Eating Out in 1938
February, 2013
Locust Station and Locust Restaurant
MVN 0306A – Courtesy of the Lucretia Little History Room, Mill Valley Public Library
George, born in 1912, and a graduate of Lowell High and Stanford, works for an export-import agency in San Francisco. In 1935, he married Edna, a school teacher with a degree from UC-Berkeley. They first lived in a small apartment within walking distance of his office near the waterfront. Edna quit her teaching job just before their daughter was born in 1937. They then rented a 2-bedroom house on Hawthorne Ave. in Homestead Valley. He commutes by train and ferry.
It is Friday in May 1938. George has just walked in the door.
Edna: How was your day?
George: Good. The Japanese toy shipment finally cleared customs. I met an old high school buddy on the ferry—he lives in Larkspur. By the way, the boys were sure whooping it up at the Brown Jug tonight. Seems to me it was the same last Friday. How is our precious Margaret, and what were you two up to today?
Edna: Margaret got a late start on her nap, but she should wake up soon. She had a big day. This morning we went shopping for groceries.
George: To Homestead Grocery?
Edna: No we went to the Efficient Food Market on Locust—they have a butcher there. Then we went to the drug store on Miller. She loves riding in the baby buggy. This afternoon, a neighbor from down on Evergreen dropped by—a grandmother who fussed over Margaret. All the neighbors I’ve met have been real nice.
George: Well, we’ve been here a month now. How about celebrating by going out to dinner tomorrow night?
Edna: Great idea. I can probably get the girl next door to baby sit—her mother told me that she’s done some baby sitting in the neighborhood. She charges 25 cents.
George: How about trying the restaurant on Locust behind the train station?
Edna: OK, and we can have dessert at the Locust Ice Cream Parlor on the corner.
George: Let’s walk over there tomorrow to check things out. Are there any other restaurants within walking distance?
Edna: I’ve checked the yellow pages, and no, Locust is the only one nearby.
George: What about up near the depot?
Edna: There are only three restaurants there: Esposti’s, The Log Cabin and The Sequoia Grotto. They’re all on Throckmorton, up past the depot.
George: Only three restaurants? We were sure spoiled in San Francisco. Tomorrow, after we check out Locust, let’s walk up to the depot. I’ll push the baby buggy. Margaret should enjoy the outing. We can check out the restaurants.
If you have comments or questions about this article or other topics
pertaining to the history of Homestead Valley,
please feel free to e-mail Chuck Oldenburg.