Chumpies and Homegirls Potato Chips (1992)
Hitting the shelves primarily in Philly, these chips eventually found their way to my neighborhood in Boston, where they were sold in the Bodega under my apartment. Chumpies came in Chili-Cheese and Jalapeño, and Home Girls were Sour Cream or Hot Honey BBQ. The chips themselves were pretty good, but it was the "positive message" on the bags that really sold me (click image above for a larger view, and read the words of wisdom). More details on these treats via this blogger.
James Brown Cookeez (1994)
Around 1994, HEAVY cookies started showing up in stores. Not actually created by the Godfather of Soul himself, but adorned with his funky image, these chalky little delights came in French Vanilla, Coconut, Chocolate Chip Feel Goodeez, and most intriguingly, Banana Peanut Butter Creameez. Supposedly on the way were Sweet Potato and Watermelon. We can thank a retired Navy engineer for helping these get into the world, and while they are no longer in stores, you can see a bag in person at Atlanta's own Soul Food Museum.
Thirsty Dog (1995)
"Until now, there were no beverages designed to meet the discriminating taste buds of our companions from the animal kingdom. . . Isn't it high time you looked your Cat or dog in the eye and said, 'Let's have a drink...of ThirstyDog! or ThirstyCat! ' We tested ThirstyDog! (crispy beef) and ThirstyCat! (tangy fish) over 15,000 times to find just the right combination of flavor, aroma, and most important to everyone who loves their pet, vitamins and minerals. And then we tested ThirstyDog! and ThirstyCat! against -ugh!- tap water. Faithful Fidos and Finicky Felines everywhere overwhelmingly preferred the taste of ThirstyDog! and ThirstyCat!"
Thirsty Dog!
holy shit I remember that! I dimly remember some newspaper copy that went something along the lines of "if your pet does not enjoy thirsty dog, simply withhold all other beverages until they drink it..."
literally, thirsty dog.
incredible
Posted by: R. Alcatraz | March 13, 2008 at 06:05 AM
I can see a homegirl being "hot honey BBQ" but I might have to pass when the homegirl becomes "sour cream". I remember finding a half-eaten bag of these chips when dismantling a stage a few years back. I think the fellas on the bag were a bit more gangsta-contemporary though...unless I am confusing them with some other homie chips.
and I love that water can be crispy flavored.
Posted by: fatty jubbo | March 13, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Oh snap. I totally remember Chumpies and Homegirls. A friend who drove an ice cream truck in North Philly brought them in to the pizza place I worked for us to sample/ laugh at. One of the positive no-sex-before-marriage messages on the Homegirls bag? "You tell him, honey... 'no ring, no thing!!'"
Posted by: Megan | March 13, 2008 at 10:09 AM
That homegirls bag is the creepiest potato chip bag I have ever seen.
Posted by: Norm | March 13, 2008 at 01:26 PM
We had Chumpies and Homegirls in Boston too.
Posted by: Dave | March 13, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Yup. Boston is where I saw them - though based on the business model reports for the company I found on line, I don't think we were an official market. Rather, I think Boston hit the "fell off the truck" leftovers market. Still, yummy!
Does anyone else have memories of the James Brown Cookeez? I thought that would be the highlight of this post, but nobody's mentioned it so far. Heh... who can predict the internets?
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 13, 2008 at 02:53 PM
i love how the homegirls seem to be cut straight off of a 'contemporary fashion' pattern packet, and like from the 80's than the 90's...but i guess most fashion clip art looks like that. watered down nagel.
Posted by: zombot | March 13, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Lets hear it for Jamaica Plain, land of Latin markets too numerous to name!
-former jamaican plainsman
Posted by: tony c | March 13, 2008 at 07:46 PM
In Louisville, where I'm from, we had Rap Snacks at the corner liquor stores. They looked kinda cheezee to me. Lil Romeo "Bar-b-quin' with my Honey" sounds great though
Posted by: Pat | March 14, 2008 at 10:23 PM
In Louisville, where I'm from, we had Rap Snacks at the corner liquor stores. They looked kinda cheezee to me. Lil Romeo "Bar-b-quin' with my Honey" sounds great though
Posted by: Pat | March 14, 2008 at 10:24 PM
I remember these too as well - I think I saw them in Newark one time. Actually bought a bag or two for the novelty factor. Probably threw them out with the bizarre Carl Chrisian Gummi Bears I also bought once.
Posted by: Danne D | March 14, 2008 at 11:07 PM
A friend of mine drank thirsty cat - tuna flavored water on a dare in high school. I hear it didn't have the same effect on humans.
Posted by: EPC | March 15, 2008 at 03:24 PM
I have an unopened bag of James Brown "Chocolate Chip Feel Goodeez" COOKEEZ.
If anyone is interested in buying it, post here how I can get in touch with you.
Posted by: George | August 03, 2008 at 02:19 PM
I have an unopened bag of James Brown "Chocolate Chip Feel Goodeez" COOKEEZ.
If anyone is interested in buying it, post here how I can get in touch with you.
Posted by: George | August 03, 2008 at 02:20 PM