By gone places / Helen’s, an Icon of the 80s.
Did you ever feel happy when your parents celebrated your birthday at Helen's?
By Alejandro Pohlenz
I hope I don’t come off as misogynistic: my wife, like a good woman, has an extraordinary memory. I hesitated: when did Helen's at Plaza Satélite open? I recalled being a child, and my memory doesn't compare to Mrs. Pohlenz's. She told me that Helen's has existed since Plaza Satélite opened, that is, from 1971. This makes sense, as I was 9 and she was 6.
Timbiriche
The Internet offers insufficient information. They say its peak was in the 80s, especially because the video for Timbiriche's song "Me Plantó" was filmed at the Helen's in Plaza Universidad.
I disagree. I remember it being packed with kids since the 70s. Some notes mention that the best were the cheese banderillas; however, what sticks in my mind the most are the ice creams—especially the sundaes, banana splits, floats, and milkshakes. I also recall the whipped cream pies in the birthday celebrant’s face and the way they made you feel like a star.
Why Did It Disappear?
It’s said that Helen's was strangled by American fast-food chains. McDonald’s opened in 1985 and Burger King in 1991. I couldn’t find the exact date of Helen's demise, though it's suggested it may have been affected by an economic crisis. Was it destroyed by “the error of December” in 1994?
What I do remember is feeling like the emperor of the world on my birthday and longing to have one of the white polyurethane hats worn by the waiters.
There were three locations: Plaza Satélite, Plaza Universidad, and Perisur. They say they invented the concept of fast-food restaurants in shopping malls in Mexico… could it be true?
Goodbye to the loud, bright, pink, and calorie-laden Helen’s.
What We Loved: The chocolate sundae.
What We Didn’t Like So Much: The food in general.
- Address: Plaza Satélite, Plaza Universidad, and Perisur.
- Hours of Operation: Closed since the 90s.
