Wystan Stevens

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 4:55 p.m.

@leagebus, you are mightily confused. Everett's was on Stadium, where Taco Bell is now. There is no gas station where A&W used to be. The Hollywood Video store started out as a Wrigley's supermarket. The VFW hall was nowhere near the Stadium; it was on East Liberty, in the building now occupied by Seva's and Comedy Showcase. The Baskin-Robbins ice cream factory on S. Main near the Stadium formerly was McDonald's creamery (a local outfit, with no connection to the McDonald's restaurant chain). It was a separate building from the American Legion post next door, which occupied the former G. Frank Allmendinger mansion, an altered Victorian home.

Vivienne Armentrout

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 2:55 p.m.

Planned Parenthood replaced the late lamented Doughboys Bakery.

leaguebus

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 2:38 p.m.

Everetts drive in was where Planned Parenthood is on Stadium, and the AW was across the street where the gas station is now. The Hollywood Video place was a Farmer Jacks and then Kroger until Kroger moved across to the street to Westgate. The VFW was next to the Stadium on Main until it became Baskin and Robins creamery. McDonalds was where the jewelery store is on Stadium till it moved north to where it is now.

Wystan Stevens

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.

The Bentley Historical Library has aerial survey photos of Ann Arbor and environs going back to the dark ages (before WWII). The Abrams Aerial Survey composite map on the wall of Hathaway's "hideaway" on Ashley Street is dated April 15, 1960. It was indeed originally mounted on a wall at City Hall, where it had been installed in 1963, when the Larcom City Hall was built. Bob Harris found one of these on the wall of his office when he became Mayor, and his first official action was to order it removed. (Maybe he suffered from vertigo?) The outline of the harness racing oval at the old Fairgrounds (Vets Park) may indeed be discerned on the aerial photo. In 1952, when I was a Cub Scout, I went with friends to see a genuine "bigtop" circus on this site. It was the Clyde Beatty Circus (not yet merged with Cole Brothers). Clyde Beatty was a famous lion trainer (mistakenly called a lion "tamer"). Dressed in khakis and a pith helmet, he got into a big, steel-barred inclosure, with several dangerous cats, armed only with a whip and a wooden chair. My pals and I were nine years old. We were goggle-eyed. On the way home, we sang a song about "great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts." Do children still sing that great old song? The National supermarket on the SE corner of Stadium and Liberty was vacant after the National chain went out of business. National had another store at the corner of Washtenaw Road and Yost; it closed at the same time, and was evantually taken over by a Frank's Nursery outlet. The National store on Stadium became Vescio's, and they ran full-page ads in the paper that told how to pronounce their name: "Say 'Vay-Shows'". When Vescios folded, the building was converted to a Roma Hall, with fake turrets and crenelations to make it resemble a Disneyfied pink castle. Roma's was a catering place, where people rented big rooms for parties and weddings. There was another Roma Hall already, in Livonia. But it didn't take in Ann Arbor; after Roma, Chuck E. Cheese moved in, and was there for several years. Then the garish architecture was altered again, and the CVS chain installed a store, along with Murray's Auto Parts. Now CVS has moved into new digs around the corner, and Murray's name has changed. Fowler's, across Liberty street, was called Fowler's Pancake House. I worked part time at the 2000 West Stadium McDonald's from 1960 to 1962 -- the first McDonald's in the area, with service at walk-up windows only. I remember the manager before Ed Bevier, whose name was Jim Barrett. But the out-of-town owner was Tony Weismuller, president of A. J. Weismuller enterprises, who showed up now and then to check up on things and scowl at the help, who, like me, were mostly high school guys, frivolous and flippant. Yes, there was a rule: no females hired -- end of story. Nor were there any black faces on the staff in those years. The mass production system worked because the menu was limited. McDonald's had a "Speedy Service" slogan, and a winking, walking burger symbol, named "Speedee." We tried to discourage customers from ordering their own condiments, warning them that if they did, their burgers would be delayed. Football Saturdays were terrifying: school buses would swing into the lot, disgorging hordes of shouting, hungry teenagers, who piled up at the windows in a great, unruly mob. But our managers loved the receipts on those days, and McDonald's had its first thousand-dollar day while I worked there. After I had been promoted from mixing milkshakes (20 cents each, choice of chocolate, strawberry or vanilla) to working the counter, I was rewarded with a raise in pay: from a dollar an hour to a dollar ten! ("But don't tell the other guys," the boss said: "this is just for you.") A couple of the Erlewine brothers worked at McDonald's before going on to fame in the music business. There are delightful old advertisements for McDonald's, Everett's Drive In, and other Stadium Boulevard businesses, in the back pages of 1950s-1960s "Omegas" (the Ann Arbor High School yearbook). Maybe Ed could secure photocopies from the Ann Arbor Library reference department, and post them on this site?

