There’s a weird moment that hits you as an adult when you realize something from your childhood didn’t go away; it just quietly stopped existing while you were busy growing up. There was no goodbye tour. Zero closure.

One day it was there, and the next day it was a fun fact you have to explain to younger people who don’t believe you (or don’t care much to hear about it, when it comes to my little sisters).

Ask anyone what they’re surprised isn’t around anymore, and the answers come fast. I know they do. I did it. I invited my friends on Facebook to tell me all of the things from their childhood in Lubbock that they are shocked are no longer around. The list was long.

Let’s break it down together.

When Going Out Meant Going SomewherePhoto by Sean Benesh on Unsplash

Blockbuster. Hastings. Video stores in general. Places where you wandered the aisles forever, arguing over movies, judging covers, and occasionally renting something wildly inappropriate because nobody checked. In Lubbock, Hastings, especially, still hits people emotionally. A place that wasn’t just a store, but a full-on weekend ritual. For me, it was almost daily with the 50-cent VHS rentals. Sigh.

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The Places That Raised Us (And Then Vanished)Image by Harut Movsisyan from Pixabay

Then there’s Joyland, which may as well be sacred ground for Lubbock kids. First dates. Family nights. The terrifying joy of rides that probably wouldn’t pass inspection today. More than one person said they’re genuinely sad their kids won’t ever experience it, and honestly, same. Add in places like Home Plate Diner, The Brittney Restaurant, and Legacy Play Village, and suddenly it’s not just nostalgia, it’s friggin’ grief with nachos.

Back When Music and TV Actually Meant SomethingPhoto by Chris Benson on Unsplash

Technology took a lot of casualties, too. AOL chat and Messenger. Yahoo games. MySpace. CDNow. MTV when it actually played music. Entire corners of the internet that raised us emotionally, socially, and sometimes VERY irresponsibly. Throw in old Nickelodeon shows, Saturday morning cartoons, and suddenly you realize kids today don’t understand planning your life around a TV schedule. Hell, I’m bummed I can’t watch Saturday morning cartoons now as an adult. My parents used to sit in and watch them with me, too. They were laughs for the whole family.

Things We Lost That Weren’t Physical (Well, except for Bjorn’s loss)Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

And then there’s the stuff that feels half-joke, half-truth. People miss manners, respect, common sense, humanity, and even the illusion of societal decorum. Someone said they’re surprised child discipline isn’t the same anymore. Another simply said, “My youth,” which… fair. Extremely fair. Bonus points to my pal, Bjorn, who mourned the cartilage in his knees. Sigh.

The Stuff That Disappeared… Probably for Legal ReasonsPhoto by Angela Loria on Unsplash

Some things vanished for good reason, like Jarts (yard darts of death), candy cigarettes, and the constant childhood fear of dying in quicksand. Others disappeared quietly, like full-service gas stations, roller skates with a key, or kids just being outside until the streetlights came on. We spent hours at the park doing nothing, and it was the best time of our lives.

Everyday Things That Quietly Slipped AwayPhoto by mostafa meraji on Unsplash

And then there’s the biggest heartbreakers: rent under $500, Walmart layaway, full shopping malls, Kmart, Beanie Babies, Zima, Reebok Pump shoes, and Lisa Frank everything. It was a strange time. A time when neon dolphins and rainbow leopards ruled our folders with zero irony.

Sigh…

What all of this really proves is that things didn’t just define our childhood; experiences defined it. Places to go. Time to waste. A slower pace. Fewer screens. More chaos. More freedom to…have fun.

We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were living through the “remember when” era. And now we’re the ones explaining it to young pups, and it usually starts with, “Okay, but you had to be there.”

Keep scrolling for more Lubbock nostalgia in the galleries below…

Joyland Nostalgia: Photos That Bring Back the Best Lubbock Memories

Joyland was a quirky, vintage treasure that Lubbockites enjoyed for generations. It is deeply missed, but lives on in memories, and in great photos like these.

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven

Never Grow Up: A Peek At Lubbock’s New Toy R Us Location

Lubbock is home to a new Toys ‘R Us pop-up inside South Plains Mall

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven