Memories from a pioneering malt shop in Gulf Shores.
I loved growing up in the South.
Of course, my childhood may have been a little different from most.
Credit: Jim McKinley/Getty Images
The moment people found out where I was from, they would often say, Alabama!
Oh, then you must have been raised on a farm.
How Gulf Shores Became Our Home
Which was true.
Credit: Jenna Sims
Within a week, we were on the road in our Crosley car.
We were headed down to the Gulf with dreams of becoming millionaires dancing in our heads.
Well, at least Daddy and I were.
The year was 1952.
I will never forget the moment when we finally arrived.
However, my mother was more focused on the malt shop.
It was not as Daddy had described it.
Inside was a counter, about six wooden booths, and a kitchen with a grill.
You should have seen the look Mother gave Daddy when she heard that.
How could we ever make a living here?
But Daddy was not one to be discouraged and got the place ready to open in June.
He was the short-order cook, Mother worked the cash register, and I was the merchandise consultant.
We ordered all sorts of water floats, suntan lotion, sunglasses, and souvenirs.
Daddy was very artistic and painted signs on the two bathroom doors.
One said Buoys, and the other said Gulls.
A large neon sign was put up that read Neals Malt Shop and could be seen for miles.
Daddy hired two waiters, and soon, the big screened front doors were opened.
We were in business.
By the middle of June, we were swamped with customers and busy all day long.
What a life for any 10 year old.
I would also get to read all the comic books from the stack at the door.
How lucky can you get?
Mr. Little was great; he let me be his assistant for the summer.
One of his ways to stir up business was shooting balloons out of my mouth.
Sadly my archery days were over.
But as luck would have it, across the street from the shop, a small carnival opened up.
The entire thing was run by a family from the North who lived in a school bus.
The carnival had a Ferris wheel, and a penny arcade, and sold candy apples and cotton candy.
They also had a booth where you could have your photo made.
Then, before we knew it ,summer was over, and the entire beach was empty again.
That first winter was long and lonely.
I was awfully glad when warm weather came around again.
But as hard as my parents worked every summer, we always wound up losing money.
What he had predicted so many years before had finally come true and in such a spectacular way.
When I go back now, I can hardly recognize it.
I wouldnt have missed those magical years for the world.
They were so wonderfulI even wrote a book about them.
