Thursday, February 26, 2009

Chick-fil-A


I like chicken. No, really, I find chicken to be a particularly tasty treat, especially when cooked with delicious spices by someone who actually gives a crap. So, maybe I should be more excited about a Chick-fil-A opening next week in southwest Bakersfield. I mean, I do have fond memories of the Chick-fil-A that used to be in the Valley Plaza mall ages ago…

My mother used to take me there a few times a week to do some light shopping back in the 80’s when the Valley Plaza had actual stores to shop at. You know, book stores and music stores and toy stores? Essentially, the stuff that isn’t at the mall now. It was a quick and easy place to pick up some cool stuff.

I’d come home with a He-Man toy, or a Choose Your Own Adventure book. And, typically, I’d be stuffed with Chick-fil-A or Piccadilly or Orange Julius. Those were good times.

Being a kid, I loved looking at all the cool things I couldn’t have, like the fancy video games in the toy store windows, or the puppies at the pet store (Yes, I do realize now as an adult that those mall pet stores were an atrocity. But I was a kid then, so yay!). The mall even had a fountain inside!

The Chick-fil-A was one of the first stores to go when the mall economy went from “Hot Bestselling Books” to “Hot Topic.” They took out the pet store. The fountain was ripped down. Kiosks took up the middle of the walkways. Orange Julius was forced into food court purgatory. I don’t go to the mall so much anymore.

Bakersfield has gone without Chick-fil-A ever since the last one closed. So, I really feel like I should be more excited about the idea of a new store opening in the area after nearly two decades without. Heck, they’re even giving out a whole year of free food to the first 100 adults in line.

Yet for some reason, I just don’t care. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll stop there at some point in the next few months. The fondness of childhood memories demands it. But I won’t be camping out for free food. I won’t be flipping out like the rest of Bakersfield.

Mainly because those memories need to stay where they are, locked in childhood. The enjoyment I had from going to Chick-fil-A has nothing to do with the food itself. It’s just a good memory of good times that’ll never be replicated in exactly the same way.

11 comments:

  1. I've actually never been to a chick-fil-a before. hm.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I marvel at my sister's glazed over look when I tell her that there used to be TWO book stores and TWO music stores in the mall. My personal memory is going to Jc Penny for school clothes shopping and then getting meat on a stick from the Hickory Farms place. We only went to Chick-fil-a for special occasions (large family, very expensive). Good Times

    ReplyDelete
  3. What do they sell at the mall these days? I only duck into like two stores whenever I'm in town, usually in search of a cheap party dress. And that's usually once a year. Its too hectic for me after living on hobo island so long.

    i remember the criscut fries from chikfla. obviously i probably cant eat them now since theyre probably fried in bacon grease.

    ReplyDelete
  4. once you eat a nugget dipped in some polynesian sauce you'll be excited again! and the first 100 people or something like that get free Chick Fil A for a year!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I want free chicken for a year!

    How can you not want to take a couple of cases of beer and post up for a few days on the sidewalk!???

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry darlin' but you guys have some weird-ass names for stores down there...What the hell is a chick-fil-a? Is it like a piggly wiggly? (That one kills me!)

    ReplyDelete
  7. There's a Chik-fil-a opening two blocks away from my apartment soon. When I say soon, I mean the sign that use to read "Coming in Summer 2008" has finally been replaced by an unfinished building. That is the number one reason why I picked the apartment I'm in now. (That and it's only a block away from a discount liquor store.)Mmmmm, chicken, and their milkshakes?! Oh my gawd, I think I just had a foodgasm just thinking about it....

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm sad that I will never get back the 2 minutes it took me to read a completely pointless post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. @anonymous Yeah, seriously. If you don't like the blog, don't read it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really want a chicken sandwich now!
    Arby's ice cream brings back memories to me; that's where I was taken every time I got out of school for any Doctors appointment. I loved Doctor's appointments!

    ReplyDelete