Formerly the Dead Euclid blog, Euclid Evolution aims to show what Euclid once was in pictures and words, and how Euclid is today. Our focus is on history and architecture. Our goal is to photograph the changing face of the retail and restaurant industry in our Cleveland suburb, because we think that kind of thing is fascinating.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Giant Tiger 1968 Shoppers Gift Guide Euclid & Willoughby
Black Friday 2018 has come and gone, so take a break and live (or re-live) Giant Tiger's Christmas Shoppers Gift Guide from 1968 featuring clothes, toys, gifts, Christmas trees and more.
Pro-tip: Click the first image to be able to click through all full sized pages!
1968 Giant Tiger shoppers gift guide from 36225 Euclid Ave., Willoughby and 22801 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid.
Pro-tip: Click the first image to be able to click through all full sized pages!
1968 Giant Tiger shoppers gift guide from 36225 Euclid Ave., Willoughby and 22801 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: 1964 Edition
Citizens bitching about their community. It's our right as Americans to pitch a fit about whatever is rubbing us the wrong way at any given time.
Many years ago, there was a restaurant (where currently Sidewalk Cafe is situated) called Happy Charlie's, and their brand representative was a, err, character, with a bare midsection.
This elf, or Polynesian, as I've seen him described both ways, was just too much for some Euclidites.
Almost immediately after the restaurant opening, there was enough angry blowback that management had to PAINT A SHIRT ON HAPPY CHARLIE'S STOMACH.
Oh if that were the big problem to tackle in 2018.
In an article dated December 17 1964, Willoughby Ohio residents are warned that a Buddha belly may be coming their way, and to prepare to avert their delicate eyes, if necessary.
I'm unable to confirm if all Hell ended up breaking loose when 35901 Euclid avenue joined the ranks of operating Happy Charlie's restaurants in early 1965.
Many years ago, there was a restaurant (where currently Sidewalk Cafe is situated) called Happy Charlie's, and their brand representative was a, err, character, with a bare midsection.
This elf, or Polynesian, as I've seen him described both ways, was just too much for some Euclidites.
Almost immediately after the restaurant opening, there was enough angry blowback that management had to PAINT A SHIRT ON HAPPY CHARLIE'S STOMACH.
Oh if that were the big problem to tackle in 2018.
In an article dated December 17 1964, Willoughby Ohio residents are warned that a Buddha belly may be coming their way, and to prepare to avert their delicate eyes, if necessary.
I'm unable to confirm if all Hell ended up breaking loose when 35901 Euclid avenue joined the ranks of operating Happy Charlie's restaurants in early 1965.
Gornik's Men's Store: Mini History in Euclid
I received a reader request about Gornik's Men's Store. Here's a little bit about it, in case you're curious, too.
Gornik's was founded around 1904 by John Gornik, who came from Yugoslavia. The first Gornik's was located at 6217 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44103. The first mention I can find for John Gornik selling from this address is in 1923
This is 6217 St. Clair today:
Gornik's was founded around 1904 by John Gornik, who came from Yugoslavia. The first Gornik's was located at 6217 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44103. The first mention I can find for John Gornik selling from this address is in 1923
This is 6217 St. Clair today:
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Frightening Friday: 1988/1998 Euclid Halloween Advertisements
Halloween is nearly here, and so while we get ready to run Euclid Boo again this year, please enjoy our last Frightening Friday for 2018!
1988:
Oh Lantern pumpkins. They were foamy and had rather human faces. Creepy. 1988 Carlton Cards/Luv/Euclid Square Mall.
1988:
Oh Lantern pumpkins. They were foamy and had rather human faces. Creepy. 1988 Carlton Cards/Luv/Euclid Square Mall.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Frightening Friday: 1958 Euclid & Cleveland Halloween Advertisements
Summer is gone, and if you haven't picked out your costume yet, perhaps there's still time to find something spooky! To put you in the mood, here are 4 dreadful advertisements from Euclid and Cleveland from Halloween 1958. Enjoy, and if you can't be good be very, very bad.
