A few weeks ago my father asked me if Oxford had changed in the seven months I was gone. No, not much. There’s an IHOP now, and a Checkers. They’ve broken ground for a CVS on West Jackson. But the biggest change, the thing I really miss, is no more Main Squeeze. I miss the bagels. I miss the smoothies. I miss the sandwiches. I miss the atmosphere. Main Squeeze had its own vibe, a groove I like to jive in a place where I wanted to unwind. Main Squeeze was a local business with local flavor, like Local Color and The Local Voice.
The local aspect is one I haven’t found in any corporate establishment anywhere across this nation. An IHOP in Iowa is the same as an IHOP in Idaho, is the same as IHOP in Ohio. While I do love my plate of pancakes at 2 am after a long night of heavy drinking on The Square, so too do I enjoy an outdoor vegetarian lunch with the splash of hope of convo with Ronzo. I like to contribute to the character of the place which comes from the character of the people who live there. I don’t care to contribute to the corporate cookie cut-outs and fill the coffers of the faceless CEO’s and stockholders. I’d rather give my money directly to Ron Shapiro, with a smile, to keep those Velvet Elvises rocking and rolling than to the invisible execs with their mansions in distant vistas who never return my smile. I don’t mind the corporate clime, so long as we leave the local line. No Dad, Oxford hasn’t changed much since I’ve been gone, but I do miss that Main Squeeze.
You know, I was never at the Main Squeeze, but I do remember the Hoka, the original HOKA, where you could see 3d “movies” if you message me privately, I will describe. I truly miss Oxford where Oxford was very cool. The Oxford I knew was a place where kudzu grew under the bridge to the University and dolphins swam there. If you didn’t spend time there in the early to mid 90’s you will think my rant is nuts and I’m sorry for that. But I do miss the HOKA and back then we just referred to the owner as Ron and the movie guy as Bart.
Take care….