volume 19, issue 11 • november 2017 www.northcentralnews.net Memorial service set Charlie Sands, left, and Jim Bickoff, cen - for homeless woman ter, owners of the By Teri Carnicelli Park Central Deli, console longtime cus - Many knew her as “the Safeway lady.” Some knew tomer Jerry Folz, who her first name—Anita. She had been a regular pres - is saddened by the ence in the North Central area, her walking beat news that the deli— stretching from 7th Avenue to 16th Street, mostly first opened in along Glendale Avenue. 1957—will be clos - People often saw her on the Murphy Bridle Path, ing for good on Nov. or in front of the Safeway at 7th Street and Glendale. 17 (photo by Teri Sometimes she had her shopping cart with her, some - Carnicelli). times she just had her signature black-on-black cloth - ing, long dark dreadlocks bouncing and electric blue eyes blazing as she shook her fists in the air, arguing with someone who wasn’t there—except in her head. In her clearer moments, she admitted she had schizophrenia, but preferred to be on the street rather than in an institution or shelter. She had been mar - ried, but was divorced and had no children. Her Futures uncertain at Park Central Mall mother had died more than 10 years ago; her father By Teri Carnicelli Sands explained that he knows what it’s like to go please see MEMORIAL SERVICE on page 8 Should they stay, or will they go? through major construction issues, because the busi - That’s what many of the tenants at Park Central ness did take a hit during the construction of the 9 5 E Z 0 Mall are asking themselves after it was announced last light rail route along Central Avenue. With redevel - G A 5 D A T , . T S X month that the property at Central Avenue and Earll D opment now slated for the mall itself, Sands and I S O I T N O A N R E P P S Drive had been sold and was slated for a major rede - Bickoff say its something they just don’t want to go . T I . R O 7 S P 1 M H . 0 P velopment. R through again. And with their lease being up next 2 U E , P 7 And for at least one longtime business there, the R year, they decided to close up shop before the major E B M writing was on the wall: it’s time to say goodbye. work begins. E V O Miracle Mile Deli, operated by the Grodzinsky Two Arizona-based commercial real estate N Y B family, was one of the very first tenants when the mall firms—Plaza Companies and Holualoa Companies— Y R E opened in 1957. In 2005, the family sold it to busi - V teamed up to purchase a significant portion of Park I L E D ness partners Charlie Sands and Jim Bickoff, who Central Mall. Plaza and Holualoa now control more E M renamed it Park Central Deli. And now, the long- than 337,000 square feet of buildings at the site. The O H - N running establishment will see its final day on Friday, I please see PARK CENTRAL on page 4 E T I Nov. 17. D E P X “We had a great run, but it’s time,” Sands said. E E S Sands opened the Green Woodpecker at Park in this issue A E L P Central Mall in 1975, and sold the business in 2007. L Quilts reflect multiple influences, page 3 A I He ate breakfast and lunch practically every day at the R E T A deli next door, so when he heard it was for sale, he Hospice celebrates 40 years of service, page 6 M D E talked his longtime friend, Jim Bickoff, into buying it T A D Outdoor festivals abound this month, page 14 with him. Bickoff was no stranger to the deli busi - : R E T ness, having owned Bickoff’s Deli and J.B. Motley’s, S A School bands join forces, page 28 M and at the time was the owner of the Downtown Deli, T S O P which he ultimately sold in 2010. Sisters take helm of Gallagher’s, page 40 Pa ge 2 – No rth C entra l Ne ws N ovem ber 2017 w ww.n orthc entra lnew COMING SOON s.net NEW LISTING 7818 N. Arroyo Dr. | $1,875,000 NEW PRICE NEW PRICE 6635 N. Central Ave. | $1,100,000 NEW LISTING 6012 N. 3rd St. | $850,000 4340 N. 33rd St. | $615,000 NEW PRICE NEW PRICE 302 E. Northview Ave. | $799,000 7142 N. 17th Dr. | $523,900 FOR LEASE NEW PRICE 5550 N. 16th St. #123 | $347,500 1502 W. Ruth Ave. | $468,000 IN ESCROW IN ESCROW 1701 W. Orchid Lane | $389,000 10829 N. 10th St. | $2,000 IN ESCROW IN ESCROW 48 W. Linger Lane | $625,000 115 W. Rose Lane | $815,000 IN ESCROW SOLD 322 W. Las Palmaritas | $599,000 1320 W. Edgemont Ave. | $375,000 SOLD SOLD 433 E. Taro Lane | $230,000 1538 E. Solano Dr. SOLD 2201 E. Bethany Home Rd. 