Anyone remember Rudy's Variety Stores

[bikeboy]

The countless hours I used to spend in the aisles of Rudys in Clovis on Pollasky, or by Foodland near Hoover High. I grew up on 7th street near there. There was always something interesting for me to look at there.

[katiedidnot]

I remember them all, perfectly. I can still smell Rudy's. The candy counter sweets mixed with the plastic smell of the whole glorious scene. I remember buying many SuperBalls there and always, a little blue paper bag of candy corn. My mom would get the bridge mix, and my sister would always choose malt balls.

[dclaet]

Rudy's Variety store there at First and Barstow was such a neat, old-fashioned store. The candy counter, with the oak wood and glass partitioned candies were the greatest. I remember the giant metal scoops that they used and then they would weigh the candy on the scales. I loved buying goldfish there and Creeping Charlie plants, among other items.

The elderly manager, Mr. Rudy, I assume, was always wearing his red and white striped jacket. I would ride my shiny chrome Stingray bicycle with the banana seat and chrome handlebars to Foodland, crossing a very barren First street to run errands for my mother. Not much traffic back then. My mom always gave me a dime for my efforts, which I spent on their gumball machines, hoping for the pretty ring in the front. Joan was my mother's favorie check-out clerk there.

[1christone1]

I spent a great deal of free time using my allowance money on toys, model cars, and airplanes, comic books, and magazines, at Rudy's First and Ashlan, next door to the C & C market.

[Linkslady]

We went to the one on Belmont between Cedar & Maple I think.
Seems like I remember wooden floors.

[Former Resident]

I too have fond memories of the one on Belmont. I was always taken with the candy counter. I would beg my mother for some of the chocolate stars.
Also, there was a wonderful bakery next door to this particular Rudy’s store. The bakery had an impressive glass door that was adorned with a cylindrical glass handle handle attached with two heavy metal mounting brackets. Wonderful chocolate chip cookies there.

[Clipper cat]

Former Resident struck a chord with the mention of the bakery next door to the Belmont Rudy's. It was a tiny independent shop with some magical talent on hand. When I lived in a small 2nd floor apartment on White I would occasionally buy some breakfast treats on a weekend with my few dimes of starving-college-student funds (back in the 1960s). My mom was a gifted baker herself, but this outfit made a cake (pink champagne?) that rivalled her considerable skills. Still think of this place occasionally. Thanks for the memories from another former resident!

[Guest]

Vague memories of the branch in Fig Garden Village. It was new then 🤠

[Guest]

I remember the one in Fig Garden Village that had nuts in a glass case on a turntable with a heat lamp. The Sesame sticks were the cheapest and that's the one I always got

[arfire75]

First and Barstow