Deborah

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.

The first building I remember on the corner of Liberty and Stadium was a frozen custard stand in the 1940's. I don't remember a baseball park, but there were perminent buildings, including stables, at Veterans Park which used to be the Washtenaw County Fairgrounds. We got our first two family kittens from the stables which I think were over near the stand of oak trees that are still there.

SillyTree

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 8:26 a.m.

Before Annie's Dugout it was a furniture warehouse. I don't know if it was anything before that. Of course it is Knight's Steakhouse now.

treetowncartel

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 9:47 p.m.

Sambo's had a stint in the Holiday building, but I don't think they were only a chicken place. Man, it has been a while but the Gotto public breakfast is a great deal. What is it, the third Sunday of the month? One other thing missing is mention of Annie's Dugout, which is now Knight's Steakhouse. I know Annies was not the first place in there, but my first memory of that place was Annie's. Can't forget Maple Village Theatres either.

AlphaAlpha

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.

Thanks for the corrected: American Legion by the stadium. Pink castle: Roma Hall, then Chuck E. Cheese...

bunnyabbot

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 1:03 p.m.

@viv, at some point before holidays it was a kenny rogers chicken place, I didn't eat there but ate at one while out of town b/c it was attached to the hotel I was staying at, it was like a KFC. the pink castle thing I think was a grocery store and then later had chucky cheeses in it. the little ceasers strip mall had a womans clothing store and a childrens shoe store that sold buster brown shoes

Vivienne Armentrout

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.

Another bit of West Stadium history - where Holiday's is was a Pizza Hut. Someone put a lot of money into renovating it and opened a chicken restaurant, which immediately went bankrupt. Another chicken restaurant was opened and later sold to Holidays. (Sorry can't remember the names of the two chicken restaurants, I never ate at either.) Also, I haven't seen any mention of the old pink castle building at the corner of Liberty and Stadium. It was (IMO) an eyesore which was given a new facade about 1988 to more or less the current look (houses an auto store and a dollar store, for a long time a drugstore).

Rod Johnson

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.

When Thano opened Thano's Company (remember that?) he bought up all the old Town Club silverware and napkins because they had the TC initials on them. In fact, I wondered whether he named the place what he did because he got a good deal on that cutlery.

David Briegel

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10:33 a.m.

towniejohn, used to go to the Legion next to the Stadium for a beer at half time of M football games! The Legion had the cannon! Had our 15 yr AAHS class reunion there.

SillyTree

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 8:30 a.m.

No, I wasn't there for the fire, but I remember the ice rink and others like it. They set one up at Summit park (now Wheeler) and at Vet's as well as others I'm sure. That was before the pools and hockey rinks at Vet's, Buhr and Fuller.

Will Warner

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 8:15 a.m.

Thanks, everybody for old home week. @Rod, I've always had the extact same feeling about the Zal Gaz Groto Club -- what's up with that? @Townie -- I think the Ann Arbor Town club is probably what I'm thinking of. My dad took me there once and he pressed a hidden button to gain enterance. @Silly Tree -- you weren't by chance present at Creal Park for the burning of a pile of sixy-some Christmas trees? It melted half the parks-and-rec ice rink and brought the fire department. Come to think of it, in those days parks-and-rec put a warm-up shanty in the park for ice skaters and it had a pot-bellied wood stove which we stoked with city-furnished wood. Can't imagine that today -- Oh, the Liability.

