Posted November 5, 200717 yr Gone but not forgotten. This thread is dedicated to the memories of all things past. Post your memories here! [1] Zayre: Zayre was a discount store with several Ohio locations in the late 70's and early 80's Woolco: Woolco was based in Columbus where the first store opened in 1966. Woolco stores closed in the mid 1980's Woolworth: The F.W. Woolworth Co. was among the first five-and-dime stores which had many locations through out Ohio including many downtown locations. [2] Gold Circle: Gold Circle was an upscale discount store similar to target. Gold Circle was headquartered in Worthington, Ohio [3] Hills: Hills was founded in Youngstown and went on to be the 8th largest retailer in the country before closing in 1991 [4] Ames: Ames later acquired Zayre stores and closed in the early 90's [5] Forest City Auto Parts: Forest City had several locations through out NEO. Forest City was headquartered in Cleveland [6] Lawson: Lawsons seemed like they were on just about every corner in NEO in the 70's and 80's. They were later acquired by Dairy Mart. Lawson still operates stores in Japan [7] Red Barn: This fast food restaurant was founded in Dayton and had roots in Youngstown. Before the Big Mack vs. the Whopper, there was the Big Mack vs. the Barn Buster [8] Burger Chef: [1]http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/60sdiscountstores/index.html [2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Circle [3]http://www.hillsstores.com/Hills1.htm [4]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Department_Stores [5]http://www.flickr.com/photos/modestospeed/332888333/# [6]http://www.flickr.com/photos/68908288@N00/141352667/# [7]http://www.barnbuster.net/ [8]http://www.freewebs.com/burgerchef2/ Some others I would like to post, or other forumers can post as well; Western Auto, Euclid Beach Park, Idora Park, Higbee's, May Company, Fisher's Big Wheel, Halle's, Sterling-Linder. Post other stores, restaurants, amusement parks, etc. that dotted the Ohio landscape from years past.
November 5, 200717 yr My god, the flashbacks... in Salem, we had Red Barn, Burger Chef (their fun meals f'in ROCKED), and Lawsons - storewise there was Murphy Mart, Consolidated, and Big Wheel. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
November 5, 200717 yr there's still a red barn standing in Warren, OH. its a gas station now. The old Ames in warren was torn down two years ago.
November 5, 200717 yr Imagine my surprise while in Osaka and there is that familar blue Lawsons milk bottle sign!!!
November 5, 200717 yr My god, the flashbacks... in Salem There is a picture of the Red Barn in Salem as well as others in Ohio: http://www.barnbuster.net/page8.html
November 5, 200717 yr Many of those chains creeped up to SE Michigan, as well. The Red Barn was a local landmark at 10 mile and Woodward and a casualty of the I-696 connection in the late 80s. Of course, when it was wiped out (along with thousands of homes and other businesses), it had already been repurposed as an arcade called Alligator Alley. Woolworth's was another familiar sign. Along with Kresge's, one of the last holdouts against the great die-out of the classic five and dime. Back in the early days of my career as a copywriter, I wrote plenty of radio ads for Ames. Good times.
November 5, 200717 yr There was also a red barn in Strongsville on 82 just down the street fro the mall. To bad one of our big box retailers didn't make it big like Kohl's or Target did. They were in the same position as Hill's and Gold Circle, but just adapted to the changing consumer and updated their stores. They could have been huge headquarters for Ohio like they are in Minny and Milwaukee.
November 5, 200717 yr My god, the flashbacks... in Salem, we had Red Barn, Burger Chef (their fun meals f'in ROCKED), and Lawsons - storewise there was Murphy Mart, Consolidated, and Big Wheel. We had Fischers Big Wheel. Wonder if they were franchised like IGA's or Big Boy's
November 5, 200717 yr Imagine my surprise while in Osaka and there is that familar blue Lawsons milk bottle sign!!! A vaguely remember a commercial with a Lawson truck, "one man sleeps while the other man drives." Something about getting milk or orange juice to the store so it was fresh? *EDIT* It was Orange Juice - "Lawson's Big O." The milk was called "Awesome McLawson." [youtube=425,350]w5VhqAGkllU&rel=1
November 5, 200717 yr I know those words by heart! When I was in college, it was a joke with one of my friends, that our goal in life was to drive the Big O!!
November 5, 200717 yr Harts & Big Bear. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bear_Stores http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harts_Stores
November 5, 200717 yr Service Merchandise catalog-showroom It wasn't an Ohio company but it was a nice place, They sold quality! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Merchandise
November 5, 200717 yr Anybody remember when Service Merchandise was called "Naum's"? Maybe it was a merger. Not sure. All I remember is when Naum's went under, Service Merchandise moved into all their old stores. Service Merchandise. How could a store with such a sexy name not make it?
November 5, 200717 yr A few more - L&K Restaurant, Kings department store, and not quite as historic but Twin Valu. I remember reading somewhere that a lot of the repurposed Red Barns are basically as solid as a bunker. Something about solid steel construction... clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
November 5, 200717 yr Service Merchandise. How could a store with such a sexy name not make it? Their customer service was lousy, and returns were a headache.
