On September 18, 1952 the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center opened on the corner of East 260th and Euclid Avenue. It was quite the event that morning with Euclid Mayor Kenneth J. Sims leading the ceremonies that showcased the new plaza with city officials from Wickliffe, Willowick, Willoughby, and Richmond Heights making appearances.
A three-day extravaganza was planned with TV, radio, and sports personalities scheduled. There was a merry-go-round and balloons handed out by clowns. Also promised were events to thrill the adults, too. Opening night's festivities wrapped on a performance by Johnny Pecon and his famous TV and recording band.
All three days (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) had broadcasts that would air on WSRS. Superintendent "Itchy" Epstein oversaw the project for the Epstein Construction company (which incidentally, also owns the new plaza) with a marked fastidiousness. He said he could relax (a bit) once all twenty storefronts were open and running. The Epstein Construction company is made up of five Epstein brothers and their sons. Hyman (with son Isadore), William (with son Paul), Isaac, Morris (with son Norman), and Fred.
Friday, September 19th, 1952, TV personalities Bob Neal and Red Jones would be there along with saxophonist Eddie Platt and his band. Unnamed sports figures would be there for a "special autograph party". Ooh!
Can't make it until Saturday, September 20th, 1952? 3000 free popsicles were given out to the kiddos, and Kousin Kay and his clown Coco would be there, too.
The twenty stores varied in size, and the largest were leased to Fisher Foods Master Market (25901 Euclid Avenue), Kresge's (25871 Euclid Avenue), and Pick-N-Pay (25821 Euclid Avenue). Over the years, units have been combined, and there are now fewer than the original twenty, 11, to be exact.
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| Sidebar: Ever park BEHIND this place? I never have, ever. |
The seventh Garfinkel shoe store (25911 Euclid Avenue) opened (proprietors are father-son team Jack and Bert Garfinkel) and was managed by Walter Ries.
The Dietrich's opened Dietrich's Men's and Boy's Shop (25941 Euclid Avenue).
Davis Bakery (25891 Euclid Avenue) was run by Julius, who was one of 3 brothers overseeing the operation. For the diabetic or the forgetful, Davis Bakery would whip you up a birthday cake while you waited, and they were also open all day Sunday! Even more? They seemed ahead of their time by offering specialty breads for folks with bad hearts, hypertension, gluten sensitivities, and offered choices that were salt and sugar free.
Next on the hit parade is Euclid Auto Parts (25851 Euclid Avenue). Dave Broadman and Julius Stein have a goal in mind: Euclid Auto Parts is to be "hot rod headquarters." #goals, indeed.
Paul Ross and Dave Katz are proud of their new establishment, Kat's Restaurant and Delicatessen. They provided take out and catering, and boasted operating hours for all seven days of the week.
C.W. Koenig Company's Super Hardware and Sporting Goods (25801 Euclid Avenue) called the West end of the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center home.
On the other end of the plaza was Marshall Drug Co. (25991 Euclid Avenue).
Curtain Shops, Inc. (25951 Euclid Avenue) most likely sold, at the very least, curtains.
Virgil Gustafson was the manager of the new suburban branch of Cleveland Trust.
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| Virgil Gustafson |
Mary's Style Shops sold women's wear.
Swift Cleaners also opened a store.
The S.S. Kresge (25871 Euclid Avenue) store was air-conditioned and featured a 29-seat luncheonette that served sandwiches, light dishes, salads, ice cream, and soft drinks. Many other modern amenities were also included.
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| Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center circa 1980 courtesy Cleveland Memory Project |
More recently, this area known as a food desert, welcomed Simon's Supermarket.
U.S. Hair, Faith Baptist Church, Simon's Supermarket, K&M Child Care (coming soon), Metro PCS (also coming soon), Ohio Therapy & Rehab Center, National Cash Advance, and Family Dollar comprise the plaza as of May, 2017.
What stores do you remember going to in the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center?
Kresge was the first major tenant to go--probably in '62. Koenig's moved to Richmond Mall in '66. the auto parts store moved into one of their spaces. Fisher left sometime later. Pick-n-Pay expanded into several shop fronts in the mid-70s as one of their first "Food palace" super stores. When I worked nearby in '78, the old shopfronts were still used and some of the original tenants were still there including Deitrich's, Cunningham's (Marshall's), Pick-n-Pay, the auto parts store and the bank. A 60+ year run for a strip mall isn't bad even if it's heyday was long past.
ReplyDeleteI worked at kresge’s snack bar from 68-70 . It was still open . Not sure of when it closed but after 1970
ReplyDeleteIs all I know . I graduated from Euclid high in 1970
And quit the snack bar to enter metro general hospital nursing program and graduated 1973 .