Townie John

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 7:46 a.m.

The large white house at Main and William housed the Elks 325 club. Also behind the buildings on Main was the Ann Arbor Town Club. Next to the U of M Stadium was the American Legion Post 48. Prior to the passage of liquor by the glass many of these clubs thrived in Washtenaw County since they were the only dinner spots outside of regular bars where you could get a drink with dinner and dancing. Where the Hollywood Video is originally was a Wrigleys food store and there was a National's food store where O'Reilly's Auto Parts now is. The Ann Arbor Moose lodge stood where the current Kroger's is.

C. Kamm

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 7:03 a.m.

Fabulous thread - finally got a chance to read through it this morning. So many places I'd forgotten about! But I also remember a women's clothing store in the Little Caesar's plaza, but can't recall the name. Bought my mother-in-law a sweater there once, many years ago.

Rod Johnson

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 6:54 a.m.

One thing that amazes me is that the Zal Gaz, which seemed like a remnant of earlier times in the early seventies, is still there today. We used to drive by it and wonder what the hell it was. How many other things have remained unchanged in that whole area?

Left is Right

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 9:04 p.m.

I seem to remember a Ring Lardner short story describing trips from Niles through Ann Arbor on US-12 and on to Detroit for baseball. Must have gone through the intersection.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 8:37 p.m.

Yes indeed. Recall Elks 325 used to be next to the stadium...with, gasp-not, a cannon in the parking lot. A white building... And, remember the world's smallest franchise buildings? The ~ Foto One at Westgate. Just a few feet east of where Play It Again is.

Left is Right

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 8:18 p.m.

I think the Hideaway photo is ~1958 because it shows the land being cleared for my current residence, which was completed in 1959.

David Briegel

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.

I think the ice cream place in Maple Village was Scoops? After it closed Sanders opened. Anyone remember Millers on S Main and S Univ? Hot fudge malted! As already mentioned, Fowlers coffee shop became Mallis' Steak House and then LaPinata, Watercress, Up South and now the bank. My Grandmothers viewing was at Muehligs on St Patty's Day and the Briegle boys went to Stadium Tavern and toasted Peppermint Schnaaps or CremeDeMinthe and green beer with a few other friends. One of her caregivers just happened to be there and she joined in the rememberance. The Private Club next to Klines was the Elks Club. My Dad is an Elk! AnnArBo, If you waited two minutes you must have ordered a special. Everything was ready to serve when you got there. Hamburg.15, Fries.12, Coke.10, or.37 for the All American Special! My sister took ballet at Sylvia Hamers and graduate, Tee Dee Ann Theofil danced with the NY City Ballet. Great Family the Theofils! It was Campus Smoke Shop on Liberty and Maison Edwards in Nickels Arcade and on South Univ. I remember building a grass hut in Dolph Park next to the stream and burning it down while smoking cigarettes. While inside!! Escaped unscathed and watched it burn!!

bunnyabbot

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 2:18 p.m.

hot lava! I grew up near woods, we weren't interested in playgrounds, we made our own world in the forest. Our parents would have beat our butts if they knew we dashed onto the freeway multiple times or walked as far as we could on dares into the culverts that ran under the expressway or under the subdivision. Of course there was always a monster just in the shawdow. or that we routinly set small fires. I remember drakes downtown, sharing the counter with cops and eating a patty melt or grilled cheese and the childrens section of the original borders where we went weekly.

SillyTree

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.

I remember the smokehouse. My sisters took dance lessons at Sylvia Hamer's studio across the street in the Michigan Theater Bldg. I would have to go and watch them. The only thing that made it worthwhile was getting to go across the street to get candy from the smoke shop. I remember Creal in many incarnations. I remember kids playing box hockey by the fountain there and the pump swings where you sat in a cage and pulled back on two vertical bars to swing. The only other park I knew with swings like that was Haisley playground. Later they built this huge array of very fat beams of wood. It would never be built today because of how unsafe it was. We used to play tag and jump from beam to beam. Of course the ground was hot lava.

Will Warner

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.

