Monday, December 10, 2018

Matchbook Monday

Today's edition of Matchbook Monday goes back to downtown Jackson.  Feel free to add your stories or any information about them in the comments section as you enjoy these blasts from the past. Readers can email copies of any old matchbooks to kingfish1935@gmail.com.


The Belmont Cafe opened in 1925 in the Lamar Life building, across the street from the Governor's mansion.







It was still kicking in the late 1950's although it changed owners.  Unfortunately, it closed in 1972.




Furniture anyone? The first ads for Rice Furniture appear in 1922 editions of the Clarion-Ledger. 




This story appeared in 1930.



It later moved to Maywood Mart but that store closed in 1979.


The downtown building was torn down to make way for more downtown development in 1982,


A later incarnation operated as Rice Furniture Manor on Lakeland Drive but it became a casualty of the Easter Flood.



However, 50 years is a pretty good run for a furniture store.   Next up is Capital Floral, once the largest florist in Jackson.




Here are some ads from over the years.

1922 
1964
1973

The owner died in 1993.  Believe it or not, he was a real  #($*$(@ bad-ass. 



9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was fortunate enough to be in Troop 1 and earning my Eagle under Colonel Cabaniss is one of my proudest achievements. He was an incredible leader, great teacher and an amazing and generous man. He exemplified the Greatest Generation.

Anonymous said...

The Rice Furniture matchbook says "Since 1868" That's a really long run for a furniture store.

Anonymous said...

Thanks kingfish.

Although I had heard of the Belmont, I didn't know much about it.

I'm not surprised that it was owned by yet another one of Jackson's great Greek families that knew their restaurants.

Louis LeFleur said...

Thanks for another fun trip down memory lane, Kingfish. Don't remember the Rice's Furniture store downtown, but do vaguely remember the Maywood Mart store. Seems like it was on the west end near where there was once an Emporium "satellite" store while the main store was still downtown. A picture from elsewhere showing the demolition of the Rice's with the then new Federal Building in the background leans it was in the 100 block of East Capitol between Lamar and Farish where they built the parking garage with retail/office space on the first floor; think Wasabi Downtown.

Always wondered what the Lamar Life Building annex once housed. Makes perfect sense that it would have been a restaurant. No memory of that though it was still there after we moved to Jackson. Odd that I'd remember the downtown Jitney Jungle up the street, but not that restaurant.

Remember Capital Floral, at least the Lamar/Amite location if not what appears to be the original Capitol/President site.

Anonymous said...

"Pompano Popilote?" "Rizzoto?" I wonder if those are anything like Pompano en Papillote and Risotto?

I have no idea what the place was like or if the food was good, bad, or otherwise, but I am always dubious when places attempt to swank it up and screw it up. I have seen similar things on numerous "upscale," "new cuisine" places around MS, sometimes with tasty results even with the wildly incorrect names/spellings and descriptions. I've also seen the results be an even bigger error than the spelling/description. Here's a tip (see what I did there): if chef/restaurateur cannot spell and accurately describe a dish they plan on putting on the menu, don't put it on the menu. A good "broiled chicken with house special rice" beats a f'ed-up chicken with "rizzoto" any day.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Mississippi math and history:

In 1925, the Belmont's opening was heralded in the Ledger and 46 years later, in 1957, it was where the sons of pioneers were still stuffing their faces with rizzoto...hmmm...

Assuming "pioneers" meant white folks only (and in 1957, you can bet yer popilote it did), Mississippi was "discovered" in 1699, became a territory in 1798 and a state in 1817. Whichever "pioneers" one wishes to choose, by 1957 those must have been some old sons of...pioneers...

It's a motto both black and white Jacksonians can get behind: "Jackson - We may be ignorant and gullible, but at least we're racist!" Or heck, the other way around works, too.

Anonymous said...

Allen Edmonds shoes for $109 a pair. Don't I wish!

Anonymous said...

Er, you'd wish for Allen Edmonds shoes at $109 a pair and ignore 9.5% short-term guaranteed (and insured) return?!?!

Shit, the only things getting that kind of "guaranteed" return nowadays are timber deeds and PERS investments. Well, at least until the indictments and trustee lawsuits, anyway. On the positive side, after the indictments the latter "guarantees" automagically revert back into something with which you can wipe your behind.

Anonymous said...

The funniest one to me is the Everett Hardware's phone number was 362.

"Hello? Sarah? Get me 362!"


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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