The Seven Seas Locker Club in downtown San Diego was a huge place off Broadway that took up a city block and never closed. You could go there at anytime, day or night, and get your uniform cleaned, pressed or completely tailored, complete with full zippers on each side of your jumper. Don’t forget to get liberty cuffs along with that. Could get your shoes re-soled and have a complete meal. One of the really cool things you could have done there was to get your neckerchief rolled. They had a machine that would perfectly roll it so you wouldn’t look like a boot. At one time, enlisted sailors were not allowed to have civilian clothes on bases or ships. The “7-Seas” provided a very large locker room so you could change into civies and “blend in” to avoid the Shore Patrol.
To new sailors fresh from boot camp, the Seven Seas was a wonderland of militaria. The Navy and Marine Corps Exchange system was pretty conservative, and would not stock some of the great stuff this store had. In addition to uniform stuff, Boots would go there to get postcards and souvenirs. You had to be careful though, because sometimes you could get talked into getting into trouble. There was this guy in my boot camp company who came back from Recruit liberty with a chest full of ribbons he had bought at the 7-Seas. He said the man who sold them to him said since he was in the Navy, he could wear any ribbons his dad or granddad had earned. This poor fella was sporting WWI, WWII and Korean ribbons. Luckily we were leaving the next day so the Company Commander only chewed his ass a little.
The last time I was in San Diego I went looking for the Seven Seas, but could not find it. I asked and someone said it was long gone, a victim of a changing world and a changing Navy. Admiral Zumwalt probably started its decline when he changed the Navy’s uniform and loosened regulations allowing sailors to wear civilian clothes off base. The exchanges have become more service orientated, and the Navy presence in San Diego has been significantly reduced with the closure of the Navy boot camp there and other downsizing. Still, the Seven Seas Locker Club had been around since WWII and I feel the Navy or the City of San Diego should have made it into a landmark.
We Served Too 
Change is inevitable…locker clubs slowly disappeared by the late 70s and gone when the 80s rolled-around…
Seven Seas could have survived and slowly changed as I fully expected but was thwarted by the San Diego Redevelopment Agency was held Eminent Domain powers. Once in the that dreaded power we were on 90 days notice to move. Improvements were, we were warned, not acceptable and no compensation would be granted. This was a strain both on leadership, personnel and management. Though we had no long term promise, our leases were in effect and we were not allowed to make improvements as compensation was not to be given. Further, we had thousands of useless feet to pay rent but could not offer anyone more than the ninety day lease. This was great for selling Christmas Trees in November but otherwise, quite useless.
I was warned by the head of the Agency that “he ( the Director, would rather see “wild flowers growing on empty lots than see you in business.”, This was also published in the San Diego Reader sometime in the mid to early 1980’s, I believe.
So much for the business attitude at that time!
I had a Uniform made there in 70. Great place. I sure regret that happened. It would have been so great to see again. That’s why I looked this up. I was hoping to have a New Uniform like my old one made when I visit out there soon . Guess there just any place to do that now.
I bought a set of civilian clothes there, always had my neckerchiefs rolled, bought some seafarer dungarees, and “owned” a locker, all back in the early ’60s. Man, what a place, for a poor ol’ country boy first time away from south Texas. Along with the ‘Y’ down the street (if I remember correctly) my home away from home almost.
Glad to hear from you. To be remembered and for the right reasons is wonderful. There are so few of us left and, as I often remark to my family, that I often drive downtown San Diego and see the places that used to be there and that were so very important to us. It was not just a business but an adventure that I sorely miss now.
To most of us, it was the life and we enjoyed being there and meeting some great guys. We never see a Navy uniformed man today and most of the civilians have no idea of how a uniformed sailor looks. That is sad, to me!
Yes, i was there in 64-65
Thanks for the good memories. I really enjoyed working there. The customers were the best.
miles
Had a locker there while attending Corpsman school in 1969.Great place.
Hi JC, Do you remember the Fleet Locker Club in Long Beach, CA. On W Ocean Blvd at Daisy Ave.?
DO ANY of you San diego SAILORS remember ” IRON HORSE ” clothing store ???? Subsid of 7 SEAS…1970 .I bought my first set of FLAIRS (CIVIES ) and the shoes and shirt to go with it….I was trying to make a move on a blonde at the BARBARY COAST………………
I joined Seven Seas in 1953 and became President and General Manager in 1968. My predecessor was sincere in his efforts to provide the serviceman a “home away from home” and was very concerned about the ethics of the company. With several hundred employees we had some excellent talent but also hired ( and we hope) quickly fired any abusive personnel.
The SD Redevelopment agency was extremely hostile to any business that catered to the Military and I was told by the director in the mid 70s that he “would rather see wild flowers growing on empty lots than to see Seven Seas in business.( Quote was published in the San Diego Reader .}
He lived to see that!
I was keen on fair prices, no interest on credit accounts and excellent service.
Miles Goodman mgood182003@gmail.com
Well I’d like to thank the Seven Seas Club both in San Diego and Long Beach. I was a seagoing Marine 1961-63 ( USS Princeton LPH-5. You were the only place I could get quality civilian clothes store them for liberty and get my uniform clean. You were a life saver.
I got out of the Marine Corps in 1967 and then reenlisted 1968 had to got to the Seven Seas Club in San Diego to buy some used Marine Corps uniforms because of a base shortage.
Those were the days, great memories, Thanks
Would like to get any pictures
Thought I could transfer my scan. I failed but, there is hope. My son is visiting in a few days so I’m sure to receive the help I need.
Sgt. please send me your e mail address so I can forward the pictures you wrote about.
Mine is mgood182003@gmail.com.
Thanks,
miles
I went through Navy boot camp in San Diego in 1960, when I got out of boot camp I spent a lot of time at the Seven Seas, it was great. My buddies and I would stop at the US Grant Hotel and pick up a pint of US Grant vodka (cheap, a little over a dollar as I remember) then head to the locker club to change into civvies. I was a 17 year old kid from Colorado. I bought some tailored blues with a dragon embroidered on the inside, it was cool.
Got my one and only tattoo at Tiger Bob’s, the only reason I remember the name was the huge tattoo of a tiger on his back. Mine was a discreet sailor girl on my upper arm. Still have it. When I finally went to sea, I left my locker at the Seven Seas full of empty US Grant vodka bottles and empty Nesbit Orange bottles, made a great screwdriver. Fond memories of that place. I was stationed on the USS Towers DDG-9, that we put in commission in Bremerton, Washington. My ship has been sunk for target practice since then. The world moves on, but it was a heck of a ride.
I was listening to the song Sailor by a German lady on youtube. It was one I listened to a lot back in 1961, at any rate, memories caused me to goggle The Seven Seas Locker Club. It was great.
The Iron Horse was conceived as a forward apparel look. It was designed to be first with new styles and trends. When the right manager ran the place, it did well. I regretted that we did not expand the concept but our moves at 7 Seas were defensive as the City slowly condemned parts of Broadway.
miles goodman ( former GM of 7 Seas)
Remember the clip joint jewelry store where the salesman used to hang outside the front door. They had a picture in their window of a Chief Torpedoman who had about 50 years in. A great place to be cheated. I think it was off limits.
I agree that “side walk solicitation” was a terrible stain on Broadway. Seven Seas fought that type of business but “free speech” won.
