Do You Remember When Across From Tech Was The Coolest Place In Town?

There's no denying that the area across from Texas Tech looks good now. There was a time that it looked bad, but it was the most fun place in town.

Across from Tech is now populated by urban renewal/strip mall chains and whatnot. It seems like businesses come and go pretty quick (I noticed Noodles & Co or whatever it was is gone the other day).

The area used to have some real long-term tenants that made the area a must-visit for not just Tech students, but everyone.

The area where the Chick-fil-A is (God, that is such a dumb name when you type it) used to be home to two powerhouses.

First, was the original Copper Caboose, and second was a giant Hastings. Of course, there were other businesses there too, but those two were places a lot of Lubbock folks went to every week.

This was also the time in which the Lubbock Coliseum hosted all the major rock shows, so it was customary to grab a brew at the Caboose before hand.

Directly across from Tech there were more than a few places worth noting.

If you wanted tunes, the original Ralph's Records and University Records were both great places to check in and even hang out. The original J. Patrick O'Malley's was also the happening pub in town (I believe that spot is still a bar of some sort).

The last hold out of the big University sell out was The Buffalo Beano Company at 8th and University, which was the head shop in Lubbock. They constantly fought with Lubbock police over their right to sell water pipes (you weren't allowed to says "bongs" in the store due to this and all of the pipes were labeled "tobacco pipes"). The store also carried a wide array of hipster merch like skateboards, kites and clothes.

Down Main Street just a bit was the original Main Street Saloon. No matter what any bar claims to be in this town (other than Stubb's), Main Street Saloon did it first. I saw some EPIC jams there.

It's kind of weird to think there was an entire area which Lubbock life revolved around which I really have no use for anymore. Bash Riprocks keeps a little of that old-school vibe alive, but that's about it.

I am hoping some of the newer funkier shops and bars  in the Depot District will bring back that independent Lubbock scene.