5802 N. 14th St. SOLD 1214 E. Saint John Rd. 600 W. Berridge Lane 645 E. Missouri, #210 | PHOENIX, AZ 85012 | 602.749.2338 | THECANIGLIAGROUP.COM www.northcentralnews.net North Central News November 2017 – Page 3 COMMUNITY Sunnyslope High School, 35 W. Quilts show African, Dunlap Ave. Admission is free. Southwest influences Parking will be available at the North Central resident and quilt Sunnyslope High east and swimming artist, Erika Warren, has had many pool lots. Organizers are asking for a $3 careers: wife, mother, accountant and parking donation with proceeds bene - caretaker. Now she spends hours fitting the Viking Town Diversity Club. reviewing fabrics, sketching ideas, Attendees will enjoy shopping a sewing, quilting, embellishing and variety of artist booths, including clever sharing her fiber art. crafts, jewelry, paintings, wood work - Warren recently returned from a ing, and more. There also will be three trip to Morocco, where she taught stages of entertainment, including a Berber women in the Atlas Mountains stage just for youth performers, and how to sew—one of many trips she has food trucks to keep your energy up as made to this visually rich country. North Central resident Erika Warren, who teaches the Berber women of Morocco some of you tour around the art walk. They, in turn, teach Warren cooking her sewing skills, has an exhibit of her work opening this month inside the Church of the “The Sunnyslope Village Alliance is and local crafts and some of their local Beatitudes (photo courtesy of Erika Warren). pleased to bring the Art Walk back,” customs and dialects. and white—with a touch of red. It’s all said SVA President Larry Macias, “My love and infatuation for Africa about color, texture and imagination.” Sunnyslope Art Walk owner of Thirteenorth Grille. “The is my greatest inspiration. I fell hard for Warren will have an exhibit of her returns on Nov. 4 excitement from the community has the big graceful animals and the hum - work at the church of the Beatitudes, More than 60 vendors will display really been inspiring. We look forward ble people,”says the self-taught fabric 555 W. Glendale Ave., from Nov. 12 their talents and wares on Saturday, Nov. to this Art Walk and many more.” artist. “African influence is strong in through Jan. 20, 2018. All pieces will be 4, at the Sunnyslope Art Walk. Those attending may register for gift my quilted wall hanging. But, how can available for purchase. An artist’s recep - The event, sponsored by the certificates from local businesses. I ignore the lure of the Southwest, the tion will take place 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sunnyslope Village Alliance (SVA), For more information, visit secrets of the ocean, the basics of black Sunday, Nov. 12; admission is free. runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at www.sunnyslopeartwalk.com. Page 4 – North Central News November 2017 www.northcentralnews.net Enter our monthly COMMUNITY Reader Rewards will stay. We make a nice profit, but PARK CENTRAL continued from page 1 they plan to bring in three new restau - Drawing overall price of the purchase and rants, which could be full-service, and expected renovations is approximately on the outside facing Central Avenue. for a chance to win a great prize! $57 million, and construction work “It’s an area we like, and we’d love At North Central News , we LOVE our readers! To show our appreciation for your loyalty, we will will begin on the transformation effort to stay there,” Morgan said. “But we hold a drawing for one great prize every month, thanks to our advertisers and prize sponsors . in the coming weeks. also have to look out for our business.” The new ownership group is work - As for Sands and Bickoff, who are both Congratulations to Linda Friedman, October’s winner of a ing with architect richärd+bauer and in their late 60s, the idea of trying to $100 Gift Certificate from The French Bee! DPR Construction to reinvent Park sell the business in advance of a major Central by converting it into a modern, remodel didn’t seem viable. Instead, it Visit our website at www.northcentralnews.net mixed-use center that recaptures some seemed like a good idea to retire. to enter for your chance to win this month’s prize, a of the midcentury modern architecture Sands said there are no special plans Certificate for Dryer Vent Cleaning from Mr.