Westgate Shopping Center Ad – October 1, 1959

Lorainites living on the rapidly growing west side in the 1950s and early 1960s had an incredible selection of convenient shopping choices. Besides the the O'Neil - Sheffield Center (which opened in 1954) and Lorain Plaza (which opened in 1960), there was Westgate Shopping Center.

As noted back on this post, the Grand Opening for the shopping center at W. 21st and Leavitt Road was held in April 1958. Above is the full-page autumn-themed ad for Westgate that ran in the Journal back on October 1, 1959.

Although the ad for Marshall's Drug Store (another forgotten Cleveland chain) dominates the page, it's the little ad for Nobil's Shoes that caught my attention. 

My family bought a lot of shoes at Nobil's over the years (at the various locations). We did go to Januzzi's occasionally, as well as Pic-Way in South Lorain.

But when we wanted full-service, it was usually Nobil's that we went to. Who can forget the days when a salesman approached you shortly after you entered the store and, after you were seated, measured your foot with one of these? Does any store still do that?

(This 2010 post contains my reminiscing about having to endure buying shoes as a kid.)

It's hard to believe that Nobil's was 'merged out of existence' in the early 2000s.

The Westgate ad also devotes some space to W. T. Grant Co. I remember going to the outlet at Lorain Plaza, as opposed to the one at Westgate. It was fun to check out the baby turtles sold in the pet department! I had one for a pet eventually, but I don't remember him living long enough to even get a name. 

Anyway, the remodeling and renovations continue at the former Westgate Shopping Center today.

Waiting for a Sign – Part 2

Note Fazio's at the far left end of the shopping center
(Photo courtesy of David Howat)

A 2016 view of the shopping center

In March 2021, the former Westgate Shopping Center in Lorain had been sold again. Would this help or hinder David Howat in his effort to salvage an old Fazio's sign in the shuttered store?

"I had read that the shopping center had been sold," said David in an email to me.  "Your blog highlighted the fact that the old Grant's store was being demolished, so I took a trip over there."

"I stopped by Westgate today to get some pictures, and was lucky enough to be able to talk to the new owner, Yaser Etayem and find out what his plans are for the old place," said David. "The first thing that I did was thank him for doing what he’s doing, but I immediately told him that I’d love to have that old Fazio's sign that’s still in the store.

"He told me that as soon as he gets the keys, he’s going to call me and let me in to get that sign – which totally made my day! Unfortunately, I never heard a word from him and I began to lose hope again."

"In September, I heard about all of the work that was being done on at the shopping center, so I took a drive over to investigate for myself. By luck, the owner was there and I approached him about the sign again.  He told me that I could have it, but he never made any offer as to when I could come get it. 

The months ticked by and soon the year 2022 was almost halfway over – with David still hanging in there.

In June 2022, David noted in an email to me, "It's been a while since I've been in touch, so I wanted to bring you up to date on what's happening. As of today, I still haven't heard anything back from him yet, but I haven't lost hope, and still have faith that I will. 

"I was in Lorain yesterday, so I stopped by for a quick look. As luck would have it, I was able to get a clear view of the sign that I want. 

"Luckily, there happens to be two, but one isn't in the greatest shape. They're not so much a sign as they are decals, but I am still hoping that the owner will allow me to get at least one of them and I'll be very happy!  

"The entrance to the Fazio's store is unboarded, and you can clearly see inside. What a spooky, scary sight! If I can remember correctly, I think that the whole chain closed in 1988 and that store remained vacant ever since.  

Once again, David was beginning to lose hope that he would ever get that sign. Then, in the beginning of December of 2022, he again paid a visit to the shopping center. 

"By luck, Yaser was there, and we had a great conversation," said David. "He was telling me about everything that has had done to the shopping center, and how much money he has already put into the place.  

"The Fazio's store entrance door, which has been boarded up since 1988, had been uncovered and there was access to the store. When I asked him if he would allow me to have the sign, he said, "The door is open, go get the sign!" 

"After years and years of wanting, my weird dream was going to become a reality. I got the cordless saw out and went to work. He even came to help me cut the sign out and the rest is history. I thanked him for his generosity, and we talked briefly in the abandoned store. We had a great talk and I got my sign."

So why did David want the sign in the first place? Oddly enough, he pointed out that his mother didn't even shop there, preferring the Pick n Pay on the east side because it gave Eagle Stamps. But his great aunt and uncle shopped at the Fazio's at Westgate regularly, so that was probably one of the reasons he wanted it. 

David summed up his philosophy very simply. "I don't know if it's a good or bad thing, but I am very sentimental and I try to hold onto memories as long as I can. The memories I have – from shopping at Pick n Pay in the 70's with Mom as a little kid, to spending the whole day at Midway Mall – will be things that I will always cherish."

David never gave up. He was rewarded for his patience and faith in the goodness and generosity of others. Today, the framed Fazio's sign occupies a special place on the wall of his home.

Framing by Burning River Boutique in Vermilion, Ohio

Special thanks to David Howat for sharing his story.

Waiting for a Sign – Part 1

One of the best things about doing this blog is that I’ve met a lot of nice people with a similar affection for local history. Many of them have fond memories of growing up in Lorain County, which they’ve shared with me via email. 

Sometimes a memory, however, just isn’t enough. Often a reader embarks on a personal mission to find an old photograph or piece of memorabilia of something that no longer exists (which isn’t easy).  

