La Bodega and the Rainbow Saloon in Corozal Town, 1962
The Rainbow saloon was owned by the Martinez family. That’s Grampa Nelo Martinez at his saloon. He was the patriarch of the Martinez family - best Ice cream & best yellow cake. This was located in the area of Corozal that is now downtown Corozal after Lydia's Store in front of Foto Alex. This was be in front of the Civic Center, on 4th avenue. Rainbow Saloon,o wned by Mr. Nelo Martínez Sr., Nelito Martínez'Jr.'s dad, was right behind where the Mirador Hotel is today.
In the late fifties after Hurricane Janet, the Bodega was on the corner where Ma Brothers(Chinese Shop) is today. It was moved across the street in the early sixties, until it closed down and was then occupied by Javier Castillo’s Disco in the mid to late sixties. The Rainbow Saloon owned by Mr. Cornelio Martinez was of the same time period, and is renowned to date for the famous Martinez Ice Cream. (This is Fourth Avenue, one block away from the Central Park heading south.)
Jimmy Gegg is the young man facing the camera at the far left, outside his father's shop. Willie Gegg was a jovial character. He taught Public Speaking at St Francis Xavier College. His brother owned the Vogue in Belize City.
Joaquin Magaña Sr.: This Saloon owned by the late Mr. Cornelio “Don Nelo” Martínez In Corozal Town, was a favorite place where people from Corozal Town and nearby villages gathered to cool themselves in the hot weather and listen to the latest happenings. Rainbow Saloon was a nice place. You can see Don Nelo inside his Saloon! Fue en esos tiempos de gratos recuerdos y memorias tan bellas y diferentes a lo que ahora vivimos!
Christina Vialdores:
I do remember for his wife's mother was Mrs Selina Zetina
My grandfather Carmen Flores sister daughter and also was not far from the school where all of us kids would go and buy candy or snow cone’s. There also Mrs bale’s and Goeta shop for I grow up on Santa Rita street with all the whites families.
they are Peggy's husband Manny family.
Abuti Bemina:
Di same house still di deh next Lydia s da lee old house they use to sell panades deh to Fi long.
Photograph courtesy Debra Wilkes
Click here to comment on this picture.