Lagomarcino's

Remember the Twilight Zone episode where a guy goes back to a quainter, simpler time to Willoughby?

"This is Gart Williams, age 38, a man protected by a suit of armor, all held together by one bolt. Just a moment ago, someone removed the bolt and Mr. Williams' protection fell away from him and left him a naked target.  He's been cannonaded this afternoon by the enemies of his life.  His insecurity has shelled him, his sensitivity has straddled him with humiliation, his deep-rooted disquiet about his own worth has zeroed in on him, landed on target and blown him apart.  Mr. Gart Williams, ad agency exec, who, in just a moment, will move into the Twilight Zone - in a desperate search for survival." 

Mark and Holly discovered a little piece of Willoughby in the Quad Cities, a place called Lagomarcino's.  Virtually unchanged since it opened in 1908, this ice cream and candy shop is one of our usual stops when I'm in Northlandia.   

The old mahogany booths, the ancient decor lights, and the total ambiance of the place whisks you back to a less hectic place, although this place is pretty hectic, really.  Crowded with shoppers, it's a small place so prepare to get jostled.  

Pardon the blurry picture, but the place is crammed with peanuts, chocolate and all types of candies. It has a feel of a turn-of-the-century because I suspect most of it is.

Front of their menu.  I had exactly that, and it was delicious.

Started by Italian immigrants the 2nd generation matriarch passed away recently and the place is still run by the children.

I think there are also other locations, but this one, in Moline, is where it all started.  Hmmm.  That swarthy looking gent with the Cubs jacket looks familiar.  Sure hope he's buying my sundae, since I'm stealthily prepared to slip out the front door.

Lots of goodies.  It's tough to beat Savannah's Candy Shop, but this place comes awful close.  I didn't see any gophers, though.

Some of you old-timers will recognize that floor.  That kind of hexagon design and material was in a lot of places I remember.  

"Willoughby?  Maybe it's wishful thinking nestled in a hidden part of a man's mind, or maybe it's the last stop in the vast design of things - or perhaps, for a man like Mr. Gart Williams, who climbed on a world that went by too fast, its a place around the bend where he could jump off.  Willoughby?  Whatever it is, it comes with sunlight and serenity, and is a part of the Twilight Zone."