Incidentally, Seven Seas truly did everything to maintain a solid, healthy business that catered and served, where possible. That is the truth.
miles
do you remember any of the following places: the bowling alley across from the train station, a chain of restaurants in downtown that were open 24/7, the movie theatres on the plaza, Bradleys, and the Spreckles or Balboa theatre. How about Doc Webs.
If you go to the Vintage San Diego Group FB page and search for Daniel Freeman, I posted a couple of photos of the clothing bags from the Iron Horse. Use to work at 7 Seas late 60’s early 70s while attending college. On that page, I wrote a little bit about working there.Great people, great place to work.
Oh yeah, Mark. Speaking of the Barbary Coast back then, who remembers “Brandy?” I was stationed at the 32 St. Naval Base back then. Aboard the USS Klondike (AR-32) Our hang-outs back then were Barbary Coast, Kings Club, Monte Carlo and of course “The Blue Fox.” 1967 -1970 I was there. I wouldn’t trade those times for anything. I had a locker club in the Seven Seas also. Does anybody remember the College Inn? They had some good bands there and dancers also. “Johnny’s Good Foods ” was a good place to stop in and have a bite to eat. What memories.
It’s great to see this group still well. I think we had the best of guys our country ever had.
Miles, former Gen. Manager.
Does any of you remember the Fleet Locker Club in Long Beach, CA. On W Ocean Blvd at Daisy Ave.?
I have a men’s clothing store in downtown san diego and I’m looking for more info about the 7 seas if anyone can point me in the right direction. Would love to pay homage to this once great establishment.
Would be interested in relaying whatever info you want.
miles goodman mgood182003@gmail.com
Miles Goodman (me) would like to converse when you have time. I followed Edward Kitaen after his death in June 1968
I remember the 7 Seas locker club well, I had a locker there for my civvies. They had everything a sailor could need. The locker room was huge with a very large shower room with unlimited hot water. San Diego was memorable for me. Some weekends started off with vampire liberty, 50 cent movies that never closed,
50 cent breakfast of one egg, toast and coffee. This was in the early 60’s and a lot of fun for a kid of 17.
Thanks for reminding me of ‘vampire liberty.’ I went nights to Basic Electricity and Electronics School, NTC, San Diego. I kept a locker at 7-Seas for about two years, till Admiral Zumwalt changed our lives.
I joined at 17. Went through boot camp at San Diego in 1965 and my first ship was the USS Sperry. Had a locker at the Seven Seas. It really was a helpful business to the junior enlisted. Thank you for taking the time to provide this little history for us. Charles Elliott
looking for info on the Neptune lockert club on 5th ave about a block off of Broadway, My dad was in the Navy with the owner….I had a locker there . we paid by the month had it until I made E5 and at that time E4 and below could not have civies on board ship I was station on the USS Duluth LPD 6 at 32nd st.. In the early 70’s fun times
I had a locker there in the middle sixties, was a great launching point for many a drunken night. We even would stumble back into the club and go to the locker room and pass out on the benches along with several other sailors. I even joined the weight lifting portion of even so that I could work out with several of my buddies.
I was in Diego in June of 13 and looked for the location myself, could find anything and at the time did not know the address. Downtown as sure changed since the sixties, with all the Navy piers closed it a tourist town now.
I bought a set of custom made blues there back in the 60s. They were great
Glad to hear from you. Seven Seas carried the famous (at the time) Sea Farer blues and they were sharp. Another one manufactured locally was private branded and made very well in a nearby uniform plant. Incidentally it was an extremely low mark up product and a break even sale.
Wow ! Do I remember the Seven Seas Locker Club! Joined the Navy at
seventeen and did my boot camp at NTC San Diego. 1954!
Boot camp in Aug 1965. Graduated in Sept and left NTC for boot leave. Immediately stopped at Seven Seas and had blues tailored. Zippered jumper and belled 13 button trousers. Served on a can out of Pearl. Made STG2. Had those tailored duds for the next 4 yrs. In fact, still have them. We couldn’t have civvies onboard ship back then. Don’t remember a place like Seven Seas in Pearl. Seven Seas did a great job and they were fast and reasonable. Too bad the Navy isn’t what it used to be. Too woosy now.
I was in boot Camp in Aug of’65 Co# 404. Served aboard Lyman K. Swenson DD-729. Stg3 Home Port San Diego.
The Seven Seas was a great place in the early 1960s. Got my uniform tailored and bought some civies, but most of all stopped on the way back to the USS Sperry and had a piece of cherry pie and coffee for $0.25, which left me with ten cents for the ride on the Nickle snatcher.
Was on the USS Nereus from 58/62. Made BM 3 bout a year before being transferred to APA.
Went to NTC San Diego March 1965. Lots of memories of the Seven Seas. I had my first set of Gabardine dress blues tailored there with a huge flare on the 13 button pants. Also had them add liberty cuffs. Lots of vendors outside trying to sell you diamond rings for you girl friends back home. There was also a locker club across Rosecrans Ave. in front of NTC main gate with a burger joint next to it. Those where the days.
Ah yes Broadway in general.and Seven Seas in particular bring back a lot of memories-good and bad. I arrived in San Diego in September of 1971 from Great Lakes. Like a lot of single sailors who were away from home for the first time, downtown was a.big.draw. Once you learned the ropes it could be fun but you could get clipped fast if you weren’t careful. Even if you wore civvies, your short.hair told everyone you were a sailor. Good places were the YMCA and the USO. Seven Seas wasn’t bad if if you didn’t let them talk you into something like a credit card. Locker Clubs declined when all.sailors were allowed to have civvies. Some of them folded in the late 70s and 80s when San Diego built more office buildings and change Broadway’s image from a sailor hangout to.a professional downtownI think the last one to go was the 4.0 that was in.the Hotel San Diego.Even Horton Plaza got cleaned up. When I left San Diego in.1997 all.the old places were gone. Just about the only Navy stuff in downtown is Braoadway Pier and maybe the Supply Center
.
101 Locker club closed in the mid to late 60’s. They were excellent competitors and a clean operation. Severn Seas prohibited any of its concessionaires from sidewalk solicitation or lobby vendors. Credit was extended with 6 payments and there never was a service charge or interest.
The City of San Diego always had, I believe, a “hate hate” relationship with stores serving the military. AND THAT IS BASED ON 36 YEARS AT SEVEN SEAS.
I used to go into the 7Seas, used the laundry and tailor service, liked to look around to see what kind of treasures were there. It was kind of a meeting place for the group I ran with from the ship. I believe the City of San Diego had a Hate Hate Relationship with the Navy in General. We were literally targets for law enforcement. After all we were easy targets, either in uniform, or walking down the street with short hair cuts, and to traffic cops that would stop you because you had a base sticker on your bumper. I truly liked San Diego when I first joined up in the early 70’s, but by the time I did my last tour at Sima San DIego in mid 90’s I could not stand what the city had become.
I spent several years in San Diego in the late 50s and early 60s. Looking back, it was one of the better parts of my life. I first went there when I was shipped to boot camp on my seventeenth birthday. I then lived in the LA area for many years and would visit San Diego a lot. In my opinion it started to go down hill in the late 70s.
If I could go back to San Diego and it would be like it was in the 50s and 60s I would go tomorrow.
And I would be next in line! It was obviously the people that made it good. As an ancient of the faraway past, I think it had better people, thoughtful guys, and more feminine females!
Those clubs were a life saver. As a Marine in ships company it was the only place to keep our civics, or buy the lates t styles. It was so awesome go to sea come into port drop off uniiform get it cleaned and pressed . Hitch hike to Orange County , go dancing at the ball room at Newport Beach. Go back to the club get dressed in fresh clean uniform and back to the Sweet Pea,
She then ported of Long Beach
And we had to change clubs.
I got transferred to 29 PALMS a later to Vietnam. Two years I came home and got out of the Corps. A year later I got my Sgt rank back and re entered the Corps. I was sent to Camp Pendleton.
Believe it or not the Marines were short uniforms so guess who saved me. 1968 drove to Seven Seas club and purchased all the dress uniform I needed. From their used uniform racks.
I’d hate to think how it would have been without the Seven Seas Club.
I use to work in the warehouse and later also sales when in college in the late 60s early 70s. Loved working there, the people and the city. My mother once told me that I told her that I would never leave San Diego. Well I left and never went back other than to see family and high school reunions. San Diego became too big, too many people, too many cars, too many houses, too many freeways, and too expensive. Loved the fact that I could be at the beach in the morning, the mountains in the afternoon, and camp in the desert at night.
Miles, I appreciate everything you did for me and the devotion you had to 7 Seas. 7 Seas was a great company to work for. I was sorry to learn of its demise. The only thing San Diego has going for itself is great weather, and that is even changing.
Thank you very much for your letter. I do remember your name and have the fragment of memory of your face. Memory amazes me
.A quietness has settled over the once busy street of Broadway. Downtown and the millions of men that filled the streets have disappeared. The Spreckels Bldg. has historical protection but not many occupants. I continue to have good memories of the days that are no more. The Director of Redevelopment made a statement that came true, he said, “I would rather see wildflowers growing on empty lots than to see you in business.”. Good memories remain strong.
I am grateful for the ever-decreasing population who worked together to sincerely make life better for the young servicemen who wanted a safe, clean place to live as a part-time civilian.
We had a devoted and sincere group of young men as fellow employees. It was one of the best times in my life.
Does anyone remember the 101 Locker club across the way (same side)?
101 Locker club was a clean operation owned by a gentleman, Alan Richman, I believe. His hors and services were abbreviated but he was an excellent competitor.
Seven Seas, believe it or not, was started by an immigrant, very young man who worked very hard to establish a clean, service minded business that had in its formative years, very rising young men who later were very influential in their dedicated fields from attorneys, accountants, Federal Judge, and its most famous attorney, the man whose experience with Seven Seas led to his establishing FedMart, later Price Club and ultimately, Costco. That was Sol Price. Mandel Weiss, another Seven Seas stockholder, contributed millions to UCSD to erect the Weiss auditorium.
The city of S D, I know and believe, always hostile to the Broadway merchants despite its honorable intentions and superior business ethics. We who lived and grew in S D were always viewed as 2nd class merchants because of our customer’s. Navy Commanders and above were welcome. Those below, the workers, were always considered by our city as……………………..
hi miles. boy do i remember the 7 seas and the rest of broady.they were great days. t-town.oh my god. still hit sd once a year during fleet week. stay out at pt. loma. the dolphin motel. do i miss those days.67-70. would like your email so i can connect with you when i come to sd
Thank you Miles. I’m responding to your earlier post, in which you said you could buy Seafarer blues at the Seven Seas. That company now has so little institutional memory that they don’t know that they made blues back in the early to mid-sixties. I contacted the company a couple of years ago out of curiosity, as I could have sworn, and rightly so, that they did, and they said they only make dungos now and had recently lost the contract with the Navy for those. Unless my memory has completely failed me, I bought at least one set of those spiffy, tight-fitting blues sometime between 1963 and 1965, when I was on the Kitty Hawk. The Seven Seas was a magic place for sailors back in those days. Fate has kept me away from San Diego ever since August of ’65, when my tour of active duty ended, but I would have loved to see that place again.
My brief encounter with SD in1969, I remember a city park or green space downtown that had signs posted dogs and sailors keep off the grass. Will never forget that.
boy, do i remember the 7 seas. it was the last stop before going back aboard either at the foot of bdwy or anchored out. it was always quite a sight about 3 in the am. some guys would be sleeping, others puking and fistfighting, finishing off a night of culture in tijuana. anyone remember the last bus from t-town. mom would not of approved. i wish we could all go back for a night or two. any one remember the burlesque theater across from the plaza, packed with guys on their first liberty from bootcamp?
The strip club I remember was the PussyCat. I think it was on Fifth Avenue. All gone for the sake of big business.
The “new” San Diego has attained the dream of tourism. I know that the Traditional businessmen of downtown did not encourage Navy business and we had little standing in the elegant clubs as we dealt with the military. Even today some 30 years after we closed, some members of s plant club I belong refers to lower Broadway in a derogatory way as LOWER Broadway. I found our customers were pleasant, young and terrific guys. We had almost zero shop lifting from Navy. Some civilians were not very honest!
miles
I remember a club across the square, NudieCuties. Went to RTC/NTC and Corps school in 1early 70’s. Kept my locker until discharge. Always had a home and locker. All the sand crabs hated the military, even though our presence fed their fat daughters. Truth, my uncle Robert was ChulaVista fire chief. When in San Deigo. I always changed at 7SEAS before I went over. Less friction with their sand crab friends and neighbors. Too bad SanDeigo forgot their roots and heritage. much love to all still here. See you at the VA now. toodles!
i remember it all. was stationed in sd from.67 to .70. still go out to sd from pa. oncem a year during fleet week. as you get older you miss those days.
I make my sentimental journey weekly. Driving Hwy 5, I take immense pride in seeing No. Island and the pair of carriers lining No. Island. It is a beautiful sight.
miles goodman
sounded like a pretty neat place. Wish I could have seen it.
I was in San Diego in the late ’70s…. ’77 – ’80. I remember seeing the Seven Seas Club… but you could tell from its appearance that it was on its last legs. The place never looked busy, but you could tell that it had been a hot spot in years past. The fact that I was able to change into civvies aboard ship before liberty told the whole story of why the club was on the other side of its hey day. I’ve been back to San Diego a couple of times for ship’s reunions since (USS Buchanan DDG-14 anyone?). The downtown area has completely changed from what I remember of it. What was once a Navy downtown area is now a touristy gas light district. The old tuna canneries you passed while gagging on the bus from 32nd street to downtown has been replaced by a huge tourist trap called Seaport Village. Personally, I pine for the old days when I could get into a movie theater downtown for $2.00 where they showed three movies non-stop, geared to the tastes of sailors and marines. Give me the Seven Seas club over any of those swanky, overpriced seafood restaurants out on Shelter Island any day!
Thanks for the positive comments.
Our customers were the best group of credit risk in the country. Obviously, we had a small percentage of bad accounts. My predecessor, the founder of the company, died unexpectedly of bladder cancer and I, totally unprepared, became General Manager.
We had a solid company and tried very hard to make a profit and operate on low margin.
I felt close to the job and appreciated the Navy. I served from April 1945, the date of my enlistment, until as a reserve the Navy offered us a special tour. As a crew member on the CV 3, the Saratoga, I had my choice of standing 1/2 mile on the Bikini island test site of the atom bomb test or transferring off. I transferred off and served on 4 other ships (APA’s ) until the reserves were sent home.
