Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
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Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
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.
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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.
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Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
It does still exist, and the sign you've got there still stands. The shopping center underwent a little facelift a few years ago - Save Mart is the big grocery anchor now. The old Thrifty drug space remains empty, but there are a few stalwart tenants that have been in place a good 20-30 years now that aren't going anywhere. I live right up the street from the center and enjoy that big sign every time I visit there.
Here's a photo of the sign from recent times...
Here's a photo of the sign from recent times...
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Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
I am looking for the name of the restaurant that was in the JJJ shopping center. Steaks, seafood etc. Clubby old school place, I remember it round 76 or so...
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Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
I worked at the Richfield station on the corner of Cedar & Ashlan for a couple of years in the 60s. I remember a "Sizzler type" place in the front of the self serve car wash at Ashlan Park. The name "Korral" or something like that keeps popping into my head, not sure though.
Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
Hi...enjoyed your recalling Ashlan Park Shopping Center...and your mentioning the Pit Stop Slot Car Racing Center! I was hopelessly addicted to slot car racing in the mid-60s (and now that I'm in my own mid-60s, I'm still addicted to 'em!) The Pit Stop was simply the finest slot car racing center I ever frequented...and I frequented a lot of them back then. There were two tracks downstairs (one of which was under construction for quite a while...helped me learn basic track building skills for my own home layout.) But the magic was really upstairs...one track was a huge, fast, eight lane "figure 8" speedway. The other track was a huge, 6 lane, completely landscaped road course...easily the greatest (and best looking) slot car track I ever raced on. I mean, you literally felt like you and your car(s) were racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race...what a rush!
Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
I played for the Ashland Park Little League team in about 1966. I was 10 years old. David Ellis (since deceased) was one of my team mates. Great memories. I would race slot cars and some shop in Ashland Park. Our Family moved to Modesto in 1967.
Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
Man, this brought back memories. I worked at Los Charritos as a waitress while I was in high school, they were wonderful people to work for. The only bad part was the patrons of the bar across the breezeway would stumble over when they got hungry, and were often a handful. I saw one drink a whole bottle of hot sauce one night on a dare...good times. My brother hung out at the slot car place, it was pretty popular.
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Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
The grand opening date for Ashlan Park was in April, 1963. The development was a bargain at 1.5 million. Recently, I returned to the shopping center to relive old memories. The entire area including this shopping center has unfortunately, been subject to extreme decay.
Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
I was wondering if anyone would mention Grants department store. I remember going there at Ashland park. My Mom, Grandma and I would go over there to shop some days. We would have lunch and look around at Triple J's and walk down the mall window shopping and end up at Grants, they had everything from fabric to furniture. My grandmother bought a maple dinning room set and I still have it after all these years. I think she bought it in the sixty's sometime! Just loved going to the center. There also was a fishing store, My dad was big into bass fishing and men would hang out there and talk about the big one and buy rods and tackle. They would talk to this educated man (Gary I think, he was real tall) that owned it, as he would know all the latest stuff. It was a great part of my old memories and it had something for all ages, I still go over there to Save Mart!!!
Re: Birth of the Ashlan Park Shopping Center
Ashlan Park:
Some of the original & replacing businesses
*Los Charritos
*JJs with coffee shop turned Westernwear store
*Shoe store (sold hushpuppies) turned bookstore
*Sew Machine shop
*Jewelry store
*Pub Bar turned Computer hub
*Bank of America
*Grants
*Varsity Liquor
*Cleaners
*Pit Stop turned Dog Groomers
*Barbershop
*Beauty Salon
*Donut shop
*Bjs Country Kitchen
Various starter clothing stores dotted the mall
*Me & Eds
*Tandys Leather
*Aquarium & Pet Store
*Car Wash
*Savemart
*Pet Store
*Toy Store
To name just a few
Some of the original & replacing businesses
*Los Charritos
*JJs with coffee shop turned Westernwear store
*Shoe store (sold hushpuppies) turned bookstore
*Sew Machine shop
*Jewelry store
*Pub Bar turned Computer hub
*Bank of America
*Grants
*Varsity Liquor
*Cleaners
*Pit Stop turned Dog Groomers
*Barbershop
*Beauty Salon
*Donut shop
*Bjs Country Kitchen
Various starter clothing stores dotted the mall
*Me & Eds
*Tandys Leather
*Aquarium & Pet Store
*Car Wash
*Savemart
*Pet Store
*Toy Store
To name just a few
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