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Look back: Restaurants, grocers, malls and theaters

Daily Press Archives
A 1973 photo of the Cotton Gin Theatre in Smithfield
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
In 1981 patrons filled the counter of Fuller's in Phoebus.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Montgomery Ward was one of the anchors at Mercury Plaza Mall.
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Shaw's Jewelers and Fanny Farmer at Mercury Plaza Mall in 1967.
Kenneth Silver / Daily Press
Carolyn Smith is ready to sell tickets to the crowd of theater-goers at Donk's Theatre in 1983.
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The deterioration of the Peninsula Community Theater building on Marshall Ave. has resulted from a 25 year building program hindered by inadequate funds and patchwork construction. This is the theater in 1987.
RANSY MORR / Daily Press
In 1981 patrons crowded the counter in a typical scene at Fuller's in Phoebus.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
In 1981 Paul Swartz monitors the movie projector at Cinema City in York County.
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In 1977 the Paramount in downtown Newport News featured adult films
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The sign, Summers Cool and Winters Warm, at Mercury Plaza Mall said a lot about a community that had abandoned its downtown by the mid-1960s. Mercury Plaza, which opened in 1967, was the place to see and be seen in the late 1960s.
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Flood lights illuminated the decorative triangular flags that were strung above the glittering marquee on Washington Avenue, Newport News as hundreds arrived Oct. 2, 1931, for the grand opening of the Paramount Theatre.
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The Blue Star Diner in 1982.
Kenneth Silver / Daily Press
A view from the projection booth of Donk's Theatre in Mathews County, 1983
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Grunewald's Drive-in in Suffolk couldn't compete with the fast food franchises and closed in 1981.
Michael D. Asher / Daily Press
Montgomery Ward at Coliseum mall in 1983.
Ransy Morr / Daily Press
Warwick Theater undergoes renovation in preparation for debut as adults only theater.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Cinema City, opened in 1946 under the name York Drive-in and was the first drive-in on the Peninsula. In the 1970s the name was changed to Cinema City. The theater closed in April 1989. A Wal-Mart is now located on the site of the old theater. This photo shows the theater in 1978.
Daily Press Archives
Upton's moved into Patrick Henry Mall in 1989 in the space previously occupied by Bradlees.
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James Adams' Original Floating Theater, a wooden auditorium on a barge, was towed through the waterways of Virginia and North Carolina each spring through fall in the 1920s and 1930s. The boat's orchestra performed on deck as a motorboat towed the vessel into dozens of towns in the Chesapeake Bay area, including Hampton and Smithfield. The theater, which staged dramas and vaudeville, held about 850 patrons - 350 of them in a balcony.
Daily Press Archives
In 1967 one of Mercury Plaza Mall's most exciting places was the Radio Shack, a mecca for communications enthusiasts.
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Non-tarnishing silver, small appliances, typewriters, luggage, as well as, jewelry were featured at Shaw's Jewelers at the Mercury Plaza Mall in 1967.
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Mike and Christine Perados in 1982 at the Siver Star Inn at 42nd Street and Huntington Avenue in Newport News.
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More than 125 kinds of delicious candies were available at Fanny Farmer candy store in Mercury Plaza Mall in 1967.
G.F. Bryant, Jr. / Daily Press
In 1977 gaps in the fence at Green Acres Drive-In gave youngsters a free show.
Doug Dickerson / Daily Press
A 1978 photo of Riverdale Twin Theatres in Hampton.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
A 1983 photo of Green Acres Drive-In at Pembroke and Childs avenues in Hampton
Daily Press Archives
Newport News police, armed with search warrants, raided the Warwick and Paramount theaters in the 3300 block of Washington Ave. and Downtown Theater in the 3100 block and confiscated the films showing at the time.Theater patrons quietly left the theater. The raid was part of a crackdown on movies and books which are said to be obscene under the city code.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
In 1981 Charlie Cannon, a projectionist for 35 years, works at the Coliseum IV Theatres.
Daily Press Archives
The interior of the Gourmet Shop at Mercury Plaza Mall in 1967.
Dennis Tennant / Daily Press
The Paramount Restaurant , 3306 Washington Avenue, seen in 1987 served shipyard yard workers for many years.