As the years passed, my memories of the service years became more important to me. I never forgot what it was like to be a Seaman! Obviously, I tried to create a better locker club and personalized the shopping experience. WE never abused a Navy man knowingly. Obviously, we hired on occasion the wrong guy but, when we as a company we were made aware, would dump the guy.
By the way, if any of you guys served on the Saratoga maybe you remember the heads with trough’s of running sea water and 1 x 3 ‘s that served as toilet seats when you collected a pair from off the deck. That’s the truth!
miles
miles
i feel the same david. go to sd once a year and can’t stand how downtown has changed.thank god i was part of the good times
Touristy? You should Newport, RI. Tin Can town. Navy pulled out the destroyers. Beautiful housing now like a barren landscape. It was the last hope for the Forrestal and the Saratoga to be museum ships. Last time I was up there, the Navy turned into a base for salvage ships. Newport itself is a freakin’ resort now. Thames St. is all “Gentrified”. They did some landfilling and cruise ships pull in now. Our locker club, gone. I even think the Y is gone. Last time up there I drove around and couldn’t find it. Quonset Point, homeport for our ASW carriers? Like God scrapped it from the earth. Davisville, once the home of the Seabees? Only the base theater remains. Maybe to be used as some kind of monument.
Kevin, was on the forrest sherman (DD931) in 62-63. do you remember a bar called “jimmy o’sheas”. he didn’y have barstools. if you couldnt stand jimmy would cut you off. it was near the Y i think.
I remember the “Seven Seas” well, even though I did not have a locker there. I had a locker at the Serviceman’s YMCA right across the street from Seven Seas and also worked out there in the weight room. I was there in 1955-56, but when I went back in the 1989, the Seven Seas was gone, along with a lot of other establishments. Spreckles Theater, where I used to watch movies, was still there but it seemed to have been turned into a performing arts theater. I really enjoyed “Diego” while I was stationed there, and was sad to see that Broadway been transformed quite a bit when I went back. At least the Serviceman’s YMCA was still there (and it was when I again visited in 1998). It, too, has probably bitten the dust by now. Oh well, change is the only thing that is constant!
The enlisted man has changed! When Admiral Zumwalt adopted different standards as for example,wear what you want to inspection it implied “Liberation”, I believe the Navy I knew and respected, was forever gone.
Personally, I do not believe that his changes of the Navy made for a better sailor than existed prior to his reign..
I worked at the 7 Seas warehouse for a few months in the late 60s when it moved from south of Broadway to north of Broadway. I made $1.30 per hour (before taxes) and got 2 holidays, one paid. However, I think I got a winter holiday bonus of something like $10 from the owner, Mr. Kitaen.
Catering to enlisted sailor’s tastes, they stocked some pretty amazing stuff at the warehouse, but some good stuff too–I used my employee discount to buy a pair of Seafarer dungarees that lasted forever.
I thought the clothing outlet that opened in the late 60s was called “The Freight Elevator.”
IMHO, the best things south of Broadway that are gone now were San Diego Hardware and Wong’s Nanking Cafe.
I can’t say anything about how good or bad the Navy was in the 60s, but I earned a couple of weeks of sea pay as part of a multi-service exercise on the USNS Comfort a few years ago and was impressed with the people and the whole operation.
This is my second reply the first having mysteriously disappeared before completion. Your memories are amazingly accurate. Having remembered Mr. Kitaen by name and spelling deserves an award.
My predecessor was an amazing man and difficult to follow. He, in addition to fine business instincts, was cursed with a city’s administration that wanted Broadway to be “cleaned”. The redevelopment move was a clever, legal maneuver that encouraged the extermination of Navy business. This redesigning of the area to be “Navy free” was a hidden agenda. It was no secret that the Navy dollar was prized, but dealing with the common sailor was considered a “low class” business. This view dominated pre ww11 thinking in San Diego. Many thought that my wife who worked as a young seamstress altering sailor’s uniforms, was needlessly subjecting herself to associating with a less than admirable crowd. Little changed after the war and the Navy business was on a par of income from pimping.
Seven Seas was a profit making organization that provided needed services for a group of young group of sailors that were fairly treated and given a semblance of a “home away” from home. Believe it or not, when I became GM I took a third of the salary of the founder, repaid the enormous buy out to the founder’s legal team an widow, and struggled for years to maintain the Company. I always regretted leaving my lazy man’s job that I left working for the County of SD.
Economically, it was a terrible move. I could have had a great retirement being overpaid as a Assistant Probation Officer with many days sick leave, vacation, use of a car and a worry free job. Being head of Seven Seas was a 24 hour worry. Dealing with the City government took my full time worry. It was wasted years and I regret my move into the business world.
By the way, the Freight Elevator was my “baby”. When I became the GM I was faced by a challenge from our company attorney who, in my opinion, took an unfair advantage of the untimely death of my predecessor. We had an enormous inventory that was impossible to recoup costs so I did the next best thing. I sold the overstock merchandise at very low prices and was willing to take 10 cents of the dollar. The Freight Elevator was a “disposal” business and suffered because the cat and mouse game played by the now defunct “Redevelopment Corp.” The worries were totally on my side and my shoulders. Guess what my feelings are toward the City?
In summation, my predecessor was a totally successful American immigrant success story. He gathered the young, untried professionals to join him and made them and his immediate family quite comfortable. This could not be said for my struggle against the City forces starting in 1972 when San Diego city took on private property owners with Eminent Domain. I could go on endlessly and I should have stopped earlier.
I remember Seven Sea’s from 1968. I had my blues trimmed, my neckerchief rolled and used it as my way-station for my civilian clothes. I’ll miss it. It would have been good to save it as an historical property, but that part of town is in the high-rent district and development overtook the landmark.
hi don. i was in the navy in sd in 68 too. i was on the ussjerome county lsr 848.i still come to sd from pa. for fleet week and stay at the dolphin motal in pt loma.i miss the way things were but i thank god i was part of that time in sd
When I went to Radioman “A” School at NTC in 1967 I got a locker at the Seven Seas right off the bat. From NTC I took the bus on Burnett Avenue that blended into the Pacific Highway that in the fullness of time dropped me at the square in the middle of downtown where the buses q’ued up. It was a long ride to Seven Seas to get into civvies. Later I discovered a locker club right outside the gate at NTC on Burnett Avenue and switched my locker to there. While I was still in “A” School during the summer of ’67 BUPERS authorized sailors below E5 to keep civvies on NTC. I see references to Admiral Zumwalt and 1970 as the switch over. But I can guarantee you we had civvies on NTC in 1967. A room on the ground floor of each barracks was designated as the group locker. It kept freaky hours. You had to be there at 1600 to pick them up and check them back in the next morning at chow time. I bailed out of the locker club at that point. Where that locker club used to be on Burnett Avenue is a Smog Inspection station and a store for large women who need big sizes. We would have loved that 50 years ago. We would have settled for any woman — Large, XL or XXXL.
I visited the 7-Seas during boot camp liberty in 1962 (Company 550) and came back later after leave while I was at the transient barracks for two weeks at 32nd Street. No civvies allowed on base so I rented civvies at the 7-Seas for walking up and down Broadway and a trip to TJ. Those were the days. Retired after 22 years as a CPO and highly recommend this to anyone looking for direction and an adventure.
Haze grey and underway !
Hey Frank, how are you? It’s me your ol’ shipmate Nyman!
Sorry, John. Must be another Frank, I served 1954 to 1962. Thanks for your service too!
