Fishy in Eureka Valley

On each Friday being Catholics we couldn't eat meat, which was fine because my mother made the most delicious fish n' chips. Back in the day it was lard that brought that buttery golden to the food. Fish was in the blood for we Callaghans and when a fish shop on 18th off Castro Street came up for sale, my parents bought it around 1967. Below is a picture of my mother, Maria, or Mrs. Callaghan as she is better know (still going at 88.) Eventually, a bigger store opened up and the shop started to lose money. The building next door with a large shop on ground level and flat came up for sale and my parents bought that opening the first and last, fish in chips shop in Eureka Valley, called Village Fish n' Chips. The village referred to how my father thought of EV with everyone knowing everyone's business - well at least The Callaghans' - rambunctious clan they were!  

Shop opened around 1968 and when my father's health began to fail, closed in the early 1970's. It was a true loss for the Valley and our family.

Mr. Callaghan (my father)P with Pat Williams - a lot of neighborhood kids had a job at Village Fish n' Chips. Me included. We used the newspaper roll with lots of vinegar and salt and that good old bad fatty lard food fare!

 My mother was so proud of a business to run besides care for her many children.