Nostalgia Heidemann Style

Over yonder you can read about the crazy fun that was Showbiz Pizza. However, in my family we didn't go to Showbiz. For one thing we would have had to drive an hour to get to one (the joys of living in a small town which is actually the largest town in it's area) and for another I think my parents would rather have walked on hot coals than have to suffer through a dinner there. Don't get me wrong though there was still fun to be had with pizza. When we went out for pizzertainment, we went to the Roaring Twenties Pizza Parlor, but it was still an hour drive so we only did so if we were already in Grand Rapids for something else.

If you drive down 28th street a bit west of Patterson Street you will find a strip mall called 'The Roaring Twenties Plaza' on the North side of the street. The reason it is the Roaring Twenties Plaza is that the Damon's there used to be the Roaring Twenties Pizza Parlor (which in turn became Good Time Charley's). Inside was pizza (of course) and...wait for it...a theater organ! As you dined the organ would dramatically rise up out of the floor and an organist would play for you. This included all sorts of bird sounds, trills, and bubbles. It was pretty sweet, and my dad really enjoyed it. Now that the Roaring Twenties is gone that particular Wurlizter can be seen and heard at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids.

Now perhaps some of you can see why there was absolutely no way I was going to turn out normal.

1/17/2006
Update: Apparently Damon's is now closed. I was chatting with my mother the other day and she was at Erika's (which is in the Roaring Twenties Plaza and is home of some of the tastiest food anywhere) at noticed that it was no more.