The Seven Seas, what a great place that was. San Diego owes so very much of it’s heritage to the Navy but instead of celebrating that part of their heritage they seem to want to hide it like it never existed. The Seven Seas was a very important part of my time in the Navy from when I was in boot camp (Co336 Chief Petty Officer Carpenter) in 1966 until I got out in 1975. And yes even then there was indeed a lot of hostility toward the enlisted men. (Of course during this time, Vietnam and all that, our news organizations had the American people convinced we were lower than horse manure) But we were always treated with respect and dignity at the Seven Seas. Thank you Miles Goodman you were and still are greatly appreciated. By the way, my father also loved the Seven Seas.
Thank you very much.
I enlisted just before my eighteenth birthday and proudly served aboard the USS Saratoga CV3 until it was decommissioned. As you know it was deliberately sunk in July 1946 as part of the test of an atom bomb. I always regretted its destruction.
I was seventeen when my mother an I arrived in San Diego. I was amazed at the number of sailors walking four abreast on each side of Broadway. There was a continuous stream day and night and no place to rest except at the all night cafes. Little did I know I would be one of them.
Edward Kitaen, ran a small tailor shop in the basement right off a pool hall. His tailors altered the ill fitting uniforms and sold the sleek “Seafarer” uniforms. Though young he was married with three children so he never served. When the war ended he formed a partnership with some of the young professionals of San Diego. The Seven Seas Enterprise was born and the first opened May 1,1948. The locker club was clean, on Broadway and stocked many of the needs of the Navy man. The Tailor shop, and a little later, the cleaning plant were opened along with the civilian clothing, barbershop. Services were provided and expanded. It was so very successful and by 1953 there were three stores on Broadway and each and every one was busy.
Edward, the founder, confessed sadly to me, years later, that the downtown merchandise never accepted a business dealing with the Navy. Civilian customers were prized, not Navy customers Though officially the powers were seemingly proud of the Navy, the undercurrent persisted and the business community regarded the business as second rate as the customers were “just sailors “.
Years later, in fact about two years ago I attended a club party and the conversation turned to the old days in San Diego. A PhD recounted his distaste for the “lower Broadway” merchants that dealt with sailors. No one knew of my association with the Seven Seas and the people at the party; none had ever served, but they agreed and held in distain, both the sailor business and its customers, Old prejudices linger years later particularly those that never served.
If you would like a little known fact about some of the early investors I will be glad to continue.
Take care,
miles
Thanks and will try to find some that might help refresh your memory.
miles
I tried to post this a few days ago but don’t see it and am trying again. I was glad to find confirmation of my recollection that the Seven Seas sold Seafarer blues. I called the company a couple of years ago to ask about it and spoke to a fellow who said that they had only been making dungarees for many years (and had recently lost the Navy contract for those) and that he didn’t know whether they had made blues or not. It’s been over fifty years since I was on the Kitty Hawk in San Diego, but I could swear I bought a set of Seafarer blues at the Seven Seas.
Miles, Do you have any pictures of the inside of the Seven Seas Club?
Does anyone have pictures of Sully’s in Long Beach
As for the community supporting the Navy or Marines we knew how they felt.
As in combat it was all about your team mates and those that were willing to stand by us.
I know the locker clubs must have made a great profit and that is good, you gave us what we needed and I’ll never forget that. Thanks
My dad worked at the Columbia Locker Club in Downtown San Diego after returning from European TOO in WWII. He used to bring a sailor or two home with him for a home-cooked meal, courtesy of my mom. Two guys who used to come over and sing for us were Dean Jones and Randy Sparks, both of whom became famous entertainers later in life.
Those, as my dad used to say, were the good old days. They don’t have days like those any more
It is rare to see a serviceman in San Diego. The absence of the uniformed Sailor or Marine is something I miss. As you know, servicemen always were found in San Diego but no longer. After two hundred years, it is still strange to drive in the downtown area and never once see a uniform. The transfer of the Training Center out of SanDiego was essentially the end of an era that lived for over two hundred years and symbolized strength and security.
I miss the symbols that uniformed personnel gave.
miles
I remember those days too, but the Navy and Marines are still a big part of San Diego. I live in Illinois now and once in awhile I go to Great Lakes. You don’t see a lot of sailors walking the scriptures on Boot liberty either. Things change and that’s progress. We have our memories and I treasure them.
My first job was at the Manhattan Sandwich Shoppe inside Seven Seas. I LOVED that job. I was 16.
Glad to hear from you. Was the store you worked the First and Broadway or India & Broadway?
My first job was at the Manhattan Sandwich Shoppe inside Seven Seas 1975-1976. Best job I ever had. I miss the old downtown San Diego.
First and Broadway
About what year? I initially started at Tailor Shop #3 (First and Broadway) later managed the Dry Cleaning Plant on State and E and then “ran” the Columbia St. Seven Seas Clothing and Locker Club until Ed Kitaen died in 1968 after which time I became GM/
I worked there in 1975 and 1976.
Thanks,
miles
Miles – do you remember the names of any of the managers at the First and Broadway Seven Seas in the ’75-’76 time frame? I remember one, Lynn Gaskins, I think. And I was friends with a lot of the guys in the tailor shop too, but can’t remember anyone’s names,
I have less time to return because of my wife’s need for special care.
Lynn Gaskins was an extraordinary person. He was very bright, easy to talk with and an excellent manager. I can’t remember the details or what happened to him. The closing years of the company were extremely painful.
The constant disruptions brought about by the City, the tremendous money needed to have the company survive and lastly paying rents in the newly designated Redevelopment area quickly wiped the Seven Seas out of existence. Rents escalated from $2,700 a month to $12,000 a month and the Navy’s presence severely declined. The streets were quiet and foot traffic totally disappeared. I never could have imagined the deserted streets nor the absence of the Navy man. NTC was closed. The era of two hundred years ended.
Hello Miles,
Thanks for the following response you sent me to my Email:
“Thanks and every Monday through Thursday, my son and I relive the glorious days by viewing the thousands of slides I took.
On my nostalgic current real “drive by” I am the only one who sees the days of old and the thousands of young servicemen in dress Blues.
Ever since Admiral Zumwalt “modernized” the Navy, uniforms have disappeared and are only part of the past Young civilian dressed youth occasionally
drive by and may possibly be concealed sailors.
Uniforms and Pride are dead!
Nothing to fear though……………….The future world will always be at peace.”
I moved it here as I enjoyed reading these posts and I am sure others do also.
I envy you having all of the slides to look at. Although, at the time, I was not that impressed with my time in San Diego. However, looking back I realize it was one of the more enjoyable times of my life.
I celebrated my 17th birthday on a train from Houston, TX to San Diego for boot camp. About nine months later, I made third class and went to the Seven Seas to get my “crow” sewed on my uniform. The fellow there convinced me I needed to get rid of my boot camp issue uniform and get a set of Seafarers. Who knows, that may have been you. I did purchase the set and I remember paying $35 for the uniform. I never regreted the purchase. They looked great.
I visited San Diego several times in the seventies and eighties. It had really changed and, in my opinion, not for the better.
Do you remember the little amusement park which was a block or two down Broadway from the YMCA, behind the stores that faced Broadway? I remember walking through that alley/amusement park one night with a couple of friends. We stopped at a tattoo parlor and ny friends got a tattoo. I was undecided about getting one. The old gal who was doing the tattooing said I could take my pick of the small ones and she would do it for free. I do not respond well to presure so I said no thank you and I am sure glad I did. I never did get a tattoo and still no regrets.
