crew" and nothing came up.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1418564125040367/
is the address.
Larry pees sitting down
Great memories! we've been looking for something like this blog. Looking for a photo of the Charlotte Motor Speedway (1946-1956) located on Little Rock Rd. off of Wilkerson Blvd.
The Chinese restaurant at Pecan was the Ho-Toy. Had a waitress there named Rose who had been there since the 50's. We moved from Clanton/Revolution Park to Eastland/Sharon Amity in 68'. Only thing out that far was the Coliseum and a lone Stuckey's with a huge chicken out in front at Indep./Albermarle Rd. When it was ACTUALLY a suburb and Eastland was an idea.
Does no one remember what part of Independence was called when they first started building it.(NO RESEARCHING) Say from Sugar Creek back toward town.?
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