 |
| The view on Tuesday |
In the 1970s, it was the place to shop, to dine, to hang out. It was the perfect place to take a date (especially when you just got your driver's license); you could enjoy a nice dinner, and then walk around the Mall until it was time to get your seat for a movie.
You could get just about everything you needed there – clothes, shoes, jewelry, books, pets. Sears, Penneys, Higbee's – three truly great anchor stores.
Mom went shopping there seemingly every Saturday afternoon in the early 1970s, usually taking my sister along. The whole family went there at Christmas, or to see a movie. I remember all of us going to see The Return of the Pink Panther there on a Sunday afternoon.
There was always something going on at the Mall, especially on weekends: an auto show, a Sportsman Show, art shows, you name it. It really was an integral part in Lorain County when it came to entertainment, dining and shopping. And it became a community, where you were sure to run into someone you knew.
These days, there's not much there. The property keeps changing hands, you hear rumors and read articles about how it is going to be rejuvenated, etc. I'm not sure how many stores are actually still open.
But it was back in July 1965, that the groundbreaking for the Mall took place.
 |
| July 28, 1966 |
 |
| July 30, 1966 |
When I began dating my permanent sweetheart, back in the (19)80s, one of the first places she took me was Midway Mall. Let me tell you what... this hick Pennsyltuckian was plenty impressed. But what struck me the most was that it seemed to be stuck out in the middle of a corn field. Compared to today, there was nothing around it!
ReplyDeletePretty wild seeing Ted Jacobs taking out a full page ad to welcome Higbee's to the area since it was the Mall that ended shopping in downtown Lorain.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the Mall for the Grand Opening; among the fascinating things that were part of the celebration was a live dolphin in a huge tank.
ReplyDeleteYep - the Mall was the place to be and integral to so many people in Lorain county. As a kid, it was movies and the arcade (Alladin's Castle!)... as a teenager it was shopping and hanging out... as a college student it was summer jobs/seasonal jobs.
ReplyDeleteWell said Dan..........very sad. Technology and smart phones seem to impact a lot of good things from the past.
ReplyDeleteI’m with you on this Dan. You’ve touched on all the elements that are missing today: the convenience in all weather, the variety and pleasure of actually touching and seeing things before purchasing, and also the sense of community. So true, you’d always run into someone you knew. I recall shopping for school clothes, work clothes, weddings, birthdays, many lunch/shopping trips with my dear departed mom…
ReplyDeleteWendy, back in the Seventies my kid brother and I used to walk to Midway Mall from our house on Canton Avenue in Campito, taking an hour or more to get there, then spending several hours there, visiting stores, playing games at Aladdin's Castle, buying books, models, posters, then walking back home, all the while bonding and enjoying each other's company; good times!
DeleteDoes anyone else remember a early Chick-Fil-A at the mall? Back then they were primarily located in malls long before they built stand alone restaurants. I had never heard of them at the time and wondered at the odd name.
ReplyDelete