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In 1982 customers dine at the Blue Star Diner.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Operators of the Warwick Theater in Newport news may have a hard time fulfilling the marque promise following a raid by Newport News detectives. Detectives used a crowbar to break in the door of the locked building and seize three films and all of the projectors. The raid was part of a crackdown on movies and books which are said to be obscene under the city code.
Daily Press Archives
This photo from 1967 shows The Coffee House, located in the main lobby of Mercury Plaza Mall. It became a favorite eating place for shoppers and specialized in Giantburgers.
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In 1988 D.J.'s cafe is busy serving shipyard workers.
David Humphreys / Daily Press
June Monfalcone takes customers' orders at Monty's Penguin in 1983.
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Newmarket Theatre in 1978.
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Signs announce the Grand Opening of Radio Shack at Mercury Plaza Mall in this 1967 photo.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Twin projectors at the Lee Adult Theater in Phoebus.
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The controversial movie, "The Exorcist", had people waiting in line at the Paramount in Newport News.
David Humphreys / Daily Press
George Monfalcone supervises Bill Dunkum and Janise Celif in the grill area of Monty's Penguin in 1983.
Kenneth Silver/ Daily Press
In 1986 Walter Wray, who owned Nucky's Stop & Snack decided at age 71 to sell his business.
Kenneth Silver/ Daily Press
In 1985 Jerome Louis, cashier, reads the paper while waiting for the lunch rush to begin at Central Restaurant in downtown Newport News
Michael Dillard / Daily Press
A 1986 photo of Zayre at Sherwood Shopping Center in Newport News.
Valenda Campbell / Daily Press
A security guard patrols the lower level mall entrance of Miller & Rhoads during the stores going out of business sale in 1989.
Kenneth Silver / Daily Press
Shoppers head into Thalhimers at Coliseum mall in 1990.
Daily Press Archives
Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Q in the late 1970's.
David Bowman / Daily Press
In 1989 D.J.'s Cafe at Washington Ave. and 35th Street served lunch to hungry shipyard workers.
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Bradlees at Patrick Henry Mall in 1987.
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One of two screens 100 feet long and 65 feet from top to ground is erected in 1969 at Peninsula Twin Drive-In Theaters site, Jefferson Avenue near Muller Lane.
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Mercury Plaza Mall in 1967.
Kenneth Silver / Daily Press
Thalhimers at Coliseum Mall in 1990.
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The Palace Theater on 32nd Street and Washington Avenue in downtown Newport News is pictured in 1955. In 1929 the Palace Theater was the first Peninsula movie theater to show complete "talkies." The theater had opened in 1917 as a 600-seat movie house showing silent film.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
An entrance to Mercury Plaza Mall is shown in this photo from 1984.
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In 1967 Thom McAn joined Mercury Plaza Mall with another Peninsula outlet featuring the finest footwear for the entire family.
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In 1975 customers enjoyed food and atmosphere at Fuller's in Phoebus.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
A 1978 photo of the Village Movie theater in Hilton.
Daily Press Archives
If you wanted to eat a gourmet treat in 1967, the place to shop was the Gourmet Shop in Mercury Plaza Mall.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Cinema City opened in 1946 under the name York Drive-in and was the first drive-in on the Peninsula. In the 1970s, the name was changed to Cinema City. The theater closed in April 1989. A Wal-Mart is now on the site of the old theater.
Daily Press Archives
Nachman's window showing the style of 1894 won second place in the window displays during Golden Jubilee Week in Newport News
Daily Press Archives
The American Theatre in Hampton's Phoebus section was built in the 1920s as a family movie house and operated as such for several decades. In the late 1970s, it fell into the hands of pornographers, who rechristened it the Lee Adult Theater. Hampton cheered when it closed in 1984, and again when it reopened in 1986 as the New American Theatre, serving dinner and second-run movies.
Daily Press Archives
Colonial Stores
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Shoppers at Mercury Plaza Mall in 1973.
Kenneth Silver / Daily Press
The new Thalhimers at Coliseum mall opened in 1977.
Thomas Slater / Daily Press
Mayor Harry Atkinson cuts "ribbon" of 35mm movie film at the opening of Newmarket Twin Theatres as Shirley Ann Bower, Miss Newmarket Twin, looks on.
