When a Rockville drugstore opening meant free cigars for men, and hot steaks and crab cakes

The postmodernist critique posits that many Americans are nostalgic "for a past that never was." And then that argument gets shattered with the quick perusal of an advertisement for a "Get Acquainted Day" at Peoples Drug in the Twinbrook Shopping Center in 1957 Rockville, Maryland. In contrast to a 21st century where CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens stores open on every other block with little fanfare, this Rockville drugstore opening was a major event. Even Mr. Peanut was on hand.

Look at all of the 1950s cars lined up neatly outside the store. And unlike the Peoples Drug-eating CVS, you were going to leave this event with much more than a receipt you could wrap a mummy in. If you had a family, it was truly going to be a haul. Free Havana No. 9 cigars "for the men!" Free earrings "for the ladies!" Free ice cream cones, comic books and coloring books for the children! And free Coca-Colas, Wilkins Coffee and "miniature loaves" of Bond Bread for everybody (the Bond Bread factory in Washington D.C. still stands at 2146 Georgia Avenue NW).

Today's CVS offers a small convenience store presentation of essential grocery items and snacks. But the 1957 Twinbrook Peoples Drug had real, hot food in its Streamlined Fountain and Grill. There, one could order the "finest sandwiches and special plates," ice cream treats, beverages and platters of steak, veal or crab cakes. Compare that to today, and the devolution of society has rarely come into such stark focus. Sure, we don't need the TV tubes and film development of this Peoples Drug, but when's the last time you got a steak, crab cakes and free Havana No. 9 cigars at CVS?

Doña Cecy's Pupuseria opens in Rockville (Photos)

Doña Cecy's Pupuseria is now open at 2002 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville. It is located in the Twinbrook Shopping Center. They've already got a 5-star rating on Facebook, and 4.5 stars on Yelp, so it sounds like they are off to a good start.

Rockville construction update: Doña Cecy's Pupuseria (Photos)

The new interior of the future Doña Cecy's Pupuseria is looking spiffy at 2002 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville. Furnishings are in place, and it looks like opening day isn't far in the future. They are also hiring all staff. Doña Cecy's is in the Twinbrook Shopping Center.

Doña Cecy's Pupuseria opening in Rockville (Photo)

There's a new entry in the pupusa wars in Montgomery County. Doña Cecy's is coming to the Twinbrook Shopping Center at 2002 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville. This, to my knowledge, is the first location for this brand, but they've already got a nifty logo on the sign featuring Doña Cecy herself.

Abandoned Twinbrook Safeway (Photos)

The vacant former Safeway store at the Twinbrook Shopping Center may have been stripped of exterior signage, but inside it still very much looks like a grocery store. Just without any groceries on the shelves.

Interestingly, the lights are still on inside. This was not the classic Safeway store design like that found in Damascus, which ended up being demolished. All contents were auctioned off prior to demolition.

This situation looks more like that at the old Magruder's in College Plaza. That store was put up for lease, and the new tenant utilized the leftover checkouts and even shopping carts when it opened. Other than a potential redevelopment of the shopping center, the question here is, will it be a new grocery store chain or an ethnic grocery store?

ROCKVILLE RESIDENTS MISSING HOWARD, " THE WORLD'S BEST CASHIER " AT TWINBROOK SAFEWAY (VIDEO)

Shoppers at the Twinbrook Safeway are wondering why their favorite cashier was apparently let go by the store. Howard, an energetic and affable employee who brought game show enthusiasm to the checkout line, has been named "The World's Best Cashier" by one fan. You can see him in action in this video.

One shopper has written to the company asking for Howard to be rehired, and expressing concern about the decline of the store. "Many of us still shop there ONLY because the cashiers are wonderful people whom we appreciate and like, Howard and Ophelia especially," she wrote.

Given the preponderance of glitchy self-checkout machines and unmanned (and un(wo)manned) checkout lines in grocery stores these days, you'd think stores would want to hold on to popular and energetic employees.