You are right about the Navy not being the same. It would be difficult for me to get used to todays Navy. I am glad I had the experience I had.
Louie Calaway
Hi Louis,
I had a locker at the Seven Seas for several months in 1964, bought a custom fit set of blues with the dragon embroidered on the inside and on the cuffs, it was cool
I also got a tattoo at Tiger Bob’s tattoo shop. It was a sailor lady on my arm, she is still there and still winks when I look at here. I asked Tiger Bob how he got his name, he took his shirt off and showed me the tiger head on his back. It was huge, about half the size of a movie poster.
San Diego was a great place in those days, particularly for a 17 year old country boy from Colorado.
I spent most of my sailing days on the USS Towers and a short stint on the USS Tingey, both were home ported in San Diego. Have a great day.
Hello Gary,
Good to hear from you. I was there between 1958 and 1962. I was aboard the USS Bexar APA 237. The Seafarer uniforms came with embroidering on the inside of the sleeve cuffs. I cannot remember if they were of a dragon or some other design.
As i was not old enough to get into the bars, I walked many a mile up and down the streets of downtown San Diego.
As Miles said, we enlisted men were not respected very much. I remember walking through a nice neighborhood off of Broadway someplace in the high teens or twenties and there was a yard that had a sign that said “Sailors and dogs keep off of the grass”. I am sure not everyone felt that way but some did.
Louie
I was 17 when I went through boot camp, then went to YN “A” school, then to the pre-comm crew on the USS Towers DDG-9 in Bremereton, Washington. The USS Alabama was tied up a few docks down, and we got to go aboard to scrounge anything we could for our ship’s office.
The first and only time I ever went aboard a battleship – it was way cool.
Towers was a brand new ship then, with Tartar Surface to Air missiles and ASROC and early fire control radar.
It kind of bummed me out when they sank it for target practice a few years ago.
Our first cruise was to Callao, Peru (became a shellback – terrifying experience – hahaha) with a few stops on the way, then later one Westpac cruise before I was transferred.
Good old days, I do miss them. Great chatting with you
Gary Lykins
Thanks,
miles
corpsman school, spring of ’57…..stationed at Balboa until Feb. of 59…….many nights and memories of Seven Seas, and Tony’s Pizza……..country boy from E Tex, had to chase the too strong pepperoni, with cheese, and hide the dark beer from shore patrol with coca cola…..lived in Old Town and worked at General Atomic, after discharge, but had to fight off the expenses and get back to the boondocks…….
really glad I found this site…………………
So many good memories so long ago. There were 4 of us from Hospital Corps School at Balboa Hospital. It was 1969 or 1970 we headed out to Mission Beach for a weekend of whatever. I remember changing into civi’s at the Seven Seas Locker Club. I was really impressed with the locker club and how the staff made us welcome. I paid a quarter for a shave with a Remington electric razor and was amazed how smooth my face felt. One of us was 21 and went to a bar and after a short time came out stating there are no straight people in there. Next we made it to the beach and after the sun went down we passed a wine bottle until we fell asleep. That night we got a ride back to our Company from a couple of very unhappy MP’s. Does anyone remember that model of Remington electric razor. I believe I would like to get one.
I have enjoyed reading everyone’s comments.
I remember Balboa hospital. In 1964 our boot camp crew made a trip to give blood. My first time donating, although looking back I am not so sure it was optional. I was stationed on the USS Towers DDG-9 in those days and when I hit the beach I always stopped at the US Grant Hotel and picked up a bottle of their rot gut vodka, it was cheap, less than a buck for a half pint. Then off to the Seven Seas locker clock to change into civvies and pick up a bottle of Orange Nehi out the coke machine for a mixer. Even Tijuana was a fun place back then, not so sure now. hahaha Great memories.
I too recall the Seven Seas … I was down there off and on between 1957 and 1960.
l remember the seven seas club
My father was an AD2 coming out of the 7 Seas (1954) after changing clothes and found a young Wave from North Island looking at his motorcycle. A few months later, my parents were married ! Then in the early 1970’s I had a uniform tailored there. And it was the only place I could get my OM rating hat pin.
Service School Command Sep 1955. Had locker 7 Seas. Have been back to San Diego many times and wondered what happened to it. I also attended Navy School Imperial Beach Jan – Apr 1956.
I still have a brass machinery repairman hat insignia i purchased at Seven Seas in 1972 It is in my Shadow Box. You can’t get the brass ones anymore. I visited San Diego last years after 40 years. I hardly recognize 32nd St., I was on the Jason. Downtown is all gone, Seven Seas, the bars I used to go to. I used to take the bus on Saturday afternoon and hit all the dumps like Patrick’s, Green’s etc. Seven Seas was a fine store.
I had a locker at The Seven Seas when I returned home from Vietnam in 1970. Was a cool place to get your civvies dry cleaned or grab a bite at the counter restaurant. Then 71 or72 civvies were allowed on board ship and that was the demise of the locker club system. They certainly provided a much need service for many years.
Had my 1st set of Gaberdines made here back in 67′, were awesome…wish I still had them, was on the USS Prairie AD-15 on a San Diego pier at the time…
Reblogged this on Tales of an Asia Sailor.
Shipmate, I reblogged your piece this morning. Over 300 hits in a few hours. Well done!
Garland
Visited SD and went to check out Broadway St a few years back. The YMCA that use to cater to Sailors and Marines years ago has definitely new clientele these days, the old smoke filled pool hall room now is a fitness/ workout room, lol, times have changed, I much prefer the former over the latter 😎
I remember the 7 Seas very well. I got out of boot camp in fall of 63. Next on to the USS ST. PAUL CA 73. It was at North Island. It cost 25 cents to take the boat out there. They used to call it the nickel snatcher, but it cost 25 cents in 63 . After time on the PAUL and M M A school, came back to San Diego to report to the USS CANBERRA CAG 2. It was at North Island too.
With Viet Nam starting up, we were not in San Diego much. I did tours in 65,66 & 67.
I am always looking got old shipmates.
For old Shipmates , not gotnold shipmates ! Typo !
I forgot to say , that I used the 7 Seas locker club and all their services. It was like a home away from home.
Anyone remember the 1974 NBC TV series MOVIN’ON filming on Broadway in San Deigo in 74? There is a scene from the episode “FRAUD” where the 7 SEAS sign can be seen in background as the two stars of this series are walking downtown.This episode of MOVIN’ON can be watched free via YOUTUBE.Pretty cool to see the sign and downtown San Diego as it looked at night in December,1974.The old Tower Theatre is also seen and used for filming in this episode.Anyone who remembers this please let us know!…Bill
I checked out that episode of “Movin’ On,” and was indeed good to see the Seven Seas sign.
my dad worked at 7 seas from 1960 to 1985 25 years none stop,his name was john rush.
John was a very hard working man. I worked with him and know. He also was totally loyal and committed to helping the customer as well as Seven Seas. He was among the best.
I know, I worked with him.
miles goodman
I remember the 7 Seas, it was a welcome place to go when off the ship. I was on two different ships, home ported in SanDiego from 63 to 67. USS ST.PAUL CA73. It was at North Island in the Fall of 63 when I got out of boot camp. Next I was assigned to the USS CANBERA CAG 2. It was at North Island when I reported aboard in 64. It cost 25 cents to ride the ferry over to North Island at that time. It was called the nickel snatcher, but it cost 25 cents. Their was no bridge going over there then.
