I can’t remember the last time I had a banana split but when I was a kid the best ones were from Tastee Freeze.
The Tastee Freeze was the bomb. Not sure if it still exists. It was across the street of the Columbia Manor Apartments. More or less it backed up to the apartment complex. It was one of the places I could easily walk or ride my Huffy to. There on South Main Street next to the Sherman Williams paint store.
Sunday afternoon. Watching KCOP. Rin Tin Tin and reruns of F Troop. My mother would ask if I wanted to run over to Tastee Freeze and grab a couple banana splits. She would give me the cash, check or even one time we were so broke we used a couple tubes of my rolled pennies from my penny collection to pay for them. That’s how much we loved those things. Actually, I think we borrowed from that penny collection on several occasions. My mother would always repay the rolls of pennies on payday.
A banana split from Tastee Freeze was huge! Using a full size banana cut down the middle. Chunky pineapple and strawberry sauce. Thick molasses-like chocolate syrup. Whipped cream. Sprinkle of pecan pieces. Cherry. The price was only $1.29 I think. (I know it couldn’t be much more than that as it took exactly 6 rolls of pennies, with change back, to pay for two.) I think I tried a Sonic banana split once and I was amazed I paid $2.99 for a tiny little cup with only half a banana.
Its these little simple things that make me want the 80s back. And Tastee Freeze wasn’t just about ice cream. They had a great chicken finger basket and savory French Fries that I still haven’t found a similar look or taste.
You wouldn’t believe how excited I was when one day driving down Colorado Blvd. here in Denver and I see the Tastee Freeze logo- the red and blue T/F logo. It was attached with a Hamburger Stand. I was later disappointed when it was nothing like that Tastee Freeze back home, 25 years ago….
