Hello!

Hello, friends. Thanks for stopping by my site.

My name is Eric and I’m the creator of Long Island 70s Kid. I launched this place back in 2013 to pay tribute to all of the places, foods, events and other items that made a childhood on Long Island in the 70s so special. It’s a snapshot of an era, from a (former) kid’s perspective.

When I was first building the site, I felt a little like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, wondering the whole time, “if I build this, will they come?”

It warms the heart to say that a steady stream of you arrived and have kept arriving even when there wasn’t much new material for a while. You have my gratitude and appreciation, especially for all of the wonderful and informative comments you have left over the past five years. Thank you.

Now, if you’ve been a fan of the site for a while, you’ll notice that the place got a bit of a face lift in recent weeks. The poor old site was really, really showing its age, especially on mobile devices. You also might notice that some stuff is missing, like the store and other goofy stuff that seemed like a good idea when I first launched. I’ve simplified the ambitious original scope and whittled it down to simple information about a great time and place.

From this point forth, Long Island 70s Kid will remain an informational archive of a historical era, and a place for those who remember it to share their memories, without pop-up ads or clickbait or any of that other annoying stuff that exists elsewhere. This isn’t for money, this is out of love.

Thanks again, everyone, for all of your support and please keep the comments coming so we can continue to relive this special little bit of history together. There’s lots more to come.

Eric Gabriel,
Writer and Creator
Long Island 70s Kid

26 Responses

  1. Patty says:

    Eric
    Thank you. I and my nine siblings moved out to Ronkonkoma in 1969. We all have very fond and funny memories of growing up on L.I. in the 70’s. Our parents still live in the same house. Will see if we can come up with some pictures to add to your site.

    PS – Don’t forget the best game ever – Kick – the – Can

    • 70sKid says:

      Patty, thanks for the kind words. Glad you found us, and can’t wait to see some of those pictures!
      And … who could forget kick the can? 🙂

  2. Don Nelson says:

    Eric
    What a great site. As a Long Island boy it is nice to see all the great 70’s memories. Thanks for remembering WBLI and all the great talent at that station. It certainly was fun back then

    Don “Only Gold” Nelson

    • 70sKid says:

      Don, it is an absolute pleasure to have you stop by! Thanks so much for the kind words, it means a lot. In the 1970s, WBLI was always on at our house in Ronkonkoma, especially during the summer and, of course, any school-year morning that it started snowing. 🙂

      All the best to you.

      • Anonymous says:

        Eric
        I have lots of audio from WBLI from back then If you ever want it please let me know. Some great memories from back then!

  3. PapaTom says:

    Wow! I don’t know how long this site has been around, but it’s a groovy resource for all of us 70’s Long Island kids and I sure look forward to watching it grow!

    • 70sKid says:

      We’ve been around for eight days, PapaTom, and we are just getting started, I assure. 🙂

      Thanks so much for the kind words!

  4. deborah mee kolba says:

    bayshore roller rink was my second home wow love this sight

  5. Tammie McKee (Earlywine-DeCanio) says:

    Eric, Thank you so much for this sight I had moved away many years ago and have recently moved back closer about 12 hours away and plan on visiting real soon. Have enjoyed stepping back in time,thank you again

    • 70sKid says:

      I’m glad you found us, Kathy! Thanks so much for the kind words and please make yourself at home. 🙂

  6. Elijah says:

    This is just great Eric. Well done! What I wouldn’t give to walk around Roosevelt Field Mall circa 1976…perhaps the head shop at Pier 1 in the back. Anyone remember that? And of course the train at Eisenhower Park! Thank you for this!

  7. Jay says:

    Hello Eric! This is just ABSOLUTELY spectacular! I’m a DIEHARD ’70s fanatic, and wish to hell I grew up in the Long Island area. However, I have friends that did back then. Anyways, just loved your store/tour, and I may make a few future purchases. Grew up in the midwest(Chicago/Milwaukee) but I just loved everything about your store since New York City is my all-time favorite place to visit-was there last X-Mas. How I wish I could turn the clock back to 1975 to my old neighborhood, do things differently,

    • 70sKid says:

      Thanks so much for the kind words, Jay! Always wonderful to hear from those who appreciate the site. 🙂

  8. Dan Martens says:

    Hey Eric,
    What can I say. This site is incredible! Brought back so many memories (even some forgotten ones). Grew up in Bethpage (Farm Ranch Rd area) and couldn’t have asked for more. My parents still live in the same house.There was so much to do that we didn’t need video games or TV. It will take a while to see everything on your site but it will be a great trip down memory lane. Right off Collector lane I think! Thank you very much for this site and if I can get any pics from that era I will be sure to send them to you. Island Trees Bulldogs RULE!!
    Dan M.

  9. Matt says:

    Hi Eric,

    I grew up in Brentwood during the 70’s. Thank you for creating this site, it’s awesome!

  10. Clay says:

    I pull up this site every few days and spend just a few minutes here and for a few wonderful minutes it’s summertime (or first day of school) back in Bay Shore. Something here always makes me a kid again (today it was Koogle…remember the Koogle Monster!)

    Thanks for putting this together!!!

  11. Mike Parbus says:

    Hello, trying to find out what business was located at 915 Sunrise Hwy, before it was the Relax Inn….All I recall is that it was a green building, in fact some of the green is still visible on the side of the building.

  12. Flip says:

    Is AdventureLand on Rt. 110 in Huntington still there?

  13. Scott says:

    Hi Eric,
    Great site! I just told my 84 year old mom about this and she’s gonna love it! DO you remember the Modells in Commack? I remember they had a small movie theater inside by the main entrance where parents would leave their kids to watch cartoon reruns while they shopped. Free popcorn and no supervision! LOL. Keep up the great work! If I find any picture to share where can I send them?

  14. Mark says:

    hi Eric, I’ve been in contact with a friend of mine, we have been friends since the 70’s we were like 13 and 14 then now we are in our 50’s anyway we are into stereos and had both bought JVC boombox radios from battling barry’s in Carle place, the Red Lobster parking lot which is still there but battling barry’s is gone and so is the stereo’s and big speaker era. oh yea we also built speakers too from speak kits if you remember them too, I forgot till my friend reminded me of them. love this site, have to keep it going……..

  15. Brian says:

    Eric,
    Thank you for taking the time and effort to assemble this wonderful collection of childhood memories. I’ve rediscovered things here that I’d long forgotten. So many good things about growing up on Long Island during the 70s. The world has changed so much. Life will never be like it was back then. I’m sure I’m not the only one that truly appreciates your amazing time capsule.

    Warmest Regards,
    Brian

  16. Debby says:

    Great site, Eric! I love it! I just found this tonight by way of looking for pictures of the Woolworth’s in Lake Rononkoma, which in the 70’s, was in the Grand Union Shopping Center. I just wanted to see what it looked like again. Tom Mc Can shoe store was in that Shopping ctr also. And Ligget’s drug store. My old stomping ground as a kid.
    Sure wish there were more pics of these days on the web. But people didn’t take pics like they do today because it was expensive to buy “film” and then get it “developed”. Hope you are well, Eric.

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