Locals Respond: How do YOU Know You’re From South City?

South San Francisco, Ca September 9, 2022

Every region, and every City, has certain things that make it unique from every other place in the world.

And South City has many of them as noted by the responses to our FB question.

From Little Lucca’s to Dairy Bell, to the Fog,  and sliding down the letters on Sign Hill, fishing out at Oyster Point – so many memories that make this place home.

Enjoy!

Share your thoughts – what is it that makes YOU know you’re from South City?

Victoria Monroe

The Italian chin-thrust hello.

Little Lucca.

McClellan’s.

Bell Market.

Garden Club.

South City Car Wash.

See’s.

Brentwood Lodge, now Fort McKinley

Brentwood Bowl.

Darby Dan’s.

The aroma of bread baking at OroWheat whilst standing in line at the Unemployment Office

 

Bertha Wagner

You nailed it, Rachel! And then you can no longer see that hillside thru the fog! But it was great anyway!

 

Matt Bushong

Because as kids we would hike up to the “Industrial City” letters on the hill and slide down them, the Colonial Bakery truck, All Souls School, Series Market, the public library off of Grand Avenue Orange Park, and Fregosi’s Market.

 

Ronal Montecinos

You know you’re from So City when you no longer can afford to live in So City.

 

Renee Castro Moore

WHISTLING GHOST TOWER? We would go have picnics when the wind was high the tower would whistle  ANYONE ELSE WENT THERE AS A KID 🧒

 

Lucy Espinoza

Renee Castro Moore where is this ghost tower? Some nights I hear howling coming from Sign Hill

 

Joe Freitas

Off of Grandview Dr. & east grand.

 

Gilbert Ballardo

Renee Castro Moore use to park right next to it and party there at night, when you could drive all the way up to it .

 

John Leon

QFI, Capri Italian restaurant, John and Kathy’s restaurant, Grand Auto, Drug King, White Front, Mazda dealership (when they had the rotary engines), Mater Dolorosa festivals, etc.

 

Art Hutcheson

Bronstein’s music on Grand Ave. My parents rented all of my instruments there

 

Linda Christine

I have a great view from my living room window of the mountain that says South San Francisco The Industrial City.

 

Peri Lyn Morini Moore

Orange Park, Sanitary Bakery,State Theater, White Front , Spruce Drive In, Buri Buri Delicatessen, Both sets of Grand parents lived there, My Oma & All of her Sisters, Cousins, Aunts/Uncles, The Alleys, Grand Avenue. My Dad was Born in 1936 at the Hospital on Grand Avenue!! Great City growing up!! My Great Grandfather Robert Rugge built the house at 721 Baden Ave. & it is still standing, along with the mini rose bush that still gives roses!!!

 

George Vlahakos

Roy’s deli..if you remember you know. I feel sorry for people who never got a chance to try it

 

Luanne Sirovatka

George Vlahakos the best!!

 

Ellen Einarsson

George Vlahakos YES! Roy’s! And the farmers market.

 

Bee Corona

George Vlahakos aww my sister worked there long time ago!

 

Sarah Andrakin

It’s “South City” not “South San Francisco”. It’s also still referred to as “Brentwood bowl”

 

Dan Manchester

Sarah Andrakin they change the name?

 

Sarah Andrakin

Dan Manchester it is now Hometown bowl

 

Jack Jones

Sarah Andrakin, I always call it: South City!

 

Linda Hunter

Magnolia Elementary, Grand Avenue, Orange Park, Spruce School, All Souls Church, Parkway Junior High, Sunshine Gardens, Santo Cristo Hall, SSF High School, El Camino High School, Ed’s Diner, D & M Liquor, and so much more . . .

 

Stephanie Nicole

Linda Hunter D&M liquor at chestnut and. The chestnut Safeway crew…. You know you’re from south city when either you or your friends worked there lol

 

Tua C Fuimaono

Orange Park, all the stores on Grand Ave, All Souls, So. City High, Baden, See’s Candy, Martin elementary, family & friends.

 

Dean Coombs

Tua C Fuimaono We once attended Roger Williams School on Grand- not sure if it’s still there today-

 

Sarah Roberts

Dean Coombs school closed over 30 years ago, but building still there as a church

Dean Coombs

Sarah Roberts I remember Pastor Larson and a couple of my teachers- Mrs Earhart was one of them- I went there through 3rd grade, then we moved to the South Bay-

 

Eileen Compagno Sosaia

Brentwood!!!!SANITARY BAKERY,jumping bean,whitefront,drive thru deli,el charro,Criders mkt,State theater,foxskyli e theater,chicken delight,hoffbrau,halls ice cream ben Franklin’s on grand,Baden!!!!!!

