Back in the Day: Nostalgic First Jobs in Lubbock, TX

Not only is Lubbock a larger town in west Texas, it's also a notable college town, home to one of the most notable universities in the country, Texas Tech University.

This means that the Hub City is constantly seeing growth and cycles of people coming and going. In fact, the moniker "Hub City" is a testament to its relevancy in commerce and trade in Texas.

So, it's no surprise that longtime Lubbockites have fond memories of their first jobs where they could have learned vital life lessons in the real world or absolutely nothing as it was mandatory from mom and dad or to pay for stuff on your own... either way, it's magical.

These are some of the more common first jobs during the dark ages of pre-internet in Lubbock, TX:

Restaurant waiter/cashier

Throughout the 70's and 80's, teenagers and college students would frequently visit  fast food joints like Taco Villa and McDonald's when the first location opened for the golden arches in Lubbock on 50th street in 1968.

If they preferred the extended dining experience, they would often prefer working at Grandy's in the '80s, or the Cotton Patch for the infamous comfort food. Another popular option was Orlando's on Ave Q in the '60s and '80s.

Record store employee

Whether it was Ralphs Records or Hastings, the younger crowd couldn't resist staying up to date on the hottest hits and top records of the times to show off to friends or enjoy alone.

In fact, Ralph's Records is still in business after about 45 years of serving the Hub City.

Other notable records stores when Ralph's opened included B&B Records and Lips Records.

Grocery store employee

A true throwback, United Supermarkets first opened its doors in Lubbock in 1956 and has been a common workplace for teenagers and college students ever since, between bagging, restocking the shelves or collecting shopping carts.

In addition, Piggly Wiggly, especially around the 1960s, was a hot spot for first jobs. Also, before Albertsons closed most of their locations in Lubbock by 2007, they, too, provided opportunities for young people to learn job skills or earn a few extra bucks in the summer.