Wednesday, October 4, 2023

O'Neil's Anniversary Sale Ads – October 2 & 3, 1963

It's odd, and a little sad, to drive by the Centre of Sheffield shopping center on North Ridge and remember when it was a truly groundbreaking retail center. I shop at the Marc's there, and ponder that thought every time I see the nearby cluster of surviving buildings that make up what's left of the original property layout.

When the O'Neil - Sheffield Center opened back in May 1954, it consisted of 49 separate shopping units, with the O'Neil's department store as the anchor. It was one of the largest in Ohio at that time. The shopping center was covered by an all-season canopy, and it surrounded a grassy courtyard that hosted concerts and well-remembered holiday events (like the annual Talking Christmas Tree). 

It sure was convenient to have O'Neil's so close when I was a kid. It was minutes away. a short drive down Oberlin Avenue and what was then Route 254. We did a lot of shopping there over the years, especially at Christmastime.

Of course, the shopping center's popularity and convenience dealt the initial death blow to Downtown Lorain's shopping district. And it would similarly begin its own downward spiral with the opening of Midway Mall in September 1966.

But back in October 1963, the O'Neil - Sheffield Center was still thriving, and celebrating O'Neil's 86th Anniversary. That's the theme of the two ads below, which ran in the Journal on October 2 and 3, 1963, respectively.

But it all changed in April 1967, when May Company replaced O'Neil's at the shopping center (which I wrote about here). It was the end of an era, with a change of name and signage to drive home the point. Later, the May Company would open a brand new store at Midway Mall in its new south wing.
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I've devoted many posts to the O'Neil - Sheffield Center, including this one about an appearance by the 3 Suns and the Four Aces during the Grand Opening celebration.
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 4, 2023 at 9:19 AM

    This post got me thinking about Olan Mills and the times Mom dragged us all down there for family portraits. The mall was recently opened when I was born so we really didn't go to the Sheffield Centre for much else. I also just realized that family portraits are probably a thing of the past since everyone has a pretty decent camera in their hand at all times today. Remember when every department store had a photography department where you could get family photos taken? With all the fake backgrounds on pull down projector screens.

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    1. AnonymousNovember 18, 2023 at 12:47 AM

      I just noticed that our JC Penney in Canton,OH still has a photo dept. I couldn’t believe it was still there!

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  2. LHS Blazer ManOctober 4, 2023 at 12:10 PM

    I remember when the Sheffield shopping center was the site of the Lorain International festival during the mid- 70's.

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  3. BusterOctober 4, 2023 at 2:33 PM

    That's a handsome shopping center in an unadorned mid-century modern style.

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  4. AnonymousOctober 4, 2023 at 11:18 PM

    I picked up some 2×2 slides at a tag sale and a few were marked O'Neils.I looked at them and they were taken from Rte. 254 looking north toward the O'Neils store.They are mostly of the parking lot and the cars but you can just make out the stores in the background.

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