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Around Town April 30, 2026 7:00 am

Around Town 04.30.26

By Observer Staff

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We asked Plant City:
If you could walk into any Plant City business of the past, what would it be?

What about Toy King in the old mall and the Ice Cream Shop after! Got my ears pierced at Strawberry Pond. Porters had best fried chicken on a Sunday after church. What about the Chinese buffet that was where IHOP is now? That was so good. Also loved the Christmas shoppe at Wallers Hardware! Kmart….always smelled of popcorn!

Krysta Lawson Johnson

Branch Ranch. I live 5 minutes from where it used to be, and I never got to eat there

Stephanie Connoy

Burger chef for sure, paid 25 cents for a burger go to the salad bar and you could put as much vegetables as you want, when you’re broke that was not a bad deal.

Marco Ortega

Daphne Blanton let’s add: Waterburger and Burger Queen and Nippy’s and Christy’s Pizza and Ginos and Shumans and The Other Brother and Carols Dress shop and Toy King and The Strawberry Pond and Ruby’s Gifts and China Palace and on and on!!!

Candy Owens

Dipper Dan, Donna’s Toy Store, Lad & Lassie’s, Tatum’s, Hookers, Kirby’s bakery, and McCrory’s. Kids just don’t know what they’re missing! Great memories!

Daphne Blanton

I remember my mom shopping for us at Lad & Lassie’s, I always bought my Merle Norman makeup at Strawberry Pond, and we loved the ice cream shop inside the old mall.

Tonya Hunter Watson

McCrory’s, Knotts Hardware, Hooker’s, W T Grant, Dipper Dan ice cream shop, Fabric King, Golden Corral, Plant City drive-in.

Marinell Shepherd Knight

State Theater where I saw the movie “Old Yeller” sitting on my brother’s shoulders. It was standing room only. Remember delicious cherry smashes from the Whites Pharmacy and lunches at McCroys. Plant City is my hometown. I haven’t lived there for over 50 years but I try to visit yearly. The names on buildings have changed over the years but my memories have not. It will always be “home”.

Delana O’Neal Irwin

I’d say Hookers. It was Plant City fancy. Like a small town fancy department store. You could get fitted and everything for clothing.

Blanton Jason

The 2 screen movie theater at the old Plant City Mall. Then I would follow that by going to Burger Chef.

Kenya M. Sykes

Mr. Harold’s comic book stand.

Phillip Whitehurst

Knotts hardware store. There was nothing like it. Items, sometimes bought on credit, with the price and signature on a sheet of paper. The best personal service around.

Michael Manee

My uncle Keith Hildreth’s OK Amoco station on Wheeler Street. He had the coldest bottled Cokes ever!

Sandra Hildreth Keller

The old downtown McCrory’s! Walking across wooden floors. Hearing your shoes clank across it. Smelling the hot buttered popcorn popping as soon as you walk in. Yum…must have some salty cashews, raisinets and chocolate peanuts! But first we’d eat lunch at the little cafe’ and Get a hug and kiss from Ms. Lottie. Then hit a balloon with a dart to win a banana split! Oh what fun childhood memories…and of course getting a new coloring book or paper dolls! Those were the good ole’ days

Dee Chaney Wilson

Moody & Moody, Whataburger, Burger Chef, H & H Furniture Store, Rexall Drug Store, Russell’s Filling Station, Dyal’s Dairy Dip, Gladys Jeffcoats Photo Shop, Gordon’s Jewelry Store

Capathia Miller

My family’s business, Turkey Creek bait & tackle!

Dylan Huntsman

The Red Rose Inn, Buddy Freddy’s, and Palermo’s

Evelyn Madonia

Capital Theatre , I saw my first movie there. Hookers department store where we bought our clothes for school.

Janet Surrency

Linda’s Crab Shack that had the best shrimp fried okra and cold slaw in Plant City

Mona Bullard

Sisters!!!

Lori DeMello

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Filed Under: Around Town

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