Gino's Pizza on Lakeshore Blvd, next to Euclid Beach, will have your Halloween pizza ready in 15 minutes, and with 25 cents off all Halloween weekend, 1958.
Gino's Pizza on Lakeshore Blvd, next to Euclid Beach, will have your Halloween pizza ready in 15 minutes, and with 25 cents off all Halloween weekend, 1958.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Friday, October 5, 2018
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Euclid Square Mall May Co. Ribbon Cutting 1971
Today, August 2, was the ribbon cutting ceremony at Euclid Square Mall's May Company in 1977.
Pictured left to right are J. Warren Harris, May Co. chairman; H. Gene Nau, May Co. president; Euclid Mayor, Tony J. Sustarsic.
Pictured left to right are J. Warren Harris, May Co. chairman; H. Gene Nau, May Co. president; Euclid Mayor, Tony J. Sustarsic.
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Source: Cleveland State University. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections |
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Happy Independence Day
Happy 4th of July, former and current Euclidites!
The Euclid police department doesn't want you to blow anything important off in the name of freedom this year, nor did they want to deal with your patriotic nonsense in 1938!
The jail has gotten larger in these last 80 years, but otherwise the more things change...
Be safe this 4th of July!
The Euclid police department doesn't want you to blow anything important off in the name of freedom this year, nor did they want to deal with your patriotic nonsense in 1938!
The jail has gotten larger in these last 80 years, but otherwise the more things change...
Be safe this 4th of July!
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Friday, May 11, 2018
Abandoned Hillandale Bridge: Debunking the Myths & Uncovering the History
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Huhnke, Christopher |
It's got many things going for it that make it a unique area. The bridge itself is large in scale and smacks of the era in which it was built. It is traversable without special equipment and is fairly safe if you're being careful. It's attained centenarian status.
The glacial cut ground doesn't look much different today than it did before the first white man went exploring. Money was poured into a bridge that was built to allow car traffic to a development that promised "high grade homes" that never, ever came into existence.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
An Exploration in Hillandale Bridge and more!
Mr. P, an urban explorer, shared this breathtaking walkthrough at Hillandale park. The abandoned Hillandale bridge is truly just the beginning of some of the fascinating finds in this video.
Friday, March 16, 2018
25 High Quality Pictures from Chase Copper and Brass Productions in Euclid, Ohio Circa 1942
Thursday, March 1, 2018
25921 Euclid Ave: Mary's Style Shops, ColorTyme, TNT Fashions,
Read the opening of the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center.
25921 Euclid Ave was one of the original units on the East end of the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center.
In 1952, the plaza opened with Mary's Style Shops in this location.
25921 Euclid Ave was one of the original units on the East end of the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center.
In 1952, the plaza opened with Mary's Style Shops in this location.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Inside Partially Demolished Euclid Square Mall
Here's a great video taken by Youtuber WallieB26 inside the mostly demolished Euclid Square Mall.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Monday, January 8, 2018
30 Years Ago: Euclid Metal Band Destructor Bassist David Iannicca Slain
If you are at all into local music, or heavy metal, or both, you have probably heard of Euclid-based Destructor. Performing and producing on and off since 1983, they are still actively doing their thing, which is making music.
Destructor and the metal community were struck by tragedy on January 1, 1988, when celebrating the new year and a record deal, bassist 23-year-old David "Holocaust" Iannicca was stabbed to death.
Iannicca grew up in Euclid and was the youngest of eight children. After Christmas Eve mass a week before his murder, Iannicca gave his girlfriend a diamond ring and asked her to be his wife.
Destructor signed the aforementioned deal with Island Records. The band and friends were ringing in the new year at their practice spot near East 200th street in Euclid. Not far away, Robert Bedzyk was drinking at a bar when he heard that band was having a party. He followed a group of people he knew to Destructor's practice hole where he eventually made himself annoying enough to the people around him that he was asked to leave.
