What Businesses Do Dubuquers Miss the Most?

While perusing the r/Dubuque subreddit on the popular website Reddit — as I'm known to do from time-to-time, as you might know — I happened upon a curious and nostalgic thread about local businesses gone past. Reddit user JaBwuk asked the virtual Dubuque community: "What former Dubuque business do you miss the most?"

Safe to say, he got everybody talking. The post generated several dozen comments as well as a lot of discussion as to what Dubuquers and Tri-Staters miss the most.

I wish I could chime in on this topic, but having merely lived here for a year, I don't have any experiences as a child growing up and being surrounded by businesses that sadly would no longer exist today. Having said that, I cherrypicked a few comments from folks that got other's talking. Here's what caught my eye (and others):

Judging by the sheer number of upvotes, many Dubuquers miss Aladdin's Castle. It was an amusement park that operated a lot like Chuck-E-Cheese, with tokens, tickets, and prizes. Bless the website Encyclopedia Dubuque, which has a few images of Aladdin's Castle in Dubuque, which sadly, has been gone so long, it's hardly left a digital footprint.

Many people also miss Skate Country, the Asbury center for fun Friday and Saturday nights as well as birthday parties. One commenter brought up a good point that a place like that should go gangbusters, even in the day where retail is so quickly changing face.

Asian Gourmet was another popular business Dubuquers miss deeply. The 11th Street eatery offered a wide variety of Vietnamese and Thai food, rather exotic options even by Dubuque's standards in the present. One commenter got very nostalgic, remembering it was the first place they tried summer rolls.

The Asian Gourmet Yelp page is still active, complete with photos and reviews, if you're feeling a trip down memory lane is in order.

I remember writing that Dubuque was in need of an Indian restaurant almost a year ago. As it turns out, multiple folks are in agreement. The interesting part of this discussion was the person who started this thread hinted that an Indian restaurant could be coming to the area within the year.

JaBwuk didn't supply specifics, but he got people's eyes widening and mouths salivating with just the hint.

Take a look at the Reddit thread of old Dubuque businesses that got people reminiscing. And maybe even chime in with one of your own!