As a child growing up in Superior, a trip to Mel Thieme’s White House Grocery Store just across the street south of the Superior High School usually involved buying a bottle of pop, a candy bar, a Popsicle or an ice cream bar, but sometimes, it would result in the purchase of some licorice.

There were licorice choices. One of the choices came in a package of short chunks of black licorice put out by Nibs. Those are still around. You could also buy long strands of what appeared to twisted licorice tubes. My favorite was the shorter, solid piece of harder licorice that had the manufacturer’s name stamped toward the top of the stick. Those sticks of more solid licorice tasted the best. The closest to it that I can find today is stocked at Orscheln Farm and Home Stores. Whenever I see an Orscheln store, I stop and refresh my supply.

Curious about my childhood licorice favorite, I visited the Licorice International store in Lincoln’s Haymarket. The store has all things licorice and I asked about my old treat. They remembered it but said they thought the treat was no longer made.

Sometimes “You can’t go home,” but at least I have found memories of growing up with licorice from the White House Grocery store.