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| Vintage postcard |
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| Same view today |
The well-remembered O'Neil - Sheffield Shopping Center did exactly that in August 1954. The shopping center had only been open since May 1, 1954, so it was a good time to drum up some fresh publicity.
Here are a few pages of a special section that ran in the Journal on August 25, 1954. In those pages we get a great stock of school kids circa 1954; a nice rendering of the building that was home to the O'Neil store; and a nice photo of the distinctive sign by Rt. 254 in front of the center. That sign was such a familiar sight for so long.
The O'Neil - Sheffield Shopping Center has been a popular topic on this blog since its beginning.
As I've mentioned many times, long after O'Neil's became a May Company store in 1967, I still think of that shopping center in my mind as O'Neil's.
It was such a great location for the Lorain International Festival, drawing visitors from all directions.
I sometimes wonder if this style of shopping center will ever make a comeback. The covered walkway made so much sense; I have a hard time seeing how places like Legacy Village (where you get wet going from store to store when it rains) is an improvement.
We always called it "O'Neil's" at the Hopewell manse, and shopped there regularly, for just about everything; I remember getting my Cub Scout gear from O' Neil's in 1964, and of course visiting with Santa and the Talking Christmas Tree.
ReplyDeleteFor a kid, the shopping center was magical.
I'm surprised when *any* physical store manages to remain open in these days of on-line shopping and near-instant delivery. But, maybe, if we stick around long enough, shopping centers and malls will make a comeback. Y'know like cuffs on trousers and elephant bells with platform shoes!
ReplyDeleteCombining elephant bells and platform shoes would be a safety hazard; personal experience.
DeleteThank you, Mr. Hopewell. So noted for future reference!
DeleteDan - Good point about the covered walkways. Eventually those considerations led to enclosed malls. Some were converted outside malls, like the old Westgate and Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. I don't get the appeal of Crocker Park, which is very near where I live, for that reason.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to May Co when it was closing with my mom. We went back several times for sales. I don’t understand the fascination with outdoor shopping centers like Legacy Village or Crocker Park. Ohio is cold. No thanks. I will shop in a mall.
ReplyDelete