Talk:Mehr's Music & Novelty Store
Posted on Facebook on Oct. 27, 2023 by Michael Baker:
This is probably more info than you want to know... That magic shop had a long lineage, beginning with Mehr's Music & Novelty on 2nd Ave N, next to the Ritz Theater. Pasquale's later occupied the corner spot on the opposite side of Mehr's. That business went back at least to the 1940s and probably longer. I'm unclear on that. Mr. & Mrs. Payne owned it and sold it to the Dannemans, who moved the business to Century Plaza when that mall opened in 1975. The name was changed to Tricks 'n Treats. I started working there probably '76. The store moved out of Century a year or so later and combined with the Danneman's 2 other businesses, United Specialty and Superior Engraving. This was located on the corner of 5th Ave N & 22nd St. where McCain Uniforms is now. I was with them until 1979, when I moved out of state, but started working with them again when I returned in 1986. Soon thereafter, the entire business moved to 2nd Av S & 21st St. I worked side by side with Lynne's mom throughout. A couple years later, the magic shop portion was bought by Bob Blair, who moved it into Homewood (2 different locations). During this time, Mr Blair opened a kiosk-type magic shop inside another business in Eastwood Mall. It was very short-lived. TnT ultimately moved to Centerpoint, at which time Bob Blair died. That was the end of Tricks 'n Treats... sort of... By odd coincidence, a few years after TnT closed, another magic shop opened in the same shopping complex in Centerpoint. It was owned by a black gentleman named Clyde White. It was called Tricks and Treats. Oddly enough, Clyde had worked for the original Mehr's back in the 1940s, sweeping floors. As a young man, he joined the military and made a career of it, living in California. When he retired and returned to Alabama, he opened the shop to realize a life-long dream of owning a magic shop, remembering his time working with one as a kid. The original TnT had been gone a few years by the time he came back and the name he chose for his shop was pure coincidence!! Clyde died a couple years later.
An additional follow-up from him in that thread:
I recall seeing one photo of Mehr's exterior, taking from quite a distance. It wasn't very clear, so hoping for something better. I had seen the BhamWiki article some time ago and saw the Robert Chapman name. I figured it was a typo. I have never heard of a Robert Chapman. I had heard Robert (Chadwick) speak of Viv Fichtner, but I never met the man. Chadwick was born in 1935. The likelihood that he worked at Mehr's anytime from 1955 on, is quite possible. Robert was my mentor. I believe one of his was Tony Brandino, who later owned Brandino Brass, which I think is still operational. I met Tony once when he came to a restaurant where I was performing magic (Jake's Grill on 7th S). Tony died quite some time ago. Robert owned Tony's performance table. It originally was emblazoned with a large B on the front for Brandino. Robert repainted it with a large C. I was later given this table, and it resides in my collection. Yes, I am the same Beefeater Tavern guy. I worked predominantly at night, only needing to be on site a couple daytime shifts. When not there, I worked part time at Tricks 'n Treats. I worked TnT part-time from 76-79, at which time I left the restaurant business and left Birmingham to pursue magic as a career... and again from 86-90, which included a year or so during Bob Blair's ownership.My main vocation since then has been in magic, first as a performer and now as a builder of collectible magic props.
Birmingham Post-Herald links
Some paywalled links to relevant items in the Birmingham Post-Herald:
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/794306450/?terms=mehr%27s&match=1
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/794442796/?terms=%22united%20specialty%22&match=1
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/794465238/?terms=%22united%20specialty%22&match=1
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/794467545/?terms=%22united%20specialty%22&match=1