LUNCHTIME AT THE LAST ARCADE ON THE BROADWALK
Sitting at the counter in the last arcade left on Daytona’s Boardwalk, with Dylan and the Doors and Frampton and the Brothers Allman and the Led Balloon guys providing the soundtrack. There are worse places to find yourself at mid-day on a Friday.
But all is not well at the World’s Most Famous Beach. I just learned it’s been over a year since they demolished Joyland and Lisa’s Gift Shop, which was just north beyond the vacant lot where two other arcades and fun centers once stood, all demolished years ago. Joyland was the oldest building on the boardwalk. Not the oldest one left, it was THE oldest building, first thing built nearly a century ago when this was still known as The Broad Walk (named for its broad walkway, not the ladies of the night who would frequent it in later decades, and now decades passed, ironically after people had started mis-calling it the Boardwalk).
So I guess Mardi Gras Fun Center, where I’m currently perched, is now the oldest building left…for now. Given the velocity which the powers-that-be are leveling things around here I need to keep my wits and pay attention to where the wrecking ball is swinging, or I may not make it out of town in one piece.