The high part of Vets park (the northeast corner of Jackson and Maple) was the site of the annual summer carnival, which now sets up at Pioneer High School. The "parachute" ride would swing you out over traffic at that corner (or so it seemed). The earliest manifestation on the LaPinta site I can remember was a steak place, I think it was Fowler's Steakhouse, with an intriguing neon "Cocktails" sign. Stadium tavern was directly across Stadium Blvd (now a bank is there). In those days nearby Szechuan West (sp?) was called the Waterfall. Anybody remember a private dinner club near the Kline's lot? How about the Campus Smoke Shop, Liberty and Maynard -- love to see a picture of that. How about an old cider mill build into the side of a hill off of Newport, on the edge of Bird Hills. I spent entire summers in and around that place in the early '60s. Got my first look at a Playboy magazine in there... I'd also love to see an old picture of Creal Park, one that shows the big elm tree in the southeast corner -- the boys around Creal Park virtually lived in that tree.

SillyTree

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 9:19 a.m.

Yeah, Sanders was great. I was partial to chocolate sodas so that is what I always got. They served them in cone shaped paper cups that fit into a little holder so they would stand upright on the counter. I was sad when they closed. It's good that you can get their baked goods and candies again though.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.

Can't recall whether one could create their own sundaes at Sanders... but they had excellent confectionery. Their site suggests it's possible...

AnnArBo

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 8:12 a.m.

I moved here in 68 and lived in Lans Down. The end of my street, Chaucer, was a farm field. I remember riding my bike to the little strip mall on Stadium where the Little Ceasers pizza is now. There was a five and dime store Delahants(?) and we used to buy bubbs daddy bubble gum "ropes" by the handful. The owner was a grumpy man who watched us like a hawk because some kids stole candy, which to me was a huge crime, boy how times have changed. I remember the McDonalds at the jewelry store, and being totally amazed that you could place an order, and two minutes later there was your meal. They're not that fast today.

AnnArBo

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 8:04 a.m.

I moved here in 68 and lived in Lans Down. The end of my street, Chaucer, was a farm field. I remember riding my bike to the little strip mall on Stadium where the Little Ceasers pizza is now. There was a five and dime store Delahants(?) and we used to buy bubbs daddy bubble gum "ropes" by the handful. The owner was a grumpy man who watched us like a hawk because some kids stole candy, which to me was a huge crime, boy how times have changed. I remember the McDonalds at the jewelry store, and being totally amazed that you could place an order, and two minutes later there was your meal. They're not that fast today.

SillyTree

Sun, Oct 24, 2010 : 7:12 a.m.

Was that the "make your own Sundae" store?

drewk

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 8:06 p.m.

Dave, the ice cream shop I believe was named scooples or something close to that. Right next door to the old dry cleaners, near the fox village theater.

Dan Freidus

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 6:26 p.m.

Veterans Park was the site of the Washtenaw County Fair from 1922-1942 (previously, it had been held in Burns Park!). MSU Washtenaw Extension may have old photos of the fair. You can also find a photo of the fair in Grace Shackman's "Ann Arbor in the 20th Century".

David Briegel

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.

drew, you are referring to Sportsmans Park. Rod, remember, it was the County Fairgrounds. Tingas were tasty. Sherry, LaPinata!! I think it was Rio Bravo after Mt Jacks. I do remember the Pure gas station at the SE corner of Jackson/Maple/Stadium. A&W, how about the fact that there are still car hops!! Does anyone remember the Ice Cream place at Maple Village? Was it Farrells before Briarwood opened?

Rod Johnson

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 3:41 p.m.

You can see that race track in the 1955 aerial photos listed above. I wondered what that was. Good to know. I miss La Pinata too--they used to have these things they called "tingas," shredded pork in a flour tortilla, deep fried, that I still salivate over.

drewk

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.

There was a baseball field across the street from Goodyear Tire. Right there where the gas station is. Also, there was a horse race track at Vet's park where the ball diamonds are.

David Briegel

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 1:27 p.m.

