Today, technically, there is no 22800 Shore Center Drive. The closest you'll get is 22780 Shore Center, which as of 2016 is a Rental Eagle Purchase store, or you know better as the former Perkin's Restaurant (Pancake House, for those of you with nostalgic inklings).
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| Eagle Rental Purchase, 22780 Shore Center Dr. |
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| Perkins Family Restaurant, 22780 Shore Center Dr. |
The building where today sits the rent-to-own store was actually built in 1964 to specifically house Perkins Pancake House. The clip below outlines that, although it does get the address wrong.
So since 1964, the Perkins building has taken up residence at this spot, and looking back on a map from 1952, the spot was vacant. However, between this 12-year span there stood a shining example of something we don't see a lot in Cleveland or the throngs of suburbia huddled up all around it:
Thursday, August 11th, 1955: Glenn's Carteria Drive-In restaurant opens.
September 8, 1955: Glenn's Carteria is open for business, and Mr. Gopher wants to see you. The atomic logo is revealed, and it is sexy.
September 15, 1955: Carteria advertises the "Best tastin' hamburgers in Euclid" and lists the firms and companies that built and provide products to them. A stunning shot of the drive-in is featured in the ad, and instructions on how everything worked are included. Want to sit in the A/C? Check out the coffee shop featuring the "Teletray Dyne-A-Phone" order system.
1956: Carteria asks Euclid High School graduates to stop in and try a B-Boy with a sponsored ad in the back of the yearbook.
February 2, 1956: Tired of just burgers and fried chicken? Glenn's Carteria is now serving Chins Chow Mein.
April 19, 1956: With summer approaching, Carteria puts a want ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer for car hops.
Nothing to show for 1957 but come May 21, 1958, Glenn's Carteria is no longer and instead, the Thunderbird drive-in is looking for car hops, grille, and waitresses.
February 19, 1959: Advertised in the Euclid Sun Journal is a big ad and menu for Thunderbird Drive-In.
You could call your order in over the phone or place it through their Aut-O-Hop system, which was one of many systems that performed that sort of function.
June 21, 1959: The last call (that I can find) for help is published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. They desired a grille man to work 5pm to 1am.
Fast forward nearly 5 years and you're back to the building of Perkins Pancake House. I wasn't able to find any selling off of the business, fixtures, or anything.
Attached to Glenn's Carteria in 1954 were Eileen Ritchie, Charles O'Brien Jr., Rudolf Seidel, and Gordon Basler.
It's just kind of weird. I have to wonder what would have happened if this building had been left up into the 1960's, although I'm sure it would have come down eventually.
For you map geeks (which I am one), mouseover for 1959 vs. 2016 to see the difference in footprints between the sensational Carteria drive-in and the boring Perkins. Look to the right and slightly down from the orange pin.
Seems like most of the surrounding structures are still standing, which makes the Carteria/Thunderbirds early demise that much more tragic to me.
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| April 5, 1964 |
Googie architecture
On the West coast, Googie is alive and well and even actively preserved. 22800 Shore Center never had a shot at preservation because, as you've seen above, it was gone by 1964. It's flashy style was not appreciated until three decades later.Thursday, August 11th, 1955: Glenn's Carteria Drive-In restaurant opens.
September 8, 1955: Glenn's Carteria is open for business, and Mr. Gopher wants to see you. The atomic logo is revealed, and it is sexy.
September 15, 1955: Carteria advertises the "Best tastin' hamburgers in Euclid" and lists the firms and companies that built and provide products to them. A stunning shot of the drive-in is featured in the ad, and instructions on how everything worked are included. Want to sit in the A/C? Check out the coffee shop featuring the "Teletray Dyne-A-Phone" order system.
1956: Carteria asks Euclid High School graduates to stop in and try a B-Boy with a sponsored ad in the back of the yearbook.
February 2, 1956: Tired of just burgers and fried chicken? Glenn's Carteria is now serving Chins Chow Mein.
April 19, 1956: With summer approaching, Carteria puts a want ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer for car hops.
Nothing to show for 1957 but come May 21, 1958, Glenn's Carteria is no longer and instead, the Thunderbird drive-in is looking for car hops, grille, and waitresses.
February 19, 1959: Advertised in the Euclid Sun Journal is a big ad and menu for Thunderbird Drive-In.
You could call your order in over the phone or place it through their Aut-O-Hop system, which was one of many systems that performed that sort of function.
June 21, 1959: The last call (that I can find) for help is published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. They desired a grille man to work 5pm to 1am.
Fast forward nearly 5 years and you're back to the building of Perkins Pancake House. I wasn't able to find any selling off of the business, fixtures, or anything.
Attached to Glenn's Carteria in 1954 were Eileen Ritchie, Charles O'Brien Jr., Rudolf Seidel, and Gordon Basler.
It's just kind of weird. I have to wonder what would have happened if this building had been left up into the 1960's, although I'm sure it would have come down eventually.
For you map geeks (which I am one), mouseover for 1959 vs. 2016 to see the difference in footprints between the sensational Carteria drive-in and the boring Perkins. Look to the right and slightly down from the orange pin.
Seems like most of the surrounding structures are still standing, which makes the Carteria/Thunderbirds early demise that much more tragic to me.
I remember the Carteria (also the Thunderbird) - it was a favorite of mine because it was so cool looking. I never did get what the gopher/beaver/woodchuck had to with it, though.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad & Grandfather built this restaurant. I wasn't born until they were completed. everyone has passed but myself. I barely remember the place. I don't know what the Gopher was to represent. I do know that he sold it to someone. In about 1959 he and his parents moved to Hallandale FL. My Mother stayed in Richmond heights most of her life. I fortunately lived in Miami area with my Dad, Step Mom & grandparents. He opened another restaurant in SW FL. It was a Dome Cafeteria across from a high school. He then opened a large building filled with restaurant equipment he leased to restaurants. He was a joyfilled man. I wish I could have spent more time with him. he passed at 82.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this wonderful look back, Anon. Your father and grandfather sound like interesting men, I'd love to know more about them! Their Carteria still makes me swoon, it's just fantastic.
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