 

Patricia Baker

We refer to our hometown as South City, not San Francisco.

 

Lourdes Pulido

“Big Bite” , “Alfredos Market “ Colombus” all On Linden

 

Sheri Medina

I’m not from South City. I’m a native San Franciscan. But I spent so much time here growing up. And, now I live here. Love it!

 

Tim Dinsmore

Sunshine, South City, Orange Park, Sign Hill, Sliding towards Hillside on Cardboard. Walking to School Uphill and going back home Uphill.  I got plenty more… Garden Club… The Mag…. Parkway… Lots of Dead Neighbors on one side and actively moving ones on the other. FOG

 

Suzie Davis

Tim Dinsmore I so remember the cardboard on the hill lol love you

 

Jimmy Guaraldi

Tim Dinsmore my grandparents Mike and Alicia owned the garden club

 

Sina Toy

Tim Dinsmore I also remember the year it snowed on a Sunday and we sat on boxes and slid down San Bruno Mountain. Couldn’t do it for long because we had to go to church.

 

Marisa Tamburini Meier

If you are going anywhere south of South city, you say “I’m going down to” …

 

Lupe Ibarra Hernandez

Spruce Drive In

 

John Fierro

Lupe Ibarra Hernandez

 

Alice Ann Arce

I walked back and forth almost daily. Met my husband at Magnolia Teen Center. He went to So City High where I met my best friend. I went to El Camino High so we had it covered. The hills to get to Parkway Jr High. And home. Spent a lot of time playing at the school around the corner Sunshine Gardens. Libraries I loved. Probably couldn’t find my way around any more. Changed so much but sign hill is famous and we all had our stories about sliding down on cardboard trying not to fly off on Hillside. Good times

 

Renee Reudy

Little Luca

 

Rich Barajas

you know when you used to… rent movies at Costa’s Video grand, rent instrument at Bronsteins, burritos at La Tapatia ,frog catching off So Airport n Armour, Martin Meteors!

 

Christina Barnett Haas

Rich Barajas omg catching  frogs! I totally loved doing that! Also daring each other to go into the long gone tunnel at the end of Armour & Airport. Always used to say a big wave  of water would sweep us away and we’d get to meet the Teenage mutant Ninja turtles good times!

 

Kathy Rogers

Rich Barajas My brothers and I used to catch polliwogs and frogs in the canal at Orange Park before they put in the cement, then sell the frogs to neighbors that had beautiful yards. Great memories!

 

Erik Becerra

Rich Barajas and stuff the pool table with newspaper at Bravos Pizza so we can play for free.

 

Wendy Sinclair-Smith

If someone calls it San Francisco and you get upset and say

“This is SOUTH City! ”

 

Angel Apple

Wendy Sinclair-Smith WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

Thomas Morgan

Wendy Sinclair-Smith not to mention there istwo towns between Sf and us. We have our own zip code and school district.

 

Ann Baldasseroni

The wind!

 

Art Hutcheson

The old Italians playing Boche ball behind city hall. We would watch them argue in Italian (with lots of screaming and hand motions)

 

Patricia Baker

Also, I would never dream of using an umbrella when it rains because it is usually way too windy when it rains.

 

Laurie Jay Paradee

Patricia Baker Yep

 

Angelina Robinson

Watching the orchards burn next to Alta Loma every year.

 

George Vlahakos

Angelina Robinson yes. With the dirt bike ramps in the middle

 

Angelina Robinson

George Vlahakos yes! I rode those!

 

Louisa Piazza

Saying the name South city

 

Dan Wiegand

Bertolucci’s

 

Rick Kaiser

See’s Candies

 

Ginabel Machado

Has changed so much last 35 years!! But it is a beautiful city.

 

Jose Rodriguez

Sliding down the letters

 

Jeanett Serrano

Mclellan’s Acres of Orchids, All Souls, St. Veronica, & Mater Dolorosa

 

Alice Ann Arce

Jeanett Serrano I was married at All Souls

 

Justine McGrath

My step dad owned a gas station that used to be on the corner of hillside and linden.