Daily Press Archives /
Lou Smith Supermarket in Gloucester 1980.
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The Siver Star Inn in 1982 at 42nd Street and Huntington Avenue in Newport News.
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Newmarket North AMC 4 Theatres in 1983.
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Patrons gather at Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Q in 1985.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Giant Open Air grocery store Mercury Plaza Mall (1973)
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Bringing down the Warwick theater. in 1981.
Daily Press Archives
Paramount Theater, Times Herald, 5/13/1988, page A1 A workman sweeps up debris from the once grand Paramount Theater after its walls crashed into Washington Ave. and 33rd Street this morning in Newport News. The walls collapsed into the street while wrecking crew workers were trying to get the walls to fall inward.
Daily Press Archives
The Coffe House at Mercury Plaza Mall advertises Hot Spicy Pizza for 25 cents a slice in 1967.
Daily Press Archives
In 1901, Phillip A. Fuller opened Fuller's Hotel and Cafe at Mallory and County streets in the Phoebus section of Hampton. The eatery's reputation grew, and, over the years, it attracted film stars, astronauts and military veterans from the nearby National Soldier's Home and locals who enjoyed chili and Fuller's legendary sweet-hot mustard. Sadly, the building was torn down in 1993. This photo is from 1989.
Kenneth Silver/ Daily Press
Harriet Jordan opened, Harriet's Frozen Delights in 1950, but in 1971 it became Nucky's Stop & Snack, which operated until 1986.
Kenneth Silver/ Daily Press
In 1985 the lunch crowd heads for Central Restaurant, which opened in 1952 in downtown Newport News.
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The Paramount in Newport News closed its doors in 1977 after 45 years.
Chuck Horne / Daily Press
Early buyers and workers fill the lot around the new Warwick-Denbigh Shopping Center.
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In 1987 Pop's Footlong in York County was quite busy during the lunchtime rush.
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In 1988 a crowded back room forced Harry Faulconer to warmup in the lobby of Donk's Theatre in Mathews. Photographs of past entertainers line the wall beside him.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
A 100-year-old cotton storage building, is home to Smithfield's Community Theater in 1981.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Shoppers at Mercury Plaza Mall in 1973.
Ransy Morr / Daily Press
The Moton Community House in Newport News, 1981.
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This photo from around 1955 shows Nachman's and Leggett's on Washington Ave. in downtown Newport News.
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Woolco at Todd Center in 1971.
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A 1963 photo of Nachman's at Warwick Shopping Center in Newport News
Kenneth Silver/ Daily Press
In 1977 Harold Heath talks with customers at his New York Cafe, on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Woolco at Todd Center in 1973.
Daily Press Archives
The Paramount Theater opened in the early 1930s on the site of the former Academy of Music. In 1988 the theater was torn down. This photo of the theater is from 1955.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Green Acres Drive-In, at Pembroke and Childs avenues in Hampton closed in the early 1980's. This photo is from Oct 1982.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
A&P grocery store (far left) in Newmarket South shopping center in 1976.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
In 1981 an awning provides a shady spot for those waiting their turn to order at Gus' Place in Newport News.
David Bowman / Daily Press
Monty's Penguin opened in the 1940's but has been operating at its current location since 1974. Here it is in 1991.
Daily Press Archives
A controversial movie, " The Exorcist", played at the Paramount in Newport News.
Bob Kretz / Daily Press
A photo from 1972 shows the snack bar inside the Denbigh Rose's.
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Drive-In Theater
Michael Dillard Daily Press
The Palace in 1980 on Washington Ave., downtown Newport News.
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A 1976 photo of Smith & Welton at Coliseum Mall.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
A 1979 scene of a raid on the Warwick Theatre by Newport News City detectives.
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Sidney Lusts Drive-In Theatre
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In 1981 Joseph A. Gilbert, with more than 40 years experience, stores movie film on a platter at the Newmarket Twin Theaters.

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By Daily Press | dailypress@dailypress.com and Daily Press staff

PUBLISHED: September 23, 2015 at 10:39 a.m. | UPDATED: December 31, 2018 at 3:36 p.m.

A pile of photos from the Daily Press archives of places to eat, shop and have fun.