One of these nice people is David Howat. You might remember from a past blog post that his quest is to find photographs of the Midway Mall Woolworth’s and its Harvest House cafeteria, as well as locate former employees. 

David has had another ongoing project for the last ten years that recently came to an end. But in this case, he wasn't searching for something; he could see it – behind a locked door, beyond his grasp. 

So what's the story?

“About 10 years ago, retail photographer Nicholas Eckhart did a blog on Flickr and had some photos featuring Westgate Shopping Center," said David. "I was instantly intrigued.

“He had some photos of the old Fazio's store and a picture of this sign." It was inside, near the entrance to the store.

"From that point on, I was determined to do what I needed to do to get that sign.  

"I did internet searches to try and find the owner and I was able to find the owner who was in Ashtabula. 

"After numerous emails, phone calls and even a letter via U. S. mail, I never got a response – so I had given up," explained David.

During this time, the shopping center was still trying to attract new tenants, especially since the Family Dollar store had moved out.

"When the 'Bargain Bargain Bargain' store was open on the east side of the shopping center, I stopped there one day when they were open," said David. "I had a nice chat with the gentleman that was working there. 

"By luck, he was friends with the owner and I expressed my interest in acquiring the old Fazio's sign. He said that he would relay my interest to the owner, but I knew that nothing would transpire from it. This was during the point where the owner and the city were battling with each other [see below] so I took it for face value."

  

"Nothing would come from it – and I was right."

But the story's not over yet. 

****

Fazio's was the successor to Fisher Fazio, which itself was predated by Fisher Foods. Fisher Foods had a long history in Lorain dating back decades; it was also an original tenant of Westgate Shopping Center when it opened in 1958. By the late 1960s, however, after a merger it had become Fisher Fazio.

But by the 1980s, it was just Fazio's. And David wanted to preserve that Fazio's sign representing a piece of Lorain grocery store history.

Tomorrow: Hand me that hacksaw.

Former Westgate Shopping Center Begins Its Ride Off Into the Sunset

Last week, I noticed some demolition work taking place at the old Westgate Shopping Center at W. 21st Street and Leavitt Road. As it turns out (and according to an article in the Morning Journal), the portion of the shopping plaza that was once home to Stars Disco and Monoplies was being removed due to some damage from a fire.

It’s odd seeing straight through to the railroad tracks and the houses beyond. 

According to the Journal article, it is unclear what the current owners of the property have in mind.

Those of us that grew up on the west side of Lorain remember the shopping center as a vibrant place and a symbol of the growth taking place on that side of town. I wrote about the April 1958 Grand Opening back here.

Fisher Foods had already opened its outlet there in February 1958 (which I wrote about here).

It’s sad of course seeing the building in its decrepit shape. When I stopped to watch some of the demolition, I enjoyed a brief conversation with two of the workers. We were all reminiscing about which stores and businesses were located there.

Here’s hoping that this strategically located gateway property finds some new life and use.

****

UPDATE

Here are a few more shots showing the progress of the demolition. I understand that the damage done to the left portion of the remaining buildings was an unfortunate accident. (By the way, I got my souvenir brick!)

Grand Opening of Fisher Foods at Westgate – Feb. 1958

Well, it's Friday – and back in the 60s and 70s, that meant it was grocery shopping day in the Brady Household. (I still tend to do it on Friday.) So it's a good day to post this full-page ad.

It's the Grand Opening ad for the new Fisher Foods store that was located at the Westgate Shopping Center at 21st and Leavitt in Lorain. The ad for the regional grocery store giant with the longtime Lorain presence ran in the Lorain Journal on Feb. 19, 1958 – 60 years ago this month.

As the Wiki link above noted, Fisher Foods eventually merged with the Fazio’s chain of stores.

It’s strange thinking about how many big grocery store chains are either no longer in Lorain (Kroger’s, Sparkle) or kaput altogether (A&P, Pick-N-Pay, Finast, Fazio’s).

Back in 2011, I did a post about going grocery shopping as a kid with Mom back here.

Anyway, here’s a 2012 view of the former Fisher Foods location at Westgate.

And here’s an October 2016 view of most of the shopping center, looking somewhat worse.

And finally, here’s a recent view.

Grand Opening of Westgate – April 1958

Here's a Grand Opening ad that may be of interest to Lorain west siders. It ran in the Lorain Journal on April 22, 1958 to announce the opening of the Lorain-Westgate Shopping Center at W. 21st Street and Leavitt Road (Route 58) – 55 years ago this month.

It's interesting to note that the shopping center's ads originally had that great cowboy theme. It was used in a few other ads for the shopping center but was eventually dropped.

Note the celebrities they had lined up: Captain Penny, KYW DJ Joe Finan, Mr. Banjo from WJW, and Cleveland Indians Minnie Minoso and Dick Tomanek (who was born in Avon Lake). Safari Jack had top billing, but I haven't been able to find out anything about him.

Anyway, many of us have great memories of shopping there over the years. The center was a regular stop for our family on Saturday mornings in the 1960s because of the Hough Bakery outlet there; we also shopped at the grocery stores that were located there.

And of course later the shopping center was home to Jeff & Flash's Monoplies as well as Stars Disco.

Today the center looks nice but is pretty much deserted except for the Family Dollar store which will soon be replaced by a brand new one to be built nearby.