 

Cathy Gnagie

I remember that

 

Khristin Chris Emerson Odahlen

Gotelli speed shop

 

Joe Freitas

Khristin Chris Emerson Odahlen It is still open but in San Bruno now, by the old Lyon’s rest. off of EC Real.

 

Joey Villeggiante

Dougherty and Dunn sporting goods

 

Roderick Lyall

Joey Villeggiante Used to get all my football jerseys there

 

C-No Afuvai

“C Street OG’s”

 

Helen Fong

U remember Cala bell & da car wash on el Camino/chestnut; little lucca’s, garden club, JoAnn’s. Galil’s bakery, Bertolucci, buon gusto. Things have changed & are continually changing though…

 

Peter Alexander

Bron’s barber shop.

 

Steve Baldwin

Crider’s, Drug King/Gails, pet shop in grand Av

 

Sandy Searson Laubscher

Warriors rule

 

Linda Pro

Sanitary Bakery!

& the wind‼️

 

Russell Borelli

Linda Pro don’t forget the fog

 

Linda Pro

Russell Borelli

Yes!! Strangely it did not bother me as much as that darn wind!

My SSF memory lol

 

Julie Janini

When I go to tapatia for burrito

 

Roxana Rocky

Julie Janini  oh my those are the best ever. That’s our first stop when we go to SF

 

Cathy Gnagie

Julie Janini and warm tortillas

 

Patrick McLaughlin

Every summer you start looking for large pieces of cardboard.

 

Peter Alexander

Old Gus and his Candy truck in the neighborhood!

 

Estrellita Tuttle

Royal Donuts and Sanitary Bakery

 

Annabel Martin Gonzalez

Way up over the sign hill on Larch Ave thats where i grew up. Sliding down that hill on carboard boxes with my siblings and neighborhood friends

 

Antonio Alvarez Godinez

Annabel Martin Gonzalez Did that too with Ceja brothers

 

Antonio Alvarez Godinez

Annabel Martin Gonzalez your neighbors at one time

 

Patrick J Smith

“SUNSHINE GARDENS ” says it all for ME !!!!

 

Roderick Lyall

Patrick J Smith Yes Sir

 

Darlene Cypert

I grew up on Orange Avenue. Sliding down the letters on cardboard was the best! Galli’s made the best EVERYTHING! Mr and Mrs Galli were my next door neighbors.

Reply1wEdited

Pete Fiso

Town Liquors

 

Ieti Afoa Jr.

Pete Fiso little Lucca?

 

Ülysses De Guzman

Dennys in Westborough, little Luca, hot and hunky in Brentwood, Al’s liquor on linden, Hillside elementary, Ron Price VW Subara dealership

 

Jane Deguzman

Safeway at west borough, Arbys at El Camino real, seven eleven in front of south San Francisco high school, chevron gas station next to little luca… orange park, grand avenue where we use to get our Dutch crunch bread , Round table Pizza – my high school

 

Rigoberto Valdez

You know what little Lucas is

 

Tiffany Villeggiante

Buri Buri Park n Rec baseball summer league.

 

Byron Vaughan

I’m not from South City but lived in the City long enough to know (at least) two things: SF is NEVER called “Frisco” (or SF for that matter – tho’ that’s less of a sin).

And, it’s ALWAYS “South City”. Never South San Francisco (Except on that glorious south facing hill).

Oh, and a lot of folks are peacefully resting in Colma.

 

Gigi Santinelli Santamaria

Grew up on Baden, Los Cerritos, Parkway, So.City High, Orange Park, Grand Ave (downtown), Big Bite, Leaning Tower Restaurant, States Tavern, Five Brothers, Grand Central, QFI, Capri Italian Restaurant, Sanitary Bakery, etc, etc

 

Angelica Gomez

The Orange library and amazing outdoor amphitheater they had before they turned it into a crappy parking lot.

 

Rachel McElhinney

By 3 o’clock the fog comes rolling in.

 

Jennifer Spahn Roach

Sunshine Gardens, QFI, Little Luca, Bertolucci‘s, Garden Club, First Lutheran Church, South City Car Wash, Sanitary Bakery, The smell of bread when you went through a drive through mini market.

 

Carlos Navarro

When So. City used to do the street festival on Grand Ave.

 

Roderick Lyall

Orange Park

 

Rose Rudometkin

Sunshine Center and Garden Club

 

Rose Rudometkin

Forgot my alma maters, SSG elementary, Parkway, ECHS, Mater Dolorosa, Bronstein’s , too many to list but it was a great place to grow up.

