As promised in A History of Philadelphia Sandwiches, here are some of my favorite Old Original Levis memories shared on Facebook in various groups (many in the “Vintage Philadelphia” group):
“What I wouldn’t do for a combo and chocolate soda right now!!!” – Peter B.
“In the late 60’s when our parents would send us off to Sunday mass at St. Stanislaus Church on 3rd and Fitzwater, we’d skip mass and go to Levis’s instead. In our neighborhood it came to be known as ‘St. Levis’s’” – Kath Z.
“My Dad used to take me there on some Saturdays. He and I would get hot dogs with sauerkraut; he’d get a root beer and I’d get a cherry soda! Boy, what a wonderful time that was with my Daddy.” – Yvonne T.
“When I was a teen me, my dad and my father would go there. Don’t know why but damn they were good. They had those split down the center buns. They also had the best fish cakes too.” – Peter D.
“My Daddy always took me there – I’d have a hot dog and either a cherry soda or a chocolate soda – and he’d have a fish cake sandwich… I bet he never thought I’d be turning 50 and still remember all those little things.” – Janice D.
“Remember it well!!! My father took me there as a kid!! I remember the delicious champ cherry and the hideous outdoor bathroom outback in the yard!! As a kid it was scary!” – Dorothy L.
“Yet another of my many wonderful childhood memories. When I was young, we lived a short 2-block walk away on Spruce Street. In addition to a weekly shopping trip to South Street, we always enjoyed a delicious lunch at Levis each week. [It] was always such a special treat.” – Loretta C.
“Every fall, my parents took me to South Street to get clothes for the new school year. My reward was going to Levis’ and getting a hot dog, fish cake and a Champ Cherry.” – Jeff G.
“My Dad was from what is now Queen Village. Anytime we drove down to see his family we’d stop at Levis and he’d get a dozen dogs in a cardboard box and 2 qts of Chocolate soda to bring to our cousins and family. We were always greeted warmly and the hot dogs were gone before you knew it. That old wooden soda fountain was also quite a sight.” – John M.
“When I was a child, my family did not have much disposable income for entertainment. Often, the family would go for weekend rides around the city, through the drivable parks, past the historic spots, and past the places we had any personal connections to. Levis was where we’d often ended up, buying a number of hot dogs, a few fish cakes & some Champ Cherry to share on these excursions. Great family memories of these outings!” – Maryfran M.
“First was being there and the bond with my father. Started going with him there in the 60’s to get a hot dog and Champ Cherry. It was very special. And we often would sit and he would tell me stories of his youth playing across the street in the park there. He would also tell me stories about the people in the pictures on the wall in there. It was special to him and as such became special to me. The hot dog tasted better, the cherry sweeter when I had it with him.” – Michael F.
“My Mom called me in & made me clean up & put good clothes on ‘cause my rich Uncle was takin’ me to lunch. He took me to Levis & treated me to a hotdog / fishcake sandwich & a milkshake… No wonder he was rich?” – Bill M.
“I put my parents’ names on the 50 Year list but didn’t tell them. Shortly after their names were added, I asked them to meet me at Levis’s. We did that occasionally anyway. We got a table where they were facing the wall with their names above my head. We were there for about 20 minutes before my mom glanced at the sign and saw their names. They were delighted with my little surprise.” – Herb M.
“Nothing was like their hot dogs and champagne cola from that 100 year old soda fountain, AMAZINGLY GOOD !!!” – Robert C.
“I think the soda fountain is in the Smithsonian.” – Larry G. (Sorry Larry, it’s not)
“Their marble/soapstone? soda machine was a museum piece. I hope someone saved it and it’s not in pieces in some landfill. Loved the dogs. Never understood the dog and fishcake combo.” – Gordon W. (Sorry Gordon, it is indeed in pieces.)
“Wish I had the recipe for the fish cakes, I think they were 90% day old refrigerated mashed potatoes and some fish… maybe cod?” – Joel B.
“Exactly what kind of fish are in those cakes? He would make his own electricity and show movies on the side of his building just to stick it to the Man!” – Michael B.
“My boyfriend and I carved our initials in the wooden walls; you were encouraged to do that” – Linda G.
“We went to a prom and told the girls we were taking them to [a] French restaurant called Le VIS . BOY WERE THEY SURPRISED, but had a lot of fun.” – Joseph G.
“The Levis Cup was held every year by our fraternity to consume as many hotdogs as possible in 15 minutes… This was one of the first eating contests of its time…” — Edward T.
“I got engaged over fish cakes and champ cherry!” — Ray D.
“I used to play softball across the street from there. Hot Summer days, cold beer and Levis Hot Dogs. I used to think that life didn’t get any better than that. You know what? I don’t believe it ever did.” – Jim S.
Photo via Joel Spivak