It was sixty-six years ago this month that
Oakwood Shopping Center opened in South Lorain on November 12, 1958. At the time it was the largest shopping center ever erected in Lorain.
The project was the brainchild of Cleveland developer
Joseph Porath. As noted in an article in the
Journal on the eve of the shopping center's Grand Opening, "Joseph Porath, Cleveland realtor and developer, has a knack for dreaming dreams which have an almost consistent habit of becoming realities.
"Early in 1956, Porath announced plans for a $10 million project, which would include a $2 1/2 million shopping center and 700 three-bedroom homes on a 200-acre site known as Oakwood Park Development within the Lorain city limits.
"The site, which had been annexed to Lorain late in 1955 covered a four-block area south of E. 36th St. between Pearl Rd. on the west and Grove Ave. Extension (Rt. 57) on the east.
"There were the usual skeptics who said that plans for the shopping center and giant housing project wouldn't pan out.
"But Lorain area citizens were not acquainted, as were Cleveland's, with the Porath drive and determination to make dreams come true.
"Despite some obstacles, Porath's dream about a shopping center in South Lorain officially will come true Wednesday when his $3 million Oakwood Shopping Center will open to the public for the first time.
"And adjacent to the shopping center, some of the 700 three-bedroom homes dreamed about by Porath in 1956, are going up on land which Porath sold to the Ranier Corporation.
"The short, stocky and friendly Porath is the idea man for the largest shopping center ever erected within city limits.
"Porath is also credited with the idea of a unique "community showcase" as part of the Oakwood Shopping Center and a protected six-acre playground adjacent to the center, which he gave to the City of Lorain.
"Porath also initiated the construction of the Homewood Dr. Extension, which will serve as the north boundary of the shopping center. The concrete roadway runs from Pearl St. east to Grove Ave. Extension (Rt. 57)."
Lorain was very fortunate that Joseph Porath had the vision and grit for such an ambitious undertaking, and that the Lorain city administration worked with him to accomplish a goal that improved the lives of many residents. Those two critical components – a developer willing to take risks and a city willing to work with him to make it happen – are still necessary today if a city is experience any major commercial development.
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Groundbreaking ceremonies for the shopping center took place on Feb. 21, 1958. Here's the article from the Journal the next day.
A major shopping center for that part of Lorain was an idea whose time had come. The ad below, which appeared in the
Journal on May 3, 1958, noted that time was running out for stores to reserve their space. Note the acorn graphic with the family of squirrels, including
Oakie (with the vest) and
Pearl (with the bow in her hair). While Pearl would become the official mascot for the shopping center, it was Oakie who was spotlighted in the Grand Opening ad shown at the top of this post.
On the eve of the Grand Opening, a series of articles and congratulatory ads appeared in the
Journal, including the page shown below.
The Grand Opening was a rousing success, with 1001 prizes given away to shoppers. The ad below accompanied a two-page
Journal spread with the names of the prize winners that ran on November 20, 1958. As you can see, Pearl the Squirrel was already established as the Thrifty Squirrel mascot, appearing on signage for the shopping center, including a huge wall sign on State Route 254 near the railroad tracks at Pearl Avenue.
And Pearl would appear occasionally in Oakwood Shopping Center ads in the
Journal, such as the one below, for the next few years.
Oakwood Shopping Center eventually went into decline as Lorain lost most of its industries, dramatically affecting the financial well-being of its residents, and retailers moved out. Like many other neighborhood shopping centers in Rust Belt cities, Oakwood simply could not survive. It's unfortunate but reflects the general attitude of national retailers towards brick and mortar stores, as well as consumer buying habits, with a preference towards online shopping and a desire for a more fantastic, destination shopping experience.
I grew up right behind there on East 39th. I always wondered why the park was named “Porath.” I played there all the time. In the early to mid 70s the shopping center was still pretty good.
ReplyDeleteThere was Minotti’s beverages on the left side, Meyer Goldberg on the right, Gray Drug in between and Fashion Barn and Twin Cinemas. I wish I’d taken pictures of that so I could remember it better. But, who really thinks of that as a young child?
In the summers back when all the kids were outside playing, my dad would give me 25 or 50 cents and me and my babysitter with her long hair, tube top and swishing bell bottoms would walk to Gray Drug and I’d buy some Pixi Sticks or a candy necklace and an Orange Crush.
The neighborhood was so connected and full of life. Lots of decorated vans, pintos and wood paneled station wagons. My dad drove a used orange and black truck from the gas company. My uncle had a purple dune buggy.
Kids running through the sprinklers or playing frisbee, boys playing whiffle ball in the street, army men, skateboarding, riding Big Wheels, or jumping Hot Wheels cars, me and my friends playing Barbies, jump rope and hopscotch.
Teenage girls my babysitter’s age were cruising around on their 10 speeds or lying on beach towels getting a tan with baby oil and a transistor radio set to my favorite station, G-98 back when that songs “Magic,” by Pilot and “Fox On The Run” by Sweet and “Benny And The Jets” were on the radio.
Like Dick Clark said: “Music is the soundtrack of your life.” Your post really brought back fun memories! Sorry this was so long, lol, I got caught up in the memories.
Thanks so much for leaving the very eloquent reminisce! It really paints a nice picture of a wonderful time in Lorain that we can all appreciate and remember.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first house there in 1969. It was at 1927 E 41st. A small ranch home, only $12,000. It was a nice community. We had a block party in the summer. I planted an oak tree that looks like a darn redwood today! But MInottis was on the right end of the center (south end).
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Great memories. I should probably add that G98 > WMMS in the 70's & 80's.
ReplyDeleteThis entire post is being repeated today in Vermilion. A new 700 home development and shopping center is going to be built. The only difference is it seemed that the citizens were okay with it in the 50's, but today, many are firmly against it. Maybe in 50 years some futuristic space blogger will write a nice story about growing up in Vermilion's new housing development and shopping center.
That's a great point about Vermilion Landing (the new 700-home development) and it crossed my mind while preparing this post. Vermilion is lucky that a developer wants to take a chance and build homes and a shopping center in that location near the highway. The project is far enough from the downtown area that it won't destroy the city's ambiance and small town appeal. And, like you pointed out, it will be home – and the source of future memories – for families. Back in the 80s and 90s, I looked at homes 'out in the country' (mainly in Avon and Avon Lake) or land for sale to build on that were next to farms and guess what – every one of them is either surrounded by commercial or housing development now or gone altogether. That's why we ultimately didn't buy there; we knew it would never last.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough enough finding a "stable neighborhood" in established towns and cities, let alone trying for long-lasting country living.
ReplyDeleteMum was a real estate agent. Her advice for those wanting to "build or buy in the country" was to go as far out into the sticks as a sane person could possibly stand, double that distance, add 80%, and your country location *might* last 20 years.
Metaphysically enough, I found the same formula worked when I needed to estimate the length of a work project: Take my first thought, double it, and add 80% - worked every, single time.