Bedzyk did leave but hung around the parking lot. Concerned that Bedzyk might do damage to cars parked, Iannicca went out and confronted Bedzyk. Bedzyk stabbed Iannicca with a 10" knife (5.5" blade) twice in the chest. The first stab to the heart was fatal.
Papers reported Bedzyk threw the knife in the bushes and attempted to flee. Police records state that a person showing up to a party witnessed a crowd of people gathered, and saw Bedzyk pushing his arm towards Iannicca, and Iannicca falling to the ground. This same witness said amongst the chaos he saw knife the in the middle of Chardon road, where said witness picked it up and tossed it into the bushes. All accounts state party-goers were able to tackle and subdue Bedzyk, holding him until Euclid police arrived. The witness alerted police to the where he had found the knife in the street, the knife's location in the bushes, and that he had put it there.
The same witness also stated that it appeared that the suspect, Bedzyk, was attempting to instigate a fight with the victim, Iannicca.
Iannicca's fiance said Bedzyk arrived around midnight, that nobody really knew him and he wasn't seen arguing with anyone or causing a problem, but she walked away from him after he'd made an attempt at picking her up. The stabbing occurred about 10 minutes later.
Iannicca died of his injuries later at Euclid hospital.
Band mates were among the pallbearers at Iannicca's funeral, and a procession of 87 cars made their way to the burial at Chardon's All Souls Cemetery.
Bedzyk had a tendency to lie to the police. He gave them a fictitious address, for one, and claimed he had the knife on his person to fix the carburetor on his car, despite having a car-full of mechanics tools.
Iannicca's family, friends, and band waited until July of 1988 for Bedzyk to be found guilty of murder. He was sentenced 15 years to life.
Destructor found it difficult to continue, and took a rather long break. The band got back together in 1999 though, and have been together since.
When Bedzyk came eligible for parole in 2009 and again in 2012, his family and bandmates came out hard and strong against it, with thousands of signatures being obtained in online petitions.
Bedzyk had a wife and 2-year-old child at home when he stabbed Iannicca. His son, who is now older than his father was when he stabbed Iannicca, wrote a letter to the Ohio parole board in 2009. He doesn't quote or even paraphrase his father, rather mentions that he knows "stories" about that night.
Destructor and the metal community were struck by tragedy on January 1, 1988, when celebrating the new year and a record deal, bassist 23-year-old David "Holocaust" Iannicca was stabbed to death.
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Iannicca, far left, is pictured with Destructor in the mid 1980's |
Destructor signed the aforementioned deal with Island Records. The band and friends were ringing in the new year at their practice spot near East 200th street in Euclid. Not far away, Robert Bedzyk was drinking at a bar when he heard that band was having a party. He followed a group of people he knew to Destructor's practice hole where he eventually made himself annoying enough to the people around him that he was asked to leave.
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Warehouse at 1410 Chardon Rd., Euclid |
Papers reported Bedzyk threw the knife in the bushes and attempted to flee. Police records state that a person showing up to a party witnessed a crowd of people gathered, and saw Bedzyk pushing his arm towards Iannicca, and Iannicca falling to the ground. This same witness said amongst the chaos he saw knife the in the middle of Chardon road, where said witness picked it up and tossed it into the bushes. All accounts state party-goers were able to tackle and subdue Bedzyk, holding him until Euclid police arrived. The witness alerted police to the where he had found the knife in the street, the knife's location in the bushes, and that he had put it there.
The same witness also stated that it appeared that the suspect, Bedzyk, was attempting to instigate a fight with the victim, Iannicca.
Iannicca's fiance said Bedzyk arrived around midnight, that nobody really knew him and he wasn't seen arguing with anyone or causing a problem, but she walked away from him after he'd made an attempt at picking her up. The stabbing occurred about 10 minutes later.
Iannicca died of his injuries later at Euclid hospital.
