06/10/2025
Today, I'm thanking the local businesses that let me film scenes for my video! These places were significant to my childhood in the Flint and later, cruising "The Ave."
First, Mario's corner store (Flint Fruit and Variety). As a kid, I was always there for penny candy, popsicles, and Slush Puppies. It was the perfect setting for the video, especially for the opening scene referencing a trip to the corner store. It was special introducing my kids to Mario, who's been there for over forty years. Thanks, Mario, for letting us film and for being in the video!
Sam's Bakery also holds a special place, connecting to my Lebanese heritage. It's still a family favorite; my kids know their meat pies and menich. While not directly mentioned in my song, Sam's is a Fall River childhood staple, so its inclusion in the video means a lot. Thank you, Dora, Amanda, and the Sam's Bakery staff for everything!
Saber TV, another Flint mainstay, was crucial for a key lyric: "Adjusting rabbit ears on top of your TV, Plus you had to stand up to turn it off believe me." We used one of George Saber's old TVs to highlight this. It was fun showing my kids these vintage TVs—they have no idea how good they have it! My parents and I bought TVs from Saber, including my first 32" JVC, which was incredibly heavy. Even my current living room TV is from Saber and featured in the video. Thanks, George, for opening on a Sunday for the shoot!
Finally, Guimond Farms, a family-run convenience store on "The Ave." My connection here is Charlie Saliby, an old elementary school friend. I needed a package/liquor store for the video, and Charlie came through. This was a frequent stop during my high school cruising days. Conveniently, they even had Mad Dog 20/20 for the video. Thanks, Charlie, for letting me use the store!
If you haven't seen the video yet please check it out! https://youtu.be/z8R2QKDdB5I
