Memories of Big Banana

PapaDon · 04-28-2013, 03:14 PM

What are your favorite memories of the old Big Banana store on McIntyre Circle?

Diana · 04-28-2013, 03:32 PM

Avocadoes 4 for a dollar!!!!

Slickcraft · 04-28-2013, 04:53 PM

The jungle scene with I think a gorilla holding a banana? Great selection of fresh fruit and vegs. A mandatory stop back when we were only summer visitors for a week or two. A shame it was replaced by that useless store.

wobbelbill · 04-29-2013, 03:59 AM

I fondly remember the little doughnut shop just off to the left -I think it was "Baker's Dozen" or something like that, 13 for the price of a dozen and the jelly donuts were made by cutting the plain (?) donut in half with jelly in the middle (more like a sandwich). Good place to hang out while the bride was buying veggies.

fatlazyless · 04-29-2013, 05:33 AM

Besides the Big Banana, that location went from a P K Zyla store that had a lot of hand tools and guy stuff at low prices to a Shaw's Super-Loser Supermarket. Did u know the J R's store on Route 104 in New Hampton close to Route 93-Exit 23 is open for business and they have a lot of hand tools and items similar to the old P K Zyla store at McIntyre Circle, plus they have a full grown, all-white Alsatian, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd dog for a pet that likes to sleep in its bed behind the cash register.

Greene's Basin Girl · 04-29-2013, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapaDon

What are your favorite memories of the old Big Banana store on McIntyre Circle?

I worked there one summer. All I can remember is that I didn't like my boss and that I didn't like working there.

dykg · 05-05-2013, 08:22 AM

I worked there one summer as well when I was 15 and did not like it. Thankfully I had great summer jobs in the Weirs after that year.

carguy · 05-05-2013, 05:02 PM

Way back that location was the home for Foster's Drive-In Restaurant.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

inquiring one · 05-05-2013, 07:44 PM

Road Kill Cafe

mcdude · 05-06-2013, 06:54 AM

The Red Barn vs. Foster's Drive-In

Chickie · 05-06-2013, 08:35 AM

Before Foster's Restaurant, there was a Howard Johnson's in that location. Previously it had been called Dutchland (established in the mid to late 1930's.) Dutchland was probably the first to offer car hop service in the area and waitresses were dressed in traditional Dutch attire. The Howard Johnson's was moved to the Weirs in the late 1940's and burned several years thereafter.

Dickie B from HB · 05-06-2013, 01:10 PM

Fosters had the best fried onion rings.

carguy · 05-06-2013, 01:36 PM

Dickie B.

Hi:
Yes, the onion rings were great.

sent by Carguy from Norwich, CT

BroadHopper · 05-07-2013, 03:31 PM

at all the comments of Big Bannana on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

mcdude · 05-08-2013, 06:38 AM

thanks Broadhopper

PapaDon · 07-24-2013, 01:37 AM

In August, there will be a new Big Banana Farmstand at 229A Messer Street in Laconia (where the BCM Motorsports Ducati showroom was - near Bisson Ave).

Please wish us well and come visit us for local produce and products.

Sorry, no big ape holding a banana, and much smaller, but due to the response to our non-profit CSA, we decided to expand into a farmstand.

spider22 · 07-24-2013, 07:44 AM

Was that where the Shaw's is now?

Slickcraft · 07-24-2013, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spider22

Was that where the Shaw's is now?

Yes, parking was about where the gas station is now and the market maybe in Shaw's parking just behind the gas station.

spider22 · 07-24-2013, 08:47 AM

I do remember it then but I never went there

04-28-2013, 03:14 PM	#1
PapaDon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gilford NH Posts: 62 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 42 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Memories of Big Banana What are your favorite memories of the old Big Banana store on McIntyre Circle?

