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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

GIRLZ DAY - APRIL 5TH - VIDLER'S


Last Friday was a GIRLZ DAY for my friends and I. Reason: no school – spring break – everyone’s in Myrtle Beach. One girlfriend is a school bus monitor and she had the whole week off. Other friend has only Fridays off. Hence, our GIRLZ DAY was scheduled for Friday, April 5th.

It was a beautiful, sunny day to take a drive through the countryside. Our plan was to drive west from Rochester to the little town of East Aurora. That town boasts an old fashioned 5 and 10 cent store. I would say they carry just about everything. Kitchen goods, craft items, floral shop, tchotzkes galore. And  one  floor up:  tons of  toys, make-up, old fashioned candy (all candies you used to buy for a penny on your way to school in the dark ages). They have garden stuff, books, paper and stationary, pet things, wall art, candles and décor items, purses, jackets, jewelry, greeting cards. I’m sure that’s just a partial list which I recall in my mental walk through the store.


Before we ever made landfall at Vidler’s, we drove through beautiful countryside. Hills, valleys, farms, windmills. It’s a 90 minute drive from Rochester. I understand it’s also a 90 minute drive from Toronto, so if you live there, it’s worth the trip.



Of course, when we arrived in East Aurora, we were starving. So the first stop was at Charlie’s Diner for a lovely lunch.


Now we are armed up with nutritional fortitude for our foray into Vidler’s. Oh, I tell you, it’s no end of fun. I bought a small ladle (which I needed), crochet thread, a figurine, old fashioned candy, hand cream packets to use as thank you gifts in my etsy orders, sink strainer, microwave plastic food cover, and calendars. I trust I didn’t forget anything that was in my bag.  I could’ve bought so much more if $$$$$ was no object. I saw a purse I loved and didn’t buy because I already have one like it (but I would’ve liked to have that one too)

Here’s some pictures of what Vidler’s looks like inside. Don’t be surprised that it looks so messy. Don’t you remember how Kresge’s and Woolworth’s looked in the old days? With tons of cheap make-up just laying flat in huge heaps on the counters, and glass separators between the types of items.  Wide wooden board floors, stairs (no elevators or escalators). Aisles squished close together. The 5 and 10 was BASIC.






All in all, it was a lovely day. The kind beautiful memories are made of.


8 comments:

  1. I have been wanting to go to Vidlers for so long! My husband was afraid we would drive all that way and there would be no where to eat or nothing else to do...thanks for the link to the restaurant! I will be forwarding your post to him!

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  2. You guys sure have fun! I remember going to Woolworth as a kid in downtown Alexandria growing up. Since I'm in Georgia, so many people in my area go to Florida for spring break.

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  3. That's a place I would have fun going to, great post Rita :)

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  4. Sounds like a lovely day! We have gone to a similar store with our ladies group at church, and it truly has everything you could ever want! :)

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  5. Sound like the kind of shop I'd love to spend time in - what a pity its so far away from where I live (near Cape Town, South Africa). Enjoyed your post - thanks.

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  6. Wow! I know you had a great time. I need to schedule something with my girlfriends, too. It seems we are all busy with the children. But, I am inspired by your trip, so I will find a way for us to take a little trip. take care and thanks for the inspiration.

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