Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:15 am
I grew up on Hampton Way just off Cedar and Ashlan. We moved into a brand new track home in 1954 with only 2 streets built in the entire area. Hampton Way and Buckingham were islands in a sea of farmlands. The builder had promised that a shopping center would be built near our location, it was one of the reason my parents choose to buy that house.
I remember my folks talking about the shopping center that would be built some day. The years passed and I kept asking when we would have our shopping center. Each time the subject would come up, they would get frustrated that nothing was being done. I started to believe it too but new streets and houses were popping up all around us. Change was afoot, including the brand new Centennial Elementary school just down the street from us.
ASHLAN PARK ARRIVES
Finally, after all the waiting and 8 years later – it finally appeared as if by magic. I have no recollection of the actual building process, it was simply done, it was November 10, 1962. I would walk the 2 blocks past Buckingham and around the irrigation canal (now filled in after many a child had drowned) and crossed the “busy” street of Ashlan, well it was wide anyway.
The shopping center’s anchor store was the Triple J Drug Store which was a variety store and coffee shop. It had a garden shop too. Much later it would change hands to the Li'l General and finally in the 80's to the Thrifty Drug Store.
I bought many a comic book there. Walking down the row of stores, there was a breeze way and a few stores that as a kid, I spent many hours at. First was the slot car track called "The Pit Stop". I would watch the giant winding track for hours but I never could afford the slot car of my dreams. Then there was the billiards hall where I learned to shoot pool with my best friend. I also used to have my hair cut at the little barber shop in the same breeze way and a decent Mexican Restaurant was also located there. The thing that always impressed me about the entire shopping center was the huge sign on the corner. Very stylish for the time and so very tall.
THE SAVEMART GROCERY STORE
At the other end of the shopping center was the other anchor store, a large grocery store of the chain variety. I believe it changed a few times while I was growing up. But Savemart was the one I remember and the one that my Dad went to work for. He was the Produce Department manager there and boy, did he have a short commute from our house on Hampton. Every once in a while he would let me work for him on a Saturday and I would be paid $5.00 by the store manager. For a 10 year old, that’s like making $100 today. Minimum wage was like $1.35 back then.
Back at Tripe J's I remember hitting puberty and would eye the Playboys on the magazine racks. But was too afraid to actually look for fear of the store manager grabbing me. As I grew into my teens the high pressure car wash next to the supermarket was a frequent destination.
THE SHOPPING CENTER IN DECLINE
By the time I was ready to graduate from McLane High School the ‘ol Ashlan Park Shopping Center seemed to be on the decline. The parking lots were never full and the stores seemed to change names frequently. I remember that all the available retail space had never been fully leased. The Slot Car joint closed as that hobby was no longer popular and Tripe J’s seem to be a shadow of its former self. By the time I graduated from college the place looked pretty shabby when I would come home to visit family. I’m not sure if it even exist today, but I remember when it was brand new and full of wonder.
.
I remember my folks talking about the shopping center that would be built some day. The years passed and I kept asking when we would have our shopping center. Each time the subject would come up, they would get frustrated that nothing was being done. I started to believe it too but new streets and houses were popping up all around us. Change was afoot, including the brand new Centennial Elementary school just down the street from us.
ASHLAN PARK ARRIVES
Finally, after all the waiting and 8 years later – it finally appeared as if by magic. I have no recollection of the actual building process, it was simply done, it was November 10, 1962. I would walk the 2 blocks past Buckingham and around the irrigation canal (now filled in after many a child had drowned) and crossed the “busy” street of Ashlan, well it was wide anyway.
The shopping center’s anchor store was the Triple J Drug Store which was a variety store and coffee shop. It had a garden shop too. Much later it would change hands to the Li'l General and finally in the 80's to the Thrifty Drug Store.
I bought many a comic book there. Walking down the row of stores, there was a breeze way and a few stores that as a kid, I spent many hours at. First was the slot car track called "The Pit Stop". I would watch the giant winding track for hours but I never could afford the slot car of my dreams. Then there was the billiards hall where I learned to shoot pool with my best friend. I also used to have my hair cut at the little barber shop in the same breeze way and a decent Mexican Restaurant was also located there. The thing that always impressed me about the entire shopping center was the huge sign on the corner. Very stylish for the time and so very tall.
THE SAVEMART GROCERY STORE
At the other end of the shopping center was the other anchor store, a large grocery store of the chain variety. I believe it changed a few times while I was growing up. But Savemart was the one I remember and the one that my Dad went to work for. He was the Produce Department manager there and boy, did he have a short commute from our house on Hampton. Every once in a while he would let me work for him on a Saturday and I would be paid $5.00 by the store manager. For a 10 year old, that’s like making $100 today. Minimum wage was like $1.35 back then.
Back at Tripe J's I remember hitting puberty and would eye the Playboys on the magazine racks. But was too afraid to actually look for fear of the store manager grabbing me. As I grew into my teens the high pressure car wash next to the supermarket was a frequent destination.
THE SHOPPING CENTER IN DECLINE
By the time I was ready to graduate from McLane High School the ‘ol Ashlan Park Shopping Center seemed to be on the decline. The parking lots were never full and the stores seemed to change names frequently. I remember that all the available retail space had never been fully leased. The Slot Car joint closed as that hobby was no longer popular and Tripe J’s seem to be a shadow of its former self. By the time I graduated from college the place looked pretty shabby when I would come home to visit family. I’m not sure if it even exist today, but I remember when it was brand new and full of wonder.
.