The Balcony was a head shop/clothing store in Upper Darby’s Terminal Square that catered to the counterculture hippies of the 1960s and 70s, writes Peg DeGrassa for the Daily Times.
Now one of The Balcony’s founders, Mike Smith, has written a book about the experience.
“My View From the Balcony” looks at the 69th Street store’s opening in 1969 through its closing in 1988.
In that time, the store dispensed leather goods, posters, incense, record albums and “cool” clothing.
The self-published book is loaded with photos of a time when there were French undershirts, headbands, low-cut bell bottoms and long hair.
Smith also writes about his own personal experiences with drugs, marriage, divorce, children, and death.
Smith, now a Realtor at Coldwell Banker in Media, wrote the memoir after his brother Buzzy, a co-owner, died in 2019. The book answers a lot of question he’s been asked about The Balcony, including why it closed.
“After my brother died in April, 2019, I knew it was time to answer this question,” Smith said. “It was now time to tell the truth of not only how it happened, but also to share what went on in my life while it was happening.”
Read more at the Daily Times about The Balcony.
Here’s a slide show of vintage trolleys at the 69th Street Terminal from the 1960s to 1980s.