The Moore family, Ralph, owned the A&W before Jerry Smith. Ralph's daughter Joan was in my class. Jerry is still around when not in Fla. And there was Kales Waterfall before Sze Chuan West. I loved the live piano played by my classmate Alex and his father. SillyTree, I do remember that fountain, before the cube! It is amazing how we need those gaps filled in as we age and how the next post triggers the next memory! Dang, Ed, where will you have coffee next?

bunnyabbot

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.

@silly tree milk depot, I meant dexter and miller. at miller and maple where the strip mall is there was an open pantry, later it became hop n go before sevearl other convienence stores, 30 years later my mom still calls it the open pantry. yeah, the kmart eatery was for a time at the front. my friends mom who watched me before our kindergarden class at abbot would take us at least once a week for a hotdog and french fries :) that was 1980. A&W was awesome, the same guy owned/owns the one in dexter. I really miss A&W on stadium :(. as staded previously La Pinata was one of my favorite places.

SillyTree

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 11:56 a.m.

Hey Ed! Don't take too long to give us another place where we can all get along. You seem to be getting good at finding them.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.

Also, Little Professor next to the Radio Shack next to the Village Theatre, and for a time, the yum-o-liscious Sander's near the Village Pharmacy.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 11:39 a.m.

Rio Bravo or Rio Grande

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 11:37 a.m.

A man named Jerry owned he awesome A&W on Stadium; he owned the Dexter A&W as well, until just ~5 years ago when he retired. He's still in the area, at least was within the year. The Dexter A&W is such a time travel adventure; the building is unchanged from the original ~1950s construction.

SillyTree

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.

There is a lot to read here, but A&W was mentioned a couple of times. It's good to mention it again though. @BunnyAbbott I think I recall the short period where the restaurant was in front, but I'm not sure. I may have been away at school. When Kmart was first built, there was an eatery in the back that was just called GRILL in big letters. They had a "deli" toward the front where you could get frozen Cokes, submarines, popcorn, etc. There were two A&P buildings in the shopping center. The first one was next to where Dunham's is now. It has Panda House and I think few other places in it now. At first the area where Dunham's is was a parking lot. You had to go around the building to get to it. Then they built the new A&P there. Milk Depot was at the corner of Dexter and Maple (not Miller.) But I think that's what you meant. Just like fast typing might hit an r which is next to the T (deport.) I remember the True Value and the way TJ Maxx was back then. The main anchor store used to be Arlans as was mentioned here. It later became Rink's and then did a short stint as a flea market called Old(e) World Mall. Arlan's had some of the old dime rides and games. I remember there was a shooting gallery game in the front. I never put any money in, but still had great fun while mom shopped. Cunningham's had a coin operated stage coach. It was at least as much fun without money as it was with. Thank you Bunny Abbot for filling in some gaps.

Vivienne Armentrout

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 10:17 a.m.

A great thread that somehow omits our loss of the A&W Root Beer drive-in - to be replaced by an oil-change shop, what a loss. I'd forgotten about Mountain Jack's - it was such a comfortable place to stop by when life was too hard to cook dinner. It was a chain and we had previously been familiar with it from California. Remember that for a while it was replaced by that "fresh Mex" restaurant - Rio...???. That was a nice replacement for La Pinata as long as it lasted.

bunnyabbot

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 10:15 a.m.

A&P grocery was in the Kmart strip. Kmart used to have a full grocery store inside, the meat counter was always swamped. The Kmart restaurant was to the front and the booths along the area where the pharmacy now is, we could sit in a booth and watch the crowds. In Westgate there use to be an interior mall like playground in the corner where TJMaxx/pictures plus was, you could get into the true value hardware from both the front of the mall and the rear the play structures included a giant turtle thing you could crawl allover. it was called the milk depot, not milk deport and it was on the corner of maple and miller.

David Briegel

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.