Nice to read this post thread about Seven Seas. I was just reminiscing about it and thought I’d Google it… I grew up in San Diego and as a girl remember Horton plaza, took the bus with my younger brother when I was ten from la Mesa to la Jolla, had to transfer there. It was safe enough for kids then! There were lots of arcade rooms, plenty of sailors in uniforms from many lands (always interesting to see the different styles), and the Seven Seas. When I got to college age it wasn’t cool to be seen around military, but I decided to walk into Seven Seas and see what it was about. Do I remember pool tables? I think I remember the weight lifting area. I thought about shooting pool there and then thought maybe a lone female might get into trouble… thanks I did shot pool down at Jack Lamon’sa couple blocks away. Okay, nuff said. Thanks for trip down memory lane. Wish Seven Seas was still there. But there’s a lot of stuff I wish was still there. Sigh.
Hi all especially you, Miles Goodman. I am the one that wrote the original article that started this thread. I am amazed that there was so much response to this. The person who runs this site told me “Remembering the Seven Seas Locker Club” has had more comments than any other on this site. I suppose it is a great tribute to the Seven Seas that you all remember it so well. Thanks Mr. Goodman for clearing up some of the mystery of the sad end of what we all consider should have been a San Diego landmark!
I went to boot camp, RM A School in 1960 inSAn Deigo. Also home ported on a tin can on the DES Base 32nd Street. Had a locker at 7 Seas thru it all. Bought SeaFarer, dungarees, whites and dress canvas there. Kept my locker thru west pax cruises, got discharged at TI in 1967.Last home Port was Alameda NAS. Had a locker at Johnnys downtown Alameda. Locker club and bar. Get your blues cleaned while you hoisted a few cold ones. Different Navy today. They don’t know what they missed.
I may have mentioned this earlier but San Diego has historically demeaned Lower Broadway and its attraction of Navy enlisted customers. From my first days in San Diego, from August 3, 1944 through today, the official San Diego site fails to acknowledge the importance of the Navy customer in our City.
I arrived in San Diego as a new seventeen year old and immediately was warned to stay away from downtown Lower Broadway. I enlisted in the Navy in 1945, served on the USS Saratoga, CV3, discharged in late 1946, went to work first for the County of San Diego then at Seven Seas Locker club and was proud and happy dealing with Navy enlisted. Sorry, but the Officers on the Carrier were courteous only to fellow Officers and treated the enlisted man like crap!
As a Seaman, I saw and felt the snobbery of the Officer class. My Son in Law was an Officer in the Navy. His snobbish treatment of sailors , I thought, was disgraceful but so too were the Officers on the Sara that ordered coffee only for themselves and, without shame, offered the remaining cold coffee for the enlisted men serving on the watch while in the Pacific.
I am curious about today’s Navy and wonder if that attitude still prevails. Have any thoughts?
I used the seven seas in San Diego for years, just the best, I also worked there as a fry cook.
Miles, Glad you still have the Seven Seas Club website. I was a seagoing Marine on the USS Princeton LPH-5 out of long Beach do you remember the name of the Clubs there? Ill never forget I came home from Vietnam and was out a year 1968. Re enlisted 1969 and was sent to Camp Pendleton as an instructor. They were short uniforms and I had to go to the Seven Seas Club to get Tropical Long Sleeved Shirts.
Swabbie haven. I remember the Seven Seas growing up in San DIego. It was enough to make me never to want to join the military service.
The “civies” were never enough to allow young recruits to blend in. Those jar head haircuts were the real give away. It seemed that most of the recruits wearing the outlandish outfits that the Seven Seas sold were purchased by recruits form the south eastern U.S.. Lots of southern country boys.
See that whole scenario through a vision of LSD enhanced youth was some vision.
Thanks for writing…….
Seven Seas was always to me a most important facility. It gave a place where a
guy in Service was able to linger, watch a TV program in the lobby or, just rest.
I was on the old Saratoga, CV#3 and know the value of a place where you can
visit and where you feel welcomed.
It’s a sad reflection but in a true sense, we
all need a “Home away from Home”.
miles
RTC (gate on Rosecrans(?)) April of 1968, CO#249………….. first DuSta – 32nd Street base (APA-222)….. Seven Seas was where a recent grad from RTC could go for any of a thousand things he needed; always treated politely’ good advice on how to “survive” in USN San Diego……………….
Thanks for your objective and complimentary comments.
Certainly, Seven Seas was a corporation and brought together many young investors.
Chief among the early shareowners were men who later became famous. The name
that comes to mind first is Sol Price, founder of the Price Club later purchased by the
well known Costco, a East Coast discounter.
The founder, Edward Kitaen was succeeded by me, a relatively young man, who innovated
many progressive ideas and was defeated by San Diego’s Redevelopment Act. It served to
defeat Seven Seas as I mentioned before and am prepared to defend my statements.
And yes, I enlisted in the Navy as a seventeen year old and served a short but wonderful
time aboard the USS Saratoga, CV3. By any standards, it was extremely odd in its
treatment of the enlisted man. This by any standards was “basement class”.. I will defend this
statement till the day I die.
IN conclusion, I learned great respect for the US Navy and it’s terrific pilots.
miles goodman
What year did the 7 Seas Locker Club close permanently?
San Diego Redevelopment started in 1968 and each and every one of our locations, all three were taken over by the City of San Diego. We were allowed to remain if, for example, we would tear down our two story building and construct a twenty two story office building. This was obviously impossible for us to finance. We were retailers and not Developers.
The City, after giving us a worthless chance moved us from our established location of 37 years and we were limited in space to a small, unlit location. Our business died shortly after that and we closed our doors in 1986.
This summer the California Supreme Court ruled in a separate case that the use of Eminent Domain in a parallel case was Unconstitutional. Big Deal. I’m almost 93 and all my former partners are dead. The case is over. So much for Justice!!!!! I don’t think I can reach my enemies in Heaven, can I?
The founder, Edward Kitaen died in 1968 but his close friend, and attorney, was interested in retailing and I was fortunate to be with the friend in a visit to the store in Oxnard, Ca. We had heard about a new business that was highly successful and we saw it together. The close friend was very excited and immediately saw the possibilities. He talked about it all the way back to San Diego. His mother had a warehouse in a poor section of San Diego off of Main St. It was opened with little fanfare but well accepted. The owner and founder and driving force was, Mr.
Sol Price. He later started the discount store called Fed Mart after a visit to FedCo. In essence, he formed a corporation and it was immediately a success.
I could go on but that is enough for this time.
Take care,
miles
Miles, what year did the 7 Seas Locker Club close permanently?
Sorry to be so late; 7 Seas was forced to move in early 1985 and the 1 st @Brwdy store ordered out of 107 W Brdwy by the City of San Diego. Moved into Spreckles building directly across the street but prohibited by the Landlady from using outdoor signs and restricted window signs. The allowed signs were absurd and failed to attract any attention.
The reps of the City WANTED NAVY STORES DEALING WITH ENLISTED CLOSED!
They had all the power and we were tossed out, legally at the time, and ended soon after.