Band mates were among the pallbearers at Iannicca's funeral, and a procession of 87 cars made their way to the burial at Chardon's All Souls Cemetery.
Bedzyk had a tendency to lie to the police. He gave them a fictitious address, for one, and claimed he had the knife on his person to fix the carburetor on his car, despite having a car-full of mechanics tools.
Iannicca's family, friends, and band waited until July of 1988 for Bedzyk to be found guilty of murder. He was sentenced 15 years to life.
Destructor found it difficult to continue, and took a rather long break. The band got back together in 1999 though, and have been together since.
When Bedzyk came eligible for parole in 2009 and again in 2012, his family and bandmates came out hard and strong against it, with thousands of signatures being obtained in online petitions.
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Robert Bedzyk |
Bedzyk had a wife and 2-year-old child at home when he stabbed Iannicca. His son, who is now older than his father was when he stabbed Iannicca, wrote a letter to the Ohio parole board in 2009. He doesn't quote or even paraphrase his father, rather mentions that he knows "stories" about that night.
I know only of stories of this fateful night which took the life of David, because I was not present. I feel my father was misreprented (sic) in this case. The stories I was told about this night was that David's fiance was trying to make him (David) jealous by flirting with my father, he was then asked to leave and he was already in his car getting ready to leave and was pulled out of the car by David and his friends. He reached into his tackle box and grabbed the knife to defend himself.
-Anthony James Bedzyk
As of January 2018, Robert Bedzyk was still serving his sentence.
Bedzyk was granted parole as his December 2022 hearing, and has since been released. Thank you for the tip, Anonymous.
22691 Shore Center Dr: Bevy's Dry Cleaners and Cleanville
A quick then and now! 22691 Shore Center Dr., which as of January 2018 is home to nothing although the Cleanville signage remains.
That Bevy's advert is from 1959, OF COURSE because that sign! It had a double window drive-thru!
It kills me the way they *always* board up the windows in these places, be it a tiny little storefront like this, or major department stores (old Safeway locations are always good examples) that are used for different stores later on.
AND there's probably still a great little ledge under that ugly outdoor paneled faux wood... maybe even a sign that still reads "BEVY'S"?
A girl can dream. If you are thinking of opening a cool retro dry cleaning joint, let me know and we'll tear down that shitty paneling together.
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Whoa that sign! Get it Bevy. |
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Ho hum. |
It kills me the way they *always* board up the windows in these places, be it a tiny little storefront like this, or major department stores (old Safeway locations are always good examples) that are used for different stores later on.
AND there's probably still a great little ledge under that ugly outdoor paneled faux wood... maybe even a sign that still reads "BEVY'S"?
A girl can dream. If you are thinking of opening a cool retro dry cleaning joint, let me know and we'll tear down that shitty paneling together.
Friday, January 5, 2018
1946: Euclid: the Clean City, Home, Industries, and American Ideals
This charming, albeit heady sign graced St. Clair avenue. This photo is from 1946. I wonder how long this sign was up? It's awfully cool with that script "Euclid". Would look dope in my garage!
Euclid
The Clean City
Homes, Industries, and American Ideals
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Euclid Square Mall: Anchors Gone, Footprint of Mall continues to shrink
The anchor's of Euclid Square mall are going, going, almost gone.
May Co. - Kaufmann's - Outlets USA is completely gone.
Higbee's - Dillard's - Dillard's outlet is nearly gone.
The iconic 1970's Higbee's arches are gone, and I have to wonder what happened to the 2 gorgeous sculptures by Victor Pickett. Were they just scrapped? If so, what a waste.
May Co. - Kaufmann's - Outlets USA is completely gone.
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Circa 2006 |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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View from Babbitt Rd. Entrance |
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Also 2006 |
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East 260th Entrance |
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East 260th Entrance |
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East 260th Entrance |
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East 260th Entrance |
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East 260th Entrance |
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1977 Victor Pickett sculpture |
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2006 Victor Pickett sculpture |
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