West Stadium Boulevard at Liberty Street, circa 1952.

During the past 50 years, the dramatic commercial growth in Ann Arbor has occurred along the one mile-stretch of West Stadium Boulevard between Pauline Boulevard and Jackson Road.

In the recent past, that east-west portion of the boulevard stretching north and south was referred to as "Ann Arbor's Financial Row" as one major bank established a home office and half a dozen other banks located branch offices in the corridor.

In 1947, Ralph and Bernice Moore gambled on the future by building the first A & W Root Beer stand in Ann Arbor on the west side of the then Stadium, a two-lane paved road. Ralph received encouragement from a relative owner in Saginaw who felt that Ann Arbor was ripe for A & W Root Beer. The Moores' forward-thinking soon resulted in their stand becoming a popular icon and drive-through for teenagers cruising West Stadium.

The real estate headliner in 1958 was the development of Ann Arbor's first retail shopping center: the West Stadium Shopping Center. Realtor-business owner, the late Beulah Fuller O'Kane, was selling lots on vacant land along the east side of West Stadium, north of Pauline Boulevard, owned in part by her son-in-law.

Ypsilanti barber Will Leonard, an early lot purchaser, was tipped to the lots' attractiveness by a fellow barber, Sam Cole of Ypsilanti, who between haircuts dabbled in real estate.

"Will, there's a McDonald's hamburger drive-in being built on the east side of West Stadium, just north of the commercial lots," Sam exclaimed, "You know the drive-in will attract a lot of people to West Stadium Boulevard!"

A 1944 graduate of Ypsilanti High School, Will Leonard dreamed of owning and operating his own barber shop.

Through a generous loan from Ann Arbor Federal Savings (Great Lakes Bank), Will purchased a lot for a final price of $5,000. He hired Keith Heiss as the building contractor to construct his shop.

"There was also a rumor that the U.S. post office was going to locate on West Stadium," Will recalled, "There's no question, the increased flow of traffic helped build our customer base," the friendly barber noted.

Within a year, Leonard Barbers opened its doors with three barbers, at $100 a week, and the owner, Will. "Sam thought I was crazy guaranteeing the pay for my barbers. But, soon the customers came flocking to our shop."

Indeed, by the mid-1960s at Leonard Barbers, five barbers were so busy that numbered tags were handed out to determine the order of service. Also, Will leased part of his rear building to a beauty salon.

Other businesses that quickly located on West Stadium were Hutzel Plumbing and Heating, P & H Mobil Service Station, Ace Hardware, Michigan Chandelier, Wrigley's and National supermarkets, Fowler's Pancake House and Tice's Tavern. Only Ace from that group has survived the many stages of West Stadium development. Hutzel Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing is now located on South Industrial Highway.

On Maple Road, which ran parallel to West Stadium, Robertson's Screen and Door had been perking since the early 1950s. Bruce Robertson (owner) and his son, Duncan Robertson were popular business owner-proprietors.. Plus, new to the center was the highly respected family business, Steeb Brothers Market and the Little Boot Shoe store. Soon, Stadium Pharmacy and Greene's Cleaners opened.

Dale Leslie has watched West Stadium evolve over the past 50 years. He grew up in the Greenview Dr./Scio Church Road residential area. He used to ride his bicycle to Leonard Barbers in the West Stadium Shopping Center. Ironically, Leslie later joined his family's business, Leslie Office Supply, Inc. which was located just west of West Stadium on Liberty Street.