I’ve heard it said that there are three important factors to consider when purchasing real estate: (1) Location, (2) Location, and (3) Location. Of course, it’s possible to purchase a place to live without giving too much attention to the precise address or zip code. I’m not sure if Freddy, if that was his name at all, gave much consideration to the opportunity his modest home on Vicente Street in San Francisco would provide, but he sure made the most of it.
To drive past 2916 Vicente Street today, one would never know that it used to be home to a popular snack shack in the 1960’s. It really wasn’t much more than that. The garage door had been removed and replaced with a large window and single door. Inside the garage, a counter had been constructed allowing space for about a dozen customers to stand and place their orders. I’m fairly certain that most of Freddy’s customers were local kids.
Freddy’s was conveniently located directly across the street from South Sunset Playground and just down the hill from St. Gabriel School. Ulloa Elementary School was adjacent to the playground on the west side. What a gold mine for a well-run snack bar.
It’s been a long time since Freddy’s closed, so my memory of the menu there may be incomplete. What I remember most is that for a mere 25¢, I could purchase a bag of French fries. The brown lunch bags were half-full and the fries were hot and well-salted.
I also remember that for a dime, kids could purchase a half-pint carton of frozen Sun Valley Dairy orange drink or frozen chocolate milk. Freddy would cut the sides of the carton and remove the top half. This enabled kids to hold on to their frozen treat by the bottom portion of the carton.
If any other items were on the menu at Freddy’s, I don’t remember them. Still, a visit to the snack bar, either after school or during the summer months, was a real treat for local kids. And with South Sunset Playground right across the street, business at Freddy’s was good.
I don’t know if the current residents at 2916 Vicente Street are aware of the history of their home, but those of us who grew up in the neighborhood at that time are certainly aware of it. When I think about Freddy, and the affordable prices he charged for the items he served, I can’t help but wonder if it was a profitable business for him… or if he simply wanted to provide something special for the kids in the neighborhood. Whatever his motivation, I will always be grateful for his hospitality.
