One of the treats of going to Clarenville when I was a boy was a trip to Nikki’s Nook. Its possible my early memories have combined several places into one, but if memory serves. Nikki’s Nook started out down by the old railway station, not far from Duffett’s, Stanley’s and an old favorite for another post, Western Tire. I don’t remember much about it, other than we could get that old Newfoundland take-out staple, french fries (or as we all called them then, chips) in a grey cardboard package, and eaten with a toothpick. Of course we had to drench them in malt vinegar too, and not the weak stuff you get now, but the dark stuff that could take your breath away at 10 paces.
The other main treat there, and my first memory of ever having it, was a custard cone, or as it’s been named nowadays, soft serve. It was soooo good, and soooo new to us back then, I remember people would be lining up for them. And then later you could get them chocolate dipped, and as a kid I was in heaven. Kinda reminds me, back then you could also buy ice milk at the grocery store, which tasted similar, but haven’t seen in years.
Nikki’s Nook moved at least once, and I think maybe more. I seem to remember it moving down Marine Drive to a little building near where the Lethbridges lived. This may be a memory of another take out though, I’m not sure. Later on they moved up near the stadium on the shopping center parking lot in another small building, and that became probably the most popular spot. We’d come out from events at the stadium and get a custard cone. I can remember it most especially on Clarenville Day (another topic for another day).
Eventually the owners built a new modern building closer to the old Scotiabank, but still within the shopping center parking lot, and opened a full scale sit down restaurant. I’m not sure if the overhead was too much, or what happened, but eventually this closed down, and if memory serves, George’s Pub opened in the same building.
I’m not sure what, or if, anything remains there now, but god I’d love some chips in cardboard box and a custard cone!
Raised in outport Newfoundland in a town of 65 people, I pursued a post secondary diploma in Information Technology right out of High School.
I’ve always been a geek at heart, but yet I love the rural life I grew up with. Fishing, hunting, camping and the great outdoors are still loves of mine, even if I don’t pursue them as often as I once did. Sports were always a big part of our lives, and I played many (badly) and loved them all.
