Gooding Memories

(Contributed by Herman Gooding)

Does anyone remember Carrabba's store? It was located at the intersection of Kress and Colfax. It was on my route from Elliot Elementary and home at 202 Hoffman. My friend, Leonard Jones and I would try and same a few pennies from our lunch money so we could buy candy at the store. Mr. Carrabba was so mean to us. He would start screaming the minute we walked into the store. He would already be yelling at the kids that got there before us. He kept all the candy behind the counter so we had to ask for what we wanted. Of course we didn't know the value of money, so we would show him what we had and he would pick out what he said we could afford. After paying for whatever he gave us, and most of the time it was what we liked, he would scream at us to get out. He would then start screaming at other kids. It was almost like a game to us all and I knew that he was a good man. There was no stealing, he had his security down to a science. He stood between us and the candy.
After I left Denver Harbor, I always went back to visit my parents, and one day, just for grins, I stopped there. It was when the kids were flocking in and he was just like 20 years earlier, screaming and yelling. I waited patiently for him to check me out and he looked up...He remembered me! He never knew my name, but he knew my face. He reached out and shook my hand. He was really glad to see me again. I stood in line with the kids and they did what I always did, show him the money and he would pick out my candy. I did notice, however, that he would give them the Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, and the expensive candy and they would only have a nickel or a dime. In my day, it was pennies, but, when it was my turn to check out, he smiled and told me that I would have to pay full price.
The kids were his whole life, and he truly loved them and me. I did ask him for a candy bar, and he told me "It's on me".
I never saw him again. I heard that in the mid 80's that he was shot and killed in a robbery at the store. It broke my heart. He would have given them anything they wanted.
I was just wondering if anyone else remembers "Old Man Carrabba".

Return to MEMORIES