 

Michelle McFadden Rodriguez

Ben Franklin’s, whole alley streets

 

Dorothy Tamaresis

You can’t toooo many big buildings and Condos

 

Estella Maria Tinoco

As Kids …. Ben Franklin was Tops & Anchor Drug …. was were my Friend & Comadre Alicia worked . Also loved the Fountain/Restaurant @ Anchor

 

Helen Asafo-Vaili

When you always claim that there is no other deli better than Little Lucca’s! No matter where you move!! #CStOG

 

Lynda Abelar

Papa Joe’s and purity market

 

Theresa Camargo

Little Lucca’s

 

Janet Gonzales

The State Theater and schoolhouse corner store where we go to by our penny candy

 

Cathy Gnagie

The only drive through grocery store! Kids be tired just drive through get your milk and cereal for the morning or one of the kids just come. From the doctors just drive One of the best parts of our town

 

Manuel Jauregui

On a piece of cardboard pepe ? We did that so many times . Going to the big bite , orange park , darby dans right by house , had to jump a fence from cypress and get my favorite sandwich

 

Sharyn Campos

Called San Bruno mountain but in South City? Grew up in San Bruno close enough 🤣

 

Eve Vuillemainroy

Doing that head bob as a hello, without speaking a word.

 

Nacha Solis

JENNINGS pharmacy

Doctor Jennings on Grand Avenue

When Doctors made home visits!

 

Andy Goodwin

White front!

 

John Owens

The Garden Club , Leaning Tower , Little Luca’s, Welte’s , El Faro and The Silver Dollar

 

Kathy Francis-Anderson

You know if you grew up in So City if you slid down those letters and ripped your pants out then had to walk home

 

Gloria Lagomarsino

Kathy Francis-Anderson slid down the letters with my kids and my grandkids.

 

Kathy Francis-Anderson

Gloria Lagomarsino Really? How fun!

 

Cynthia Minucciani Traverso

Gloria Lagomarsino we used to get water heater boxes from Mr Burns and drag them up the hill, get three or four kids in it, and roll down not knowing where we would end up. Fond memories.

 

Cynthia Minucciani Traverso

Kathy Francis-Anderson yep!!!

 

Kathy Francis-Anderson

Cynthia Minucciani Traverso we did that together

 

Cynthia Minucciani Traverso

The best of times!

 

Gloria Lagomarsino

Still a great hike…although not as pretty now since the last fire and the parks dept. is clearing some of the trees. Also was a rope swing that my kids and grandkids loved, also gone because of the fire. My dad used to ride his bike down the ridge side. We will still hike the hill.

 

Jose Luis Lepe

Sliding down the sign hill.

 

Susie McGeever

South City High School Warriors

 

Patty Martin

Susie McGeever oh please! It’s El Camino Colts! Haha!!!

 

Karen Cathcart

Patty Martin where’s the colts in that concrete jungle?

 

Ofelia Ramos

I have a lot of memories from this beautiful city I used to go to buy food at la lonchera right there at orange park

 

Del Mann

Lived there for 27 years. Right around the corner from Little Lucca’s.

 

John Fierro

City Hall

 

Derrall Ellison

John Fierro lux ave

 

John Fierro

Derrall Ellison grand Avenue

 

Derrall Ellison

John Fierro lol

 

John Fierro

Derrall Ellison for real!

 

Russell Leon

Jim Craig and I would 4 wheel up that hill and drink beer .I lived with him in those days…

 

Nick Shebal

From SF but a friend lived there back in high school and he and i would go ride cardboard sheets down the letters of Sign Hill

 

Roderick Lyall

Los Cerritos Elementary school…

Across from the Boys Club .

I Lived on “A” street

 

Don DeMaderios

Roderick Lyall I’m his uncle…

 

Gina Guaraldi

Yes, Jimmy Guaraldi, and your parents graduated South City High 1980!!

 

Gale Rossi

Grew up in Francisco terrace

 

George Bohannan

I agree Rose, great place to grow up.

 

Nick Evans

Always getting See’s candies during events at work or school.

 

Carol Raczynski

Jumping Bean, See’s White front

 

Sheri Milani Chaplin

Carol Raczynski awesome I remember them🤪❤️

 

Sheri Milani Chaplin

Carol Raczynski I love it!!! I remember that place!!