Ed, I should have realized that this thread would take off in this direction. I limited my earlier comments to the corner. My brother and I worked at the McDonalds while in school and have many fond memories of the great guys that worked there and the fine manager, Ed Bevier. We used to have lines alll the way to Stadium Blvd and we would have contests to see which register team could ring up the most orders and dollars! Ed was firm, fair and fun. I really like David and Lewis Jewelers and am reminded of the past frequently! The coolest thing on a Fri, Sat night was to wash your car and drive the circuit. McD, A&W and Everetts to see and be seen. BTW, you can still get an Everetts special sauce California burger at A&W Dexter! I remember when Rock was young!! I love Bell's Diner as an example of a good family business and the Korean foor is wonderful. My daughter has a Korean exchange student for this year and she gave them two thumbs up! Same with BigM car wash and Izzy's, The carnivals and circus were at the County Fairgrounds before it became Vets Park. Can't remember what year the city bought it from the county and named it. My family practically lived at Vets park for baseball/softball and we even followed some teams and tournaments when we weren't playing. Would run up to the depot for pop and then beer before they cracked down on beer in the parks. My Mom worked briefly at Webers (she hated killing those cute live lobsters)and then Bill Knapps. Ed, Wystan belongs here! Many fun memories. Old farts reminiscing. Sounds like the Dairy! This thread is almost as fun as the squirrel electrician!

mike from saline

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.

The first time I ever saw a Real genuine circus was at Vets park [where the pool and ice arena are now] in the mid to late 50s. It was the real deal [Ringling Bros, or Barnum and Baily] with eleph- ants and ropes used to raise the big top. Later, [early 60s] it would be the site for the end of the school year Carnival. It was a great place for young couples [mostly Jr. High school kids] who were to young to drive, to meet there sweeties, and perhaps [when it got dark] take a nature walk through those poison ivy, and mosquito infested wooded area's along the hill. You had to be care- ful not to step on other young couples who were already there, en- joying natures bountiful wonders.

mike from saline

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 7:18 a.m.

The assualt on the Pontiac dealership {Klingers Pontiac, I think] by my old friend Tom, may have been caused by a High school romance gone wrong, and a few too many adult beverages. Now they call it acting out!

mike from saline

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 6:57 a.m.

In the mid sixties, an old High school friend of mine, For some bizare reason, drove his dads car through the showroom window of the Pontiac dealership, at the corner of Jackson and Maple one night. In a bit of irony, The same young man would get a job in the mid 70s, at that same dealership, selling cars.

SillyTree

Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 6:28 a.m.

Here's one. The car dealership that was where they built Ponderosa, Burger King and Arby's. I think it was Henderson Ford before they moved out to Jackson and Wagner. Back then, all the car dealerships had strings of lights with multicolored propellors that spun in the wind strung to the wires. Before Arby's there was a Whale of a Wash in that spot. I don't know why it closed; maybe because Big "M" was so close by. The one on Washtenaw stayed open and has sort of been reincarnated as part of the BP out there.

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:40 p.m.

Ah the old where did Bob Seger get the seed for that song lyric/title debate. I just want to find that bar 12 hours out of Mackinaw City.

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:32 p.m.

Well then, we can't forget Mountain Jack's. I think it is one of the only restaurants in Ann Arbor to have had wine on tap.

Rod Johnson

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:24 p.m.

This is my favorite thread of all time.

peg dash fab

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:15 p.m.

the restaurant that followed la piata and watercress on the NE corner of stadium and liberty was called up south.

H.

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 10:15 p.m.

I remember reading or hearing that Bob Seger wrote the lericks to 'Night Moves' at the A&W on Stadium. I miss that place. At least Dexter still has one. Mom & Dad took me to Bill Knapps once a week for dinner. Dunhams once upon a time was A&P. I used to be a regular at the Milk Deport up the street to get my pack of baseball cards and bubble gum. Sleeding at Vets. Lots of baseball games too as a little leaguer. Good memories.

jeanette

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 9:51 p.m.

omg... arlen's,kresge's(with the great lunch counter cause if we were at it i was getting ice cream!!)the a&w with the laundr-o-mat across the street,everett's,oh i miss my youth and than in the 70's the jolly tiger became that because they first named themselves sambo's. and fowler's was dinner out at least once a week. amazing how i thought we were so rich until now, when i really know how much my parent's didn't make for their hard work, but gave us great memories and awesome family road trips and we lived for the carnival at vet's park

pooh bear

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 9:46 p.m.