November 5, 200717 yr The Red Barn in Dayton is now a Burger Master on Main St. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 5, 200717 yr Anyone remember Fulmers? Where they would put your grocery bags in plastic tubs & send them down the chute outside & you could pull around & they loaded them into your vehicle for you if you wanted. That was customer service! They also had those cool buggies that you could ride under when you were a kid!
November 5, 200717 yr I always wondered why the Kentucky Fried Chicken's were called Kenny Kings in Cleveland?
November 5, 200717 yr Kenny Kings was the restaurant that happened to serve KFC. They had other menu items as well.
November 5, 200717 yr Ahhh ... Service Merchandise! I loved that store in my youth! Swallens, Marshalls, and there was another one that I can't think of ... where we used to shop?
November 6, 200717 yr All I can say is Whooooaaaaaa! Florida Guy - this thread brought back a flood of memories. I hope you young'ins learn something from this thread. I would like to add. Fazio's Grocery stores (which turned into Finast then Tops) Hough Bakeries Giant Tiger (I think they were owned by Uncle Bills or had the same owners as Uncle Bills) The original Vel's party center Garfield 1-2323, Garfield 1-2323! Yes, I would like to order Aluminum Siding! I can't remember when there was a PhotoMat in Severance near the bowling alley Since we've taken this trip down memory lane, does anyone remember "Big Ginger"? I made my mom by Cotton Club Ginger Ale based on that disco commercial. I think that commercial was taped at Traxx on the water. [youtube=425,350]TRAfEbx9wnE
November 6, 200717 yr I remember my first Hill's shopping experience in Russell, KY. Had a large illuminated sign with the cool neon tubes that produced excellent red streaks across the sky. Ames replaced the beaut with a piece-of-crap generic backlit sign, then closed soon after.
November 6, 200717 yr I think that commercial was taped at Traxx on the water. It looks like the brick wall along the dance floor in Numbers? I have never been to Traxx so I guess wouldn't know. Oh Fazio's I was looking for that. I think that there was Pick-n-Pay when I lived in Cleveland as well (late 80's).
November 6, 200717 yr I think that commercial was taped at Traxx on the water. It looks like the brick wall along the dance floor in Numbers? I never was in Traxx so I guess wouldn't know. Oh Fazio's I was looking for that... Numbers (is that place open?) had a wood dance floor. Traxx had the "dance fever/stayin' alive" floor.
November 6, 200717 yr No I'm talking the wall next to it, not the dance floor. Sorry, I misunderstood. Yes, that does look like the long brick wall.
November 6, 200717 yr Jim Collins's book "Good to Great" talks a lot about why A&P failed. Basically they tried to hold onto their old business model far too long. The Forest City Auto Parts in Bedford had one of the worst laid out parking lots ever. Ironically the building was bought to be torn down (by a friend of mine) in order to expand a parking lot.
November 6, 200717 yr Salem had a G.C. Murphy downtown and a Murphy Mart in the eastern section (strip plaza central). clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
November 6, 200717 yr I remember going to a G.C. Murphy's when I was a kid. Screw you Ames! You ruined Murphy's, Hills.. Anybody remember Heck's? I also remember Hart's in Ashland too!
November 6, 200717 yr Anybody remember Heck's? I also remember Hart's in Ashland too! Not to be confused with Hecht's?
November 7, 200717 yr I remember as a kid being excited by going to the mall and dining at Woolworth's Harvest House, where you slid your tray down the line and the serving ladies would pile it with food (of questionable quality, but it was great as a kid) - I think it was my grandparent's favorite restaurant. For special occasions, we'd go to the restaurant inside Higbee's (or was it May Company?) - the kid's meals came in a little box like an oven.
November 7, 200717 yr Captain Frank's Where I ordered my first glass of wine at the tender age of 16. See pic #8 in link below, replace the 50's cars with 80's and that is just how I remember it. http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=exact&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=all&CISOBOX1=Cleveland+Stadium The Pick-Carter Hotel
November 7, 200717 yr I remember as a kid being excited by going to the mall and dining at Woolworth's Harvest House, where you slid your tray down the line and the serving ladies would pile it with food (of questionable quality, but it was great as a kid) - I think it was my grandparent's favorite restaurant. For special occasions, we'd go to the restaurant inside Higbee's (or was it May Company?) - the kid's meals came in a little box like an oven. There was one of those in Eastland Mall. I didn't know it was part of Woolworth's, though it was only a couple doors down.
November 8, 200717 yr I remember eating at Woolworth's. Good times. Here are a couple more: Rink's Drug Emporium SuperX
November 8, 200717 yr I remember Hills! The one in Warren/Niles on 422 really turned into a dump then became ames and shutdown. Now it's a best buy.
November 8, 200717 yr There was one of those in Eastland Mall. I didn't know it was part of Woolworth's, though it was only a couple doors down. The mall stores usually had three doors; front entrance, snack bar, and Harvest House. The snack bar had it's own entrance although it was part of and accessable through the main store. Here are a couple more: Rink's Drug Emporium SuperX I was looking for SuperX but I wasn't sure that was the correct name. I think they were owned by Kroger? I remember the sign with yellow letters.
November 8, 200717 yr Will future generations look back fondly on trips to Target and Walmart and CVS? Sadly, I think yes.
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