On Jan. 8, the former Leeson’s Import Motors storage facility was demolished, leaving a large pile of rubble on a little piece of property. (See coverage HERE) 

 

As my husband and I drove by one evening, I commented that it’s hard to believe that I remember the interior of the building seeming big. I was a little girl, new to Bridgeport when I first stepped inside J. Eddie’s Candies.

 

This was in 1967 – about the time of some of the photos you may have seen of the hometown storefront. People were driving cars like Ford Fairlanes and Dodge Darts. My mom would take my sister and me – ages 5 and 7, respectively – in to buy various items. Our favorites, of course, were the specialty candies including chocolate turtles, fudge, and Eastertime white chocolate bunnies and chicks. Our mom sewed for us – and our baby dolls – so we also bought fabric there.

 

I remember the Easter dresses and matching coats she made when we were little and the bathing suits she made in later years. I remember bell-bottoms and flowing bohemian looks; a trend that continues to stick with me. The most memorable outfit Mom made me, however, was a powder blue corduroy pants suit. Believe it or not, I wore it to a Bridgeport High School Homecoming dance. Yes, how the styles do change. We had bought a skirt and jacket that I had planned to wear to the dance; one of the first big dates with my high school sweetheart and now husband. As girls do, I changed my mind the day before and wanted to wear pants. I don’t even remember my mom getting upset about it, but we went to J. Eddie’s, picked out a Simplicity pattern, fabric and all the needed notions and went home where she made it for me.

The store also sold baskets, including those filled with yummy candies and decorated for each holiday. I remember other interesting novelties and nicknacks, postcards and pens.

 

We visited J. Eddie’s often throughout the late-1960s and ‘70s, as we did other downtown retailers like Alkire’s, The Handy Shop, Furbee’s Pharmacy, and Hinerman's, as well as grocery stores – The Pure Food, The C&H and Helmick’s markets.

 

These are great memories of a town I have loved for almost 60 years. But as delightful as nostalgia is excitement of the future; a future that will someday be someone’s fond memories.

 

Thanks for the memories, J. Eddie’s Candies. They are sweet indeed.