Topic: SHR: David (Davey) Cohen of Mack & Dave's Passes

[elginherd]

I worked at M&D's for almost all of the 70's, starting at it's second location at 3rd Ave between 7th & 8th street before it was demolished to make a large 30 year parking lot.

He was a great first boss for me. I learned lessons there which served me well during my 34 years as a high school teacher. Although it was "Mack AND Dave's", Davey was the one who ran the the store. Mack spent quire a bit of his time in the back office sipping booze. The only time you'd see Mack is when there was some very high-end jewelry involved. Davey was the salt of the earth. I truly appreciate his presence in my early adulthood.

 https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/herald-dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=david-cohen&pid=193210387&fhid=19888

[HaveUherd]

Is there now a new business in the Mack and Dave’s building?

[Gaylen]

I had a Mack & Dave's account then I lived in Huntington.
Don't remember what I had bought or anything like that but my account number was 55555. I'll always remember that.

[coalherd]

Is there now a new business in the Mack and Dave’s building?

Believe one of the longtime downtown sports goods concerns (Dan's or Glenn's) relocated into part of the building that use to house Mack and Dave's.  Went into M&D's during their final days to try and pick up a stylus or two for an old Panasonic turntable that I bought back in the early 70s while in the Army overseas in the Pacific area.  They were about the only place around the area where I could pick up such items over 40+ years after the original purchase.  Ended up buying at half price a nice looking wooden hall tree while in the store, knowing that the store wouldn't be open whenever I again returned to H-town!!

[elginherd]

I had a Mack & Dave's account then I lived in Huntington.
Don't remember what I had bought or anything like that but my account number was 55555. I'll always remember that.

Funny you should mention that...M&D's carried their own credit accounts LONG after almost all vendors had sold/contracted to 3rd party credit concerns, pretty much until M&D's closed.

A couple of funny memories about Davey:

You could always tell he was heading your way because there were puffs of cigar smoke looking like an old locomotive heading down the tracks.

Every now & then he'd gather us music dept people up and say, "What's the problem boys?"; except it'd come out and sound like, "Wauts the pwoblem boiz?" His voice was a dead ringer for Elmer Fudd.

One time my girl friend (now wife) were parking our car near where the old location of the Taco Bell was on 5th to go to a basketball game at the field house. He and his wife were parking the car near us. He reaches in his pocket and hands me a $50 bill when $50 was significant change. "Go show y'er giwlfrend a good time."

Similar: I was playing in the pit orchestra for "Fiddler on the Roof" being presented in the stage in Old Main around 1978-79. After the show, Davey gave me a $50 handshake. "I hear you need a wedding ring. Come see me, on the house."

Y'all understand why he's special in my heart!