Yesterday's strip malls
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Community Revitalization
Forum Description: Middletown Community Revitalization News
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3278
Printed Date: May 15 2024 at 1:59pm
Topic: Yesterday's strip malls
Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Subject: Yesterday's strip malls
Date Posted: Sep 09 2010 at 11:52pm
K-mart, likely killed by Wal-mart and Target on the far east end
 Lots of parking
 Aldi, being just up the hill changes everything
 Kroger, eastbound too
 Death to the rest of the mall
 Hills...Ames...no more
 Target, east end or die
 Death to the rest of the mall, again
 Haunted Cambridge Inn
 Spooky
 This is why I'm sticking with Downtown, vibrant or not, its character is undeniable.
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Replies:
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Sep 10 2010 at 10:41am
| So what you're saying is that because of the unfortunate demise of strip malls due to the demise of the local economy, you will "support" downtown by, my guess, going along with any Kohler-inspired taxpayer giveaway or any rebranded but already doomed Main St. initative, whether these ideas are supported by common sense or not? |
Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Sep 10 2010 at 11:53am
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While I applaud your efforts in trying to show other parts of our once great city that are just as devastated or poorly maintained as Downtown. why are we not spending out there to try and improve our image??
But supportMiddletown, you have taken one picture of the downtown area, and that was even in the newer section. what about these areas a mire two blocks up the street from your picture?
  Are we to go down and partake in the great art festivities and forget what we drove through to get there? ------------- Call me for a www.CameraSecurityNow.com" rel="nofollow - www.CameraSecurityNow.com quote 513-422-1907 x357 |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Sep 10 2010 at 6:59pm
Randy- (and those that are new to town)- that top photo you posted is the former Reed-Klopp Furniture store where, back in the 50's-60's, was THE place to buy your furniture. Son has grandmas bedroom furniture in his room now that was purchased there in the 50's. Good solid maple construction on the furniture. Sad to see the other photo which is close to the now closed Liberty hotdog restaurant, the predecessor to Skyline/Gold Star nowadays. The other photos posted by Support Midd., depict the epitaph of this town since the 70's. More closing and leaving than moving in and setting up shop. Remember the Cambridge Inn as a decent place to eat. Alot of elderly supported that business. Food was kind of bland as I remember it. Nice architecture to the building. Really sad to have seen it being used as a "haunted house" novelty theme at Halloween. Really deserves better than that IMO. Wish all you younger folks here could have lived here 40 years ago. You would have had a totally different opinion of the town compared to the crappy picture you see now. Even tougher to have seen it go down the crapper since the prosperous times. D-- I'm  ! Sorry to rehash the old days again, but it was one of the better times in my life.
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Posted By: SupportMiddletown
Date Posted: Sep 10 2010 at 9:42pm
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Wow, I feel like I've been unjustly attacked. Let me explain, then.
The pictures only demonstrate the movement of big box/strip mall retail to the far east edge of the city, leaving behind areas for redevelopment.
Likewise, downtown needs reinvestment and attention, and, perhaps in places, demolition.
I just threw the last photo in because I happened to snap it at the same time as the other photos. But my comment above it does demonstrate how I feel. Those abandoned strip malls have no character, no value in my view. The boarded up Reed Klopp, on the other hand, is full of character that contributes to the sense of place of Middletown and has much greater potential than a boarded up K-mart. Accordingly, I'll take downtown over the generic retail on the east end of the city any day. ------------- |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Sep 11 2010 at 8:39am
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Vet I think Lovely’s Furniture Store on South |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Sep 11 2010 at 8:49am
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Here is the link to the history of Elite's Ice Cream and Candy Company written by Michael Revelos. It brings back so many happy memories of my youth. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcmiddl/GR-EliteIceCreamCandyCo.htm - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcmiddl/GR-EliteIceCreamCandyCo.htm
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Sep 11 2010 at 12:27pm
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Interesting history on Elites, Vivian. Reading through it, I was introduced to Elites (Revelos???) when they had their "soda fountain" operation on Central across from the old tobacco warehouse (Polar Bear), which was a huge brick building that took up the entire block where the auto repair shop is, the old Office Outfitters building was, and I believe Auto Zone is today. Also remember Hagais's Candy. Thought they were down Central across from where Grimes and Central meet. ?? Not sure anymore.
Didn't Elites have a small store on the end, in the strip shopping center next to the bank and consignment shop, across from Midd. Shopping Ctr. years ago? That's the last location I remember for them. Anyhow- good reading |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Sep 11 2010 at 6:01pm
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Vet http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcmiddl/Obit_HAGIAS_Charlie_8-01-1964.jpg - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcmiddl/Obit_HAGIAS_Charlie_8-01-1964.jpg
I believe at one time the Greeks owned and operated every restaurant in Middletown |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Sep 11 2010 at 10:13pm
| Yeah, Hagias's Candy at 1367 Central back in the 60's. As mentioned in the article, it was a hangout for Midd. High students back then. Then off to catch the Ortman-Stewart bus home at the bus stop by Central Pastry by the wall. No yellow school buses back then. You took the city bus to/from school. |
Posted By: Hermes
Date Posted: Sep 12 2010 at 1:27pm
| Who is responsible for all these empty strip mall areas ? Does the city own these properties ? Let's get'em torn down !! GET'R DONE !!!! |
Posted By: angelababy
Date Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 1:25am
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I really liked the look of the building and it's a real shame that someone didn't reuse the one here in Middletown. ------------- Welcome to my paintings website - http://www.wholesaleartmall.com - Wholesale Art Mall . |