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Can you imagine what Grand Avenue in Escondido looked like 5 decades ago? A hardware store, bakery, grocery stores, restaurants, and three car dealerships. Banks, doctors, barbers and dentists also had their offices downtown, not to mention three drug stores, one complete with a soda fountain and lunch counter. And the beauty shop; everybody remembers the Look Rite Beauty Shop. In 1939, my aunt had moved to southern California from Chicago. After having her hair done at a beauty shop, she called my Mother to tell her about a deal she couldn't pass up. The Look Rite Beauty Shop was for sale. After all there was only one other beauty shop in Escondido at that time called Tickled Pink, which is still on Juniper Street. My parents bought the shop in 1946 and sold their Michigan property. Mother had graduated from beauty school in Detroit and needed only to pass an exam to get her California license. In those days, everybody knew everybody in town. When I helped with the 1960 census, the population of Escondido was 6500. People walked to do all of their shopping. Many of the town's businesswomen were the shop's loyal customers. The shop boasted five booths and offered an array of beauty treatments, including manicures, tinting and eyebrow shaping. It even had air conditioning and heat. Mother was not only the owner but served as the receptionist and beauty operator. She kept up with the latest styles by attending classes once a month in San Diego. She also …