Reader fondly recalls Gus & Yiayia’s memories

Dear Northside Chronicle, In your July 2024 edition of The Northside Chronicle you published a very nice, meaningful article of Gus and Yiayia’s ice ball, peanut and popcorn stand near the West Park tennis courts on the Northside of Pittsburgh.

I, myself, can fondly recall many visits to that vendor, as I am a Northside resident. Together with friends, after playing for hours at the park, we would visit there among the many pigeons and squirrels for ice balls, peanuts and popcorn.

Gus was a nice, quiet young man who helped his father with their business. They sold peanuts and popcorn, but the ice ball was the choice of many hot summer days and nights. Gus would shave a large block of ice on the shelf on his cart. He had a variety of flavors for his ice balls.

After having his work day done, Gus would hitch up his two-wheel wagon to a vehicle and haul it to his garage somewhere, I think, in the Brighton Heights area.The next day, weather permitting, he would return to his work area by the park.

Thanks Gus, from all of us! It would be so nice as well as appropriate if there were to be some type of commemorative plaque placed in the immediate area where this once stapled, dependable, memory-laden business existed.

-Tom Kaylor, age 85, former Northside resident, now residing in Avalon