5 Businesses That Have Been Where They Are for As Long As I Can Remember [PHOTOS]

I've been on this old marble for 49 years and in Owensboro for 99.7% of that time. And it's interesting to drive around and notice those businesses that have been in the same location for as long as I can remember.

1. Bimbo Bakery (Colonial)

The name has changed but that good old Colonial sign is still there. You know, in all my years, I've only ever been in there one time. It was when I was in kindergarten and my class took a field trip there on Halloween...in costume. I was dressed like an astronaut, so I had to remove my head gear to eat the free bun we all received fresh out of the oven.

2. Raines Shoe Hospital

When I was a kid, I'd ride with Mom down to Raines whenever she'd pick up her nursing shoes, which she was always wearing out. I remember thinking how cool it was to drive through that tunnel to get to the pick-up window.

3. Sparkle Brite Car Wash

I was really, really young when I rode with my dad out the old Robo Car Wash which was just on the other side of the bypass on Frederica. It was the only thing out there along with Southside Barbecue across the street. Anyway, as we moved through the wash, I started freaking out because all those rotating brushes coming at the car from all sides looked like monsters to me and scared me to death. So the next time I rode with Dad to get the car washed, he went to Sparkle Brite, where you don't stay in the car as it's washed. Ironically, I was so fascinated watching the car go through the wash, I wanted to RIDE IN THE CAR DURING THE WASH. Dad rolled his eyes.

4. Bowl-o-Drome

The first time I ever bowled, it was at the Bowl-o-Drome. I was in fifth grade and my whole class got to go there on a field trip. I bowled a 32. It seems you never forget your first (and ONLY!)...32.

5. Long John Silver's *

I have an asterisk next to LJS because it isn't exactly where it always was. Over the years, it's moved up closer to the driving lane. But, you see the Fantastic Sam's building? Well, that's where it USED to be. And, by most accounts--and correct me if I'm wrong--this Long John Silver's was only the 13th one to go up in the United States. Pretty cool.