Clarkins Grand Opening – April 4, 1973

Fifty years ago this month, Clarkins held its Grand Opening on April 4, 1973. The store was located on the former Long's Airport property.

Just as it did with the opening of the Elyria store in 1971, the Journal dedicated a full page highlighting the various departments of the Lorain store. It appeared in the paper on Tuesday, April 3 – the eve of the opening.

As the article notes, Clarkins' president was E. E. "Hoppy" Hopkins. Consequently, a rabbit named Hoppy was schedule to appear in person at the opening and hand out goodies to the kids.

Maybe someone didn't get the memo, but another animal known for hopping had appeared in the full-page ad that ran in the Journal a few days earlier on April 1. The critter looks like he'd be at home hanging out with Winnie the Pooh.

On the day of the opening according to the Journal, "Hundreds waited patiently in the rain for the doors to open at 10 a.m. and hundreds more sat out the rain in their cars in the sprawling parking lot.

"First in line were Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kish of 3226 Oakdale Ave., Lorain, hunting for grass seed, shampoo and other specials. They arrived, Kish said, about 8:45 a.m. Next in line were four women from Vermilion, "Aunt" Faye Davis of 4693 Mapleview Drive, her twin sister, Dolly, with Janice White and Linda Frueh, all neighbors from Vermilion. Aunt Faye wanted tropical fish and her companions said she couldn't take more than 100 home with her or they'd be under water.

"By 9:45 a.m., the south parking lot was filled with cars and the north lot was filling quickly in steady bumper-to-bumper traffic which persisted even as the store opened.

"By 10:15 a.m., every department in the wide-open store was filled with shoppers.

"E. E. (Hoppy) Hopkins, president of Clarkins Inc. of Akron, a division of Unishops Inc., owners of the new store, was on hand for the grand opening. The store is giving away $5,000 in prizes, including a 1973 Chevrolet Vega."