The Calif. Supreme Court this summer declared that kind of action to be illegal. Wonderful to be declared Unconstitutional but totally useless. Most of my Company are DEAD! Government won and the people lOST! miles
I was stationed in San Diego for many years. When I left in 1997 it had changed so much. Virtually everything on Broadway was gone. I understand the USS Midway is now moored near Broadway Pier as a memorial and museum. I wad wondering if a portion of the museum had a section that is dedicated yo liberty on Broadway.
Thanks for the continued interest in the sad history of West Broadway.
The City of San Diego has continually stopped its reporting of the East side of 1 st and Broadway. The Speckles building continues to end the historical interest for not a word is mentioned nor reported as even existing.
I have sadly learned that history is part fact and part fiction. The fact is that most of the businesses were legitimate with sincere, hard working people offering services to a neglected and deserving group of young, enlisted men of limited income. Our hours were dedicated to the liberty hours of the customer. We provided resources dedicated to helping the enlisted man. For that, I am convinced we served our business interests as well as the customers needs.
Don’t people know that the location and hours open were designed to meet the need of our special customers, not the typical shopper of the day? A reasonable citizen will understand this!
miles
So sad to hear this story unfold. The 70s were not kind to our brothers and sisters in uniform. I’m glad to hear this got rectified. Somewhat. Though late. Thank you for sharing. Barbara
Mr. Goodman, I enjoyed the speedy, professional and courteous service I received at the hands of the staff at Seven Seas. Your employees were ALWAYS as just described and you provided reasonably priced services, to boot. I’d like to give a hand-salute to your folks and especially to the sailors and marines to whom this country owes so much. The young servicemen were just out of high school and out to learn about the big old world via San Diego. Many times I’d pick up innocent white sailors and took them via my cop car from where I collected them trying to make their way from Broadway and 32nd down to Harbor Drive. (Great way to get robbed, stabbed or killed.) They were happy to get to their base at 32nd Street as opposed to having a violent confrontation with young tough kids who be happy to take their valuables at the point of a knife or gun or fists. Again, thank you for your business’ cordiality and great service to EVERYONE. It’s reprehensible that the “City Fathers” chose to “redevelop” downtown in an Eminent Domain fashion. It’s also sad that the Navy pulled out, mostly, from a great port, a great city with great people. Thanks to the Navy and to the Marines and to the businesses, especially one such as the Seven Seas, that supported our military. Godspeed !
Thank you, Ira.
Miles
It’s August 1956, I’m 17 years old, just got out of boot camp ,, my orders were to report to the USS Shangri La CVA38, I never saw a picture of it, soi walked into the 7 Seas and asked the clerk if they had any pictures of it. He told me, the “Shang” had just left port and I could probably see her as she had not cleared the port yet, well long story short, I did. I went back. to the 7 Seas and thanked the clerk, he gave me a free necktie roll. That’s how it was then, I miss those times but I’m glad I was part of it. And now at 81 years old I have fond memory’s.
Thank you to all of our military past and present I am proud to be a part of you.
Ron
Thanks for the memories. I am glad when others comment on the great past that we shared. I have hundred of pictures taken in that period. It was great to have served both as a sailor aboard CV3 and later at Seven Seas.
So good to read the stories of the Sailors visit to their first Ship. Very fond memories. I remember Mine as well.
Had to catch the nickel snatcher out to North Island. The USS ST. PAUL was waiting for me.
I can’t tell you how many times I have dreamed about being back on the Kitty Hawk, on which I served from the fall of 1963 to August of 1965. Sometimes they’re frightening dreams, with heavy seas breaking over the flight deck, sometimes really cool ones, like one that had this huge, magically unrealistic gedunk with all sorts of goodies and much else. Associated with these dreams are ones I’ve had about The Seven Seas. I have very vague memories about the place itself, except that I bought these really cool Seafarer uniforms there, so I can’t say how closely my dreams conform to the way the place really was. I think those uniforms and much else were on the main floor, but in my dreams I go down a flight of stairs, where I think the locker club was in reality, and find all sorts of dungos and other uniform items there. I can’t call those dreams up on demand, so to speak, but I always enjoy them whenever they come. Incidentally, I recently re-read The Bluejacket’s Manual, the 16th edition, the one that was in print when I was on active duty, and man, what a time-warp!
I often wonder why the Bean soup in the Navy was never served in civilian cafes. I had it when aboard the Saratoga and Sherburne and have NEVER had that wonderful soup since. I keep trying though. miles
The Bean soup is served at McGuire’s restaurant in Pensacola for $0.18. One has to purchase a regular meal to be able to buy the soup.
The soup was great. I also miss the corn beef hash we had for breakfast. In fact, I had no complaints about Navy chow.
I thought Navy chow on the bases was great. It was also good for the first week or so of an at-sea period, but after that, at least on the Kitty Hawk, it could be pretty iffy.
[…] is the link to the Seven Seas Locker Club […]
Mike – was in the 7 SEAS in 1970. Was a GREAT place for military away from home. I remember I had a set of blues made in Hong Kong that needed a little “adjustment”. I recall the lady I was dealing with telling me the dragons embroidered on my cuffs were some of the best she had ever seen. WIsh I still had them. Really sorry the local government treated your organization so poorly, considering how much they owe the US military and the Navy in particular.
-With the passage of time I understand how few of us are still around.
I often take a memory trip back to the days that are no more. Memory is both
kind and cruel as we all eventually learn. Those young men that died, probably on both sides of the world will never know what a WASTE a war is!
My grandchildren visited and I was fascinated by the young thoughts. Obviously
todays generation do not share our views, fears and hopes so I learned to listen rather than talk.
I occasionally take a trip by computer and scarcely recognize our world anymore.
The very dress sets us apart from todays youth. I still “cringe” when am introduced to someone who moved into the facility that years ago was our enemy! That is a word no longer in common use.
Again I am still grateful for the Atlantic and Pacific oceans!
Had a ride around the area I presently live and felt like a stranger. Relying on another to drive still creates a sadness though I should be content that I am
still alive and somewhat cognizant of my situation. Having been married for over seventy years should bring only happiness and gratitude but the loss of my
wife cannot be satisfied with past memories.
Finally, I wonder when the world will have a serious conflict and peace will
be shattered! I cannot believe that another despot will not arise again!
miles
Went to Hospital Corpsman A School at the Balboa Naval Hospital in 1973 – 1974 and Advanced X-Ray Technician School in 1979-1980. My first time in San Diego right out of boot camp, I walked down Broadway in awe and my eyes fell on the Seven Seas Club. I asked a buddy of mine what it was and he just smiled and said come on. I was like a kid in a candy store. My first purchase was a tailored set of Cracker Jack Dress blues with the zippers. The tailor was kind enough to warn me those could not be worn for inspections. I spent many a night in downtown San Diego and always paid a visit. When I went back in 1979, As far as the Seven Seas, it seemed like I’d never left. Great memories of those days.
Doc!
You’re so right, I was a sea going Marine 61-63 and it truly was great and positive experience . I could get uniforms, latest civilian clothes, uniform cleaned and pressed what more can you ask for. Thanks for refreshing my memory of a very special time,
We, an old, old man both a Seaman and crew member aboard the U.S’S Saratoga, CV3 and as a “side cleaner had a slightly different view of the Carrier.
Still, I learned a lot during those days and would like to have a chance to relive some of those valuable times. I had a lot of respect, esp. for the Airmen!
miles
No kidding
USS Princeton LPH-5
Was the greatest time of 24 years military service