50+ Lifestyles

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

1973 – It Was a Very Good Year

Highlights of the History of the Quad Cities from 1973.

By Eloise Graham

Many of you probably know that CASI (Center for Active Seniors Inc.) was started in 1973. They have been celebrating their 50th Anniversary this entire past year. Some members formed teams and walked 50 miles (or more) during the month of January. I guess you could say they started the year on the right foot! Many other events happened during the year to celebrate this milestone. CASI estimates that it has help over 250,000 seniors and their families in the past 50 years. They are looking forward to the next 50 years to enrich the lives of seniors in the area.

On a personal note, I gave birth to a daughter in 1973. I am still trying to figure out how I can have children in their 50’s when I keep thinking I am 35. Guess the saying is right … age is only a number. And it changes every year! But I digress so back to other happenings in 1973.

Did you know that NorthPark Mall opened in the summer of 1973? The original anchors were JCPenney, Younkers and Montgomery Ward. An extensive expansion in 1981 brought in Sears and Petersen Harned Von Maur as additional anchors. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 when the chain went out of business. Dillard’s came into that location two years later. Many changes have taken place in the mall in the past 50 years.

Rudy’s Tacos was founded in 1973 by Rudy and Marilyn Quijas. The little restaurant was in the village of East Davenport. It seated 15 to 20 people. By 1977 the business had outgrown the tiny building. It was torn down and a new, larger building replaced it opening in the summer of 1977. In 1976 Rudy’s West opened in the west end on Cedar Street. Now Rudy’s Tacos has a presence in all of the Quad Cities and surrounding area.

Hungry Hobo is a chain of sandwich shops that was created in 1973 when four businessmen converted 3 Little King stores into Hungry Hobo locations in Moline, Davenport and Rock Island. There are now 13 Quad City locations.

In 1973 the Des Moines newspaper, The Register, started RAGBRAI. This is the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The weeklong ride starts on the western side of the state and ends at some town along the Mississippi River. For fifty years now the event has brought in bike riders from all over the world to travel the back roads and through small towns throughout Iowa. Each year is a different route highlighting the best Iowa has to offer.