Check out the AA News of June 25, 1949. It covers the growth of Stadium Blvd and lists 28 businesses by name corresponding to numbers on the aerial photo. Also check out 4/17/1959 for another aerial shot. for plans for Westgate, see AA News, 11/21/1952. Westgate was developed by John R. McMullen.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 9:12 p.m.

Thank you for the 'cottage closure' SillyTree. In hindsight, those neat little structures were so very oddly out of place, sometimes it's hard to believe they were really there, just tucked out of the way, seemingly in their own little world. How could we forget the Big M car wash, as well. This has been a most pleasurable evening. So many questions remain...the tight '94 curve, the origins of Westgate, etc. etc. Hopefully, some answers will emerge. Btw, Ed, as Wystan's name has arisen yet again, perhaps you could suggest he be a regular contributor to A2.C? He is an asset of extreme value. Thanks everyone.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 9 p.m.

Thanks for the image Ed, and yes, it was an Amoco.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:57 p.m.

It was Quarry drug and photo where Arbor Farms used to be. Cunningham's was in Westgate. The Parthenon was Cunninghams as well.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:54 p.m.

The self serve car wash on Federal started out as Robo Wash. There was one on Golfside at Washtenaw as well. A little machine on a track sprayed your car with water. I think the tracks might still be in the front building. The back building was added. The cottages were rentals as far as I know. Mom and Dad were at the U back then.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:47 p.m.

Oh yes! It seems it was actually called Donuts (pl) Time, which seemed odd then, and still does, but then again, maybe it wasn't plural. Amy Joy was the only thing west side business open all night, until Jolly Tiger opened. Also, Cunningham's Drugs before the old Arbor Farms location; Ponderosa and Arby's, and a Mobil on the SW Lib/Stad corner. The old Macs was a better experience than the new one; back around 1978 the Total just north served water in the gas in winter; one car towed to the (Amoco?) just N of the USPS was lit by an impatient mechanic melting the frozen fuel lines and the station and contents were lost in the fire which followed. Stadium Pharmacy, Little Caesar's, the self serve car wash on Federal, 'Gorgeous' George's, are some of the few businesses still operating at the same address...

Eric S

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:34 p.m.

My understanding is that Dimo's can still make Amy Joy donuts because Mr Dimo the elder was the Amy Joy franchisee. Amy Joy collapsed and the building changed, but they're an evolution of the same business run by the same family. I wasn't in Ann Arbor early enough for Amy Joy, but I think I remember Donut Time. I'll need to ask the next time I'm in for my breakfast sandwich to see if I remember right.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:32 p.m.

Ditto SillyTree: Thank you very much. Are you serious about the cottages? What were those?

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:15 p.m.

Thank you Ed and Alpha Alpha.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:14 p.m.

McDonald's is where Everett's was and Lewis Jewelers is where McD's was. Remember when it was the old school McD's? No inside seating, no QP with cheese and even no Big Mac. My brother loved those when they first came out. A large Coke was what small Coke is today.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:09 p.m.

My mom and dad lived in the middle cottage. There was a Cottage Inn in sort of a kiosk type building at the street just below the cottages. I seem to remember it having a sort of oval shape and being red and white.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:06 p.m.

And... Awesome A&W prior to Tuffy, and Everett's across the street... and...here is a stretch...prior to the small Cottage Inn 'plaza', there was perhaps a half dozen very small reddish cabin like structures, which were...what? Motel? Apartments? No significant signage... and A2 Auto Parts next to Everetts where the paint store is now. Wow. Thanks for asking, Ed.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:05 p.m.

I guess this certifies us as getting old. We all probably know each other or someone's brother or sister.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:01 p.m.

Viscount Pools was where Sun and Snow was. It was right near where Ed was having coffee, just across the Abbott.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:01 p.m.

Oh, yes. On Stadium. Mallis Steak House?

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.

Viscount was the place that sold swimming pools.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:56 p.m.

It was Mallis'

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:55 p.m.

Vescio's is right. My mistake.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:42 p.m.

Was it Viscount? Or Vescio's? Thought the latter. And Kroger where the HRACU is/was? Or verse vica?

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:39 p.m.

Farmer Jack way prior to Arbor Farms, Jolly Tiger across the street, and #1 west side late night cop stop: Amy Joy.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.

