The K-Mart cafeteria! C'mon, you can admit it. You ate there once or twice...even though it was
probably gross. What a place in the 70s - where else can you buy tires, a refrigerator, thank you notes and Veal Parmesan all under one roof??
I don't want to make this a K-Mart the store post, but it's hard to describe how prevalent K-Mart's were in the 1970s. They were like Wal Mart and Target - combined. It was the only nationwide store I can think of - maybe besides Ames - that sold the goods they did. So everyone went there - and everyone understood what a "blue light special" was.
So - you spent a few hours at K-Mart - there was no way you were getting in an out of there in 30 minutes - and then you get hungry. Well, why go anywhere else? I can't find any stats on how many K-Marts had cafeterias, but from an informal survey here at home, the Perring Parkway K-Mart had one and the Marysville K-Mart did not. So, 50%?
Actually, as I did more research, many K-Marts had two eating places - a full cafeteria in the back that served hot food, and a delicatessen up front that served lunchmeat and subs in the front. I think I had these subs once or twice - an easy grab and go lunch for the kids for under a dollar! Loaded with bologna and lots of ham.
In reality, we never ate at the cafeteria - no Salisbury steak specials at K-Mart that I miss. However, there were two things they sold that we (Layup and I) got and that I fondly recall:
1. The big bag of popcorn! Ah yes, I vaguely - very vaguely - remember sitting in a cart in the 70s at KMart with my hand halfway down a 2-foot long bag of popcorn. Remember those bags? They were made of flimsy paper and after 10 minutes, the paper was all grease-laden and just a mess to handle, forcing Mom to buy some wet wipes. But the popcorn was great!
2. As we got older - the ICEE! Yes, it seemed K-Mart had the monopoly on Icee's in the 70s and 80s. Could you get them anywhere else? There were only two flavors back then - everyone was aware of this - Cherry and Cola. There was no rainbow or blue raspberry or foo foo crap like that. Pure artificial cherry flavor or the fine, natural taste of Coca-Cola. The Icee was a rare treat for only spcial occasions in our family.
In the 90s, K Mart went into a deal with Little Caesars to sell their pizza in stores; over 400 Little Caesars stations were opened in the early 90s and another 1000 stores had K cafeteria that sold Little Caesars pizza. Well, this was not a good business deal for Little Caesars as K-Marts started to close around the country with the growth of Wal Mart and Target....to where it is now. There are 70 stores still remaining in the US - I don't think any of them have a K Mart cafeteria in them......
What's more stable? The current state of the K-Mart brand or the state of Freddie Kitchens' job? I'll leave that up to the reader. On to the games:
Atl 23, Car 20. Normally, I would go against the team that fired their head coach during the week - but this departure is odd. Hugs, kisses everywhere between the Panthers and Rivera. I'll stay away.
Bal 24, Buf 23. I continue to believe that the Ravens are vulnerable to a good running team - and the Bills are that, with the added plus of Allen. How many good games can the Ravens play in a row?
GB 24, Was 17. The Packers are not that good defensively - and Washington can dominate them with the run. I don't expect the Pack to lose in Lambeau, but this will be closer than some expect.
Hou 31, Den 20. I like the Denver run game matchup vs. a Houston team reading their press clippings. But the Texans have too much firepower to lose this game.
Min 34, Det 14. A get right game for the Vikings. We have tape on Blough now, and Cousins is desperate for a win - better to get it at home!
NO 26, SF 23. Can't get a read on this game. Good matchup on both sides - I think this is more of a test for the Saints given their recent performance.
NYJ 31, Mia 20. OK, everyone can stop kissing the Dolphins' ass. They still have no defense. 41 given up to the Browns, 33 to the Eagles....that's the issue here.
Ind 24, TB 20. I'm getting off the Winston bandwagon. The Colts did not play bad last week, and their defense is still strong.
Jax 27, LAC 24. Who knows? How many games can the Chargers give away? I think Minshew gives the Jags much more of a chance to win than Foles.
Pit 20, Arz 16. Very impressed with the Steelers defense. Their offense is just Duck heaving the ball downfield...and trying to get a PI. No, I'm still not bitter from last week.
NE 26, KC 17. I know, I have too much belief in Belicheck. They can't lose two in a row to AFC contenders, can they? Don't answer that.
Ten 30, Oak 24. Tannehill can manage a game vs. one of the worst defenses in the NFL; Carr will have to carry the Raiders O because of the Titans run D. I don't believe he can do it.
LAR 23, Sea 21. A lower scoring game for this divisional rematch. Should be another close game, with the Rams run D stopping Carson and Russell's ability to escape the pocket.
Phi 30, NYG 20. Eli's swan song! Who knows if the Eagles will be ready to play for this game. I'll stay away.
Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 4-8; overall: 84-91-3
ATS; last week: 3-5; overall: 46-58-2
O/U: last week: 1-3; overall: 38-33-1
Buf +6
Was +12
Den/Hou over 42.5
Min -12.5
SF/NO over 44.5
NYJ -5.5
Mia/NYJ over 45.5
Ind +3
Jax +3
Pit/Az under 43.5
NE -3
KC/NE under 47
Ten -3
Ten/Oak over 47.5
Sea/:AR under 47
Supercontest picks: last week: 2-3; overall: 28-37
Was +12.5
Min -13
NYJ -5.5
Ind +3
NE -3
I don't want to make this a K-Mart the store post, but it's hard to describe how prevalent K-Mart's were in the 1970s. They were like Wal Mart and Target - combined. It was the only nationwide store I can think of - maybe besides Ames - that sold the goods they did. So everyone went there - and everyone understood what a "blue light special" was.
So - you spent a few hours at K-Mart - there was no way you were getting in an out of there in 30 minutes - and then you get hungry. Well, why go anywhere else? I can't find any stats on how many K-Marts had cafeterias, but from an informal survey here at home, the Perring Parkway K-Mart had one and the Marysville K-Mart did not. So, 50%?
Actually, as I did more research, many K-Marts had two eating places - a full cafeteria in the back that served hot food, and a delicatessen up front that served lunchmeat and subs in the front. I think I had these subs once or twice - an easy grab and go lunch for the kids for under a dollar! Loaded with bologna and lots of ham.
In reality, we never ate at the cafeteria - no Salisbury steak specials at K-Mart that I miss. However, there were two things they sold that we (Layup and I) got and that I fondly recall:
1. The big bag of popcorn! Ah yes, I vaguely - very vaguely - remember sitting in a cart in the 70s at KMart with my hand halfway down a 2-foot long bag of popcorn. Remember those bags? They were made of flimsy paper and after 10 minutes, the paper was all grease-laden and just a mess to handle, forcing Mom to buy some wet wipes. But the popcorn was great!
2. As we got older - the ICEE! Yes, it seemed K-Mart had the monopoly on Icee's in the 70s and 80s. Could you get them anywhere else? There were only two flavors back then - everyone was aware of this - Cherry and Cola. There was no rainbow or blue raspberry or foo foo crap like that. Pure artificial cherry flavor or the fine, natural taste of Coca-Cola. The Icee was a rare treat for only spcial occasions in our family.
In the 90s, K Mart went into a deal with Little Caesars to sell their pizza in stores; over 400 Little Caesars stations were opened in the early 90s and another 1000 stores had K cafeteria that sold Little Caesars pizza. Well, this was not a good business deal for Little Caesars as K-Marts started to close around the country with the growth of Wal Mart and Target....to where it is now. There are 70 stores still remaining in the US - I don't think any of them have a K Mart cafeteria in them......
Atl 23, Car 20. Normally, I would go against the team that fired their head coach during the week - but this departure is odd. Hugs, kisses everywhere between the Panthers and Rivera. I'll stay away.
Bal 24, Buf 23. I continue to believe that the Ravens are vulnerable to a good running team - and the Bills are that, with the added plus of Allen. How many good games can the Ravens play in a row?
GB 24, Was 17. The Packers are not that good defensively - and Washington can dominate them with the run. I don't expect the Pack to lose in Lambeau, but this will be closer than some expect.
Hou 31, Den 20. I like the Denver run game matchup vs. a Houston team reading their press clippings. But the Texans have too much firepower to lose this game.
Min 34, Det 14. A get right game for the Vikings. We have tape on Blough now, and Cousins is desperate for a win - better to get it at home!
NO 26, SF 23. Can't get a read on this game. Good matchup on both sides - I think this is more of a test for the Saints given their recent performance.
NYJ 31, Mia 20. OK, everyone can stop kissing the Dolphins' ass. They still have no defense. 41 given up to the Browns, 33 to the Eagles....that's the issue here.
Ind 24, TB 20. I'm getting off the Winston bandwagon. The Colts did not play bad last week, and their defense is still strong.
Jax 27, LAC 24. Who knows? How many games can the Chargers give away? I think Minshew gives the Jags much more of a chance to win than Foles.
Pit 20, Arz 16. Very impressed with the Steelers defense. Their offense is just Duck heaving the ball downfield...and trying to get a PI. No, I'm still not bitter from last week.
NE 26, KC 17. I know, I have too much belief in Belicheck. They can't lose two in a row to AFC contenders, can they? Don't answer that.
Ten 30, Oak 24. Tannehill can manage a game vs. one of the worst defenses in the NFL; Carr will have to carry the Raiders O because of the Titans run D. I don't believe he can do it.
LAR 23, Sea 21. A lower scoring game for this divisional rematch. Should be another close game, with the Rams run D stopping Carson and Russell's ability to escape the pocket.
Phi 30, NYG 20. Eli's swan song! Who knows if the Eagles will be ready to play for this game. I'll stay away.
Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 4-8; overall: 84-91-3
ATS; last week: 3-5; overall: 46-58-2
O/U: last week: 1-3; overall: 38-33-1
Buf +6
Was +12
Den/Hou over 42.5
Min -12.5
SF/NO over 44.5
NYJ -5.5
Mia/NYJ over 45.5
Ind +3
Jax +3
Pit/Az under 43.5
NE -3
KC/NE under 47
Ten -3
Ten/Oak over 47.5
Sea/:AR under 47
Supercontest picks: last week: 2-3; overall: 28-37
Was +12.5
Min -13
NYJ -5.5
Ind +3
NE -3
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