04-29-2013, 03:59 AM	#4
wobbelbill Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 36 Thanks: 82 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Not just veggies............. I fondly remember the little doughnut shop just off to the left -I think it was "Baker's Dozen" or something like that, 13 for the price of a dozen and the jelly donuts were made by cutting the plain (?) donut in half with jelly in the middle (more like a sandwich). Good place to hang out while the bride was buying veggies.

04-29-2013, 05:33 AM	#5
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,737 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	Besides the Big Banana, that location went from a P K Zyla store that had a lot of hand tools and guy stuff at low prices to a Shaw's Super-Loser Supermarket. Did u know the J R's store on Route 104 in New Hampton close to Route 93-Exit 23 is open for business and they have a lot of hand tools and items similar to the old P K Zyla store at McIntyre Circle, plus they have a full grown, all-white Alsatian, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd dog for a pet that likes to sleep in its bed behind the cash register. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 04-29-2013 at 06:15 AM.

05-05-2013, 05:02 PM	#8
carguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 199 Thanks: 4 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	Way back that location was the home for Foster's Drive-In Restaurant. Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Best Regards, Carguy Norwich, CT 06360

05-06-2013, 06:54 AM	#10
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	The Red Barn vs. Foster's Drive-In __________________

04-28-2013, 03:32 PM	#2
Diana Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 65 Thanks: 345 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts	Avocadoes 4 for a dollar!!!!

04-28-2013, 04:53 PM	#3
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,080 Times in 952 Posts	The jungle scene with I think a gorilla holding a banana? Great selection of fresh fruit and vegs. A mandatory stop back when we were only summer visitors for a week or two. A shame it was replaced by that useless store.

05-05-2013, 08:22 AM	#7
dykg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Foxboro, MA Posts: 76 Thanks: 120 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	I worked there one summer as well when I was 15 and did not like it. Thankfully I had great summer jobs in the Weirs after that year.

05-05-2013, 07:44 PM	#9
inquiring one Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: NH Posts: 58 Thanks: 46 Thanked 29 Times in 11 Posts	Road Kill Cafe

05-06-2013, 08:35 AM	#11
Chickie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 368 Thanks: 0 Thanked 67 Times in 38 Posts	More Memories Before Foster's Restaurant, there was a Howard Johnson's in that location. Previously it had been called Dutchland (established in the mid to late 1930's.) Dutchland was probably the first to offer car hop service in the area and waitresses were dressed in traditional Dutch attire. The Howard Johnson's was moved to the Weirs in the late 1940's and burned several years thereafter.

05-06-2013, 01:10 PM	#12
Dickie B from HB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 62 Thanks: 9 Thanked 18 Times in 11 Posts	Fosters Fosters had the best fried onion rings.

05-06-2013, 01:36 PM	#13
carguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 199 Thanks: 4 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	Dickie B. Hi: Yes, the onion rings were great. sent by Carguy from Norwich, CT __________________ Best Regards, Carguy Norwich, CT 06360

05-07-2013, 03:31 PM	#14
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,570 Thanks: 3,205 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	Take a look at all the comments of Big Bannana on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-08-2013, 06:38 AM	#15
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	thanks Broadhopper __________________

07-24-2013, 01:37 AM	#16
PapaDon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gilford NH Posts: 62 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 42 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	A new Big Banana Farmstand In August, there will be a new Big Banana Farmstand at 229A Messer Street in Laconia (where the BCM Motorsports Ducati showroom was - near Bisson Ave). Please wish us well and come visit us for local produce and products. Sorry, no big ape holding a banana, and much smaller, but due to the response to our non-profit CSA, we decided to expand into a farmstand. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Big Banana: Community Supported Agriculture in New Hampshire's Lakes Region

07-24-2013, 07:44 AM	#17
spider22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Alstead,NH Posts: 98 Thanks: 9 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Was that where the Shaw's is now?

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
spider22 (07-24-2013)

07-24-2013, 08:47 AM	#19
spider22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Alstead,NH Posts: 98 Thanks: 9 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	I do remember it then but I never went there