 

Melissa Gonzalez

You know your from South City when you feel the 3pm wind come through

 

Judy Sockwell

I was born there

 

Theresa Jiggetts

Serra Vista Elementary. Winston Manor Market and the drug store next door. El Rancho Drive-In.

 

Adam Edwards

Zip code on the bills sent to me are a good indication.

 

Lori Lancaster Dunbar

Scooting down the “I” on a piece of cardboard. My Aunt Sissy lived at the base of the sign.

 

Gary Heimeyer

jumpin gean breantwood bowl orange park boys club

 

Atilana Guzman

Day in the park,in orange park….

 

Duane Strand

I always carry a sweater and long pants on a hot summer day.

 

Sarah Leoni

Sign Hill, Lilac Lane, and South City Car Wash  welllll old school South City

 

Rocio Valdez

Walking

 

Donna Olson

City Hall

 

Hector Martinez

Ben Franklin, Anchor Drug, Dairy Bell…

 

George Bohannan

The SSF Boys Club, The Garden Club, and the El Camino Real.

 

John Durney

Hey ,how about the

Leaning tower? I Went there with my mother

For dinner. …Anyone remember going there ?

 

Giles Heppert

John Durney Yes, And Bertoluchi’s. With the gold velvet wall paper.

 

Angelo L. Sanchez

Rented videos from Video Plus on El Camino and ate chili dogs from Ben Franks.

 

Laura Servetti-Lewis

Tony’s Hofbrau food was so good

 

Kathy Mitchell Colombo

Laura Servetti-Lewis loved Tony’s

 

Susan Cordova

Cause I can see this writing from my window… lol

 

Ant Vas

The liquor store with the marlins an moose haha

 

Sabrina Vasquez

Ant Vas don’t forget about the drive thru liquor store

 

Sabrina Vasquez

Spruce elementary, the field trip to the library and La Tapitia to see how tortillas were made..

 

Judith Miller

orange park

 

Ken Fresquez

Work there…

 

Peter Alexander

Peter Wheat bread delivered to our house.

 

Brunt Hek

El faro burrito after school on Friday

Tarissa Navas

Susie Way Ice Cream Trucks

 

Diana Ross

The walk up taco bell on El Camino.. the leaning Tower had the best lasagna..

 

John Owens

Diana Ross Oyster Point Yacht Club

 

Diana Ross

Thhhhhe best .

 

John Owens

Diana Ross I agree , best of times

 

Paul Deala

Bell market and the south city wash on the corners of el Camino and westborough.

 

Paul Deala

Bertolucci’s and Bally’s

 

Vikash Reddy

Spruce ave lol serramonte even though it’s in Daly city

 

Juan Chavez

The Topper! Liberty market! La Morena for the menudo!

 

Ricky Newman

That’s a dead giveaway

 

Patti Breiter

Susie Way

 

Elisa Pena

South city High

 

Stephanie Nicole

Ben Franklins – our friend’s uncle Doug worked at Al’s Liquor

Spruce school kids we all add catechism at All Souls

Big Bite

If your were born in the 70s most likely your principal was Mr. McNutt and kindergarten teacher Ms. Donahue

 

BJ Cunningham

the “H” in “THE” is the best letter to slide down

 

Stephanie Nicole

Macy’s warehouse – my dad worked there til the day they closed the doors

 

Paul Biondi

The best

 

Kevin Shanahan

Is the sign still there?

 

Charles Crispo-de Sira

St. Veronica Roman Catholic School!

Thank you Lord!

 

Alex Feigns

I saw this sign on Easter Sunday. Y’all should watch this movie. Very hilarious.

 

Dan Wiegand

Capri

 

Lupe Puentes

JCPenny on Grand Ave. Bayview Bank on Grand Ave.

 

Arne Sundt

Cashing your paycheck at the bar at Rancho Las Trancas

 

Lani Len Wai

Manor House

 

Paul Biondi

Drizzle not rain

 

Mark Thaler

Saying “Hella”

 

Rich Petrovsky

I was told during WWII they covered up the letters for fear of inciting an areal attack! (not sure if that was true or not)??

 

George Vlahakos

Video bug

 

Taqueria San Bruno

The Spruce 4 and El Rancho Drive Ins

 

Kevin Farron

The Bonanza

 

Rory Corsiglia

Value Giant. White Front. Brentwood Market. OFI. Saint veronica fair. My chilhood school ponderous.

 

Armando Rojas

Lots of Italians. Lots of fog.

 

Sonia Loera

Lived

 

Elisa Pena

Cypress