Mallis was after Fowlers and before La Pinata. Stadium Tavern was across Stadium Across Liberty was a grocery store called Viscount. There was an incinerator out back. The Viscount turned into Roma Hall which later became Chuck E. Cheese's. Soon thereafter it became pretty much what it is today except that most of the business names have changed.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:19 p.m.

Lib & Stad: Mallis' (sp)

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:22 p.m.

West Side Story?

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:20 p.m.

@David Briegel I remember the fountain. Remember the one that was in the drive at the Michigan Union back when it came out to State?

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:15 p.m.

Now that I've looked at the 1955 map, I would guess that the store just west of Maple on the south side of Jackson was Kroger like dad said. It's not quite where Knapp's was, but just west of there.

Jeff Renner

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.

@ SillyTree - I remember that photo at City Hall, and believe that it is the one that is now at Hathaway's Hideaway. John Hathaway was a city councilman in the late 60's and I suspect that when it was discarded he picked it up. I hope that Wystan Stevens chimes in on this topic.

Jeff Renner

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:04 p.m.

There is a big aerial photo of AA on the wall of the second story of Hathaway's Hideaway on S. Ashley. I think it dates from around 1960. I easily remember when S. Maple ran straight south from Jackson, and Stadium came in on an angle a bit south of where Zingerman's is now. Stadium felt much more like a separate street than it does now. I think the curve from Maple onto Stadium was built in the 70's. Now it's Maple that seems like a separate street. There used to be a really big oak tree by the street in front of Bill Knapp's. Is it still there? I'll have to check. The big I-94 curve is actually a bit straighter than it used to be, I believe. I think it was straightened out a bit in the 70's. Nice subject, Edward.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.

I cannot confirm this, but dad used to say that Kroger was initially built unattached near where Bill Knapp's/Zingerman's now stands.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.

Oh, and the Midas was a gas station called "Pure." It turned into a Union 76 and then Midas.

SillyTree

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 3:55 p.m.

City Hall used to have an image of that area on the wall. I think it was on the 5th floor when I last saw it. It did not have certain houses in the photo that were built circa 1959 so it is almost what you are looking for. Someone there may know what happened to it. My father obtainded a similar photo from somewhere because I remember laying on the living room floor looking at it. I don't remember the construction of Westgate, but I do remember Maple Village being built. I used to cut through the stores on the north side while they were under construcion. The pharmacy was open, but everything east of it was just framing with dirt where the floor would be. There was an entrance onto Jackson and it was considered the main entrance to Maple Village and Kmart, but it was closed before or soon after the shopping center opened; I believe it was considered unsafe. For many years, KMart had their sign out at that entrance. Since then, the entrance has been converted to stores and buildings along Jackson. When KMart fisrt opened, it had an attached grocery store called Kmart Foods. Later it became a Wrigley and then, I believe, a Great Scott. Later it was consumed by the Kmart main store. There was a Burger Chef where the burned restaurant is now. It later became a Hardee's. I am going to check some photos. I know there are pictures of me with my family in front of Bill Knapps from the 60's. I will see if there are any from earlier. If you go down to Dexter Rd. There is still a silo standing in one of the yards on the north side of the road just west of Maple. You used to be able to see that silo from a good distance. Now you have to really be looking to see it. The Jaycee's carnival used be held at Veteran's Park alongside Maple and Jackson. The pool and rink were not there yet.

Rod Johnson

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 3:09 p.m.

There's also a great picture over the cash register at Bell's Cafe (who knows maybe all of these are the same photo).

David Briegel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 2:46 p.m.

treetown, It had to have been the business all around and the residences to the Nort. It would never be built that way today since the standards have been improved. Remember, it was the very first interstate!

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.

Other than the cemetary near 94 and jackson, does anyone know what pwas the impetus for that sharp curve there?

Eric S

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 2:02 p.m.

In the 30's and 40's, what is now the Zingerman's Roadhouse teapot lane was an extension of Stadium that connected directly to Jackson Rd without using Maple, and Jackson Ave from the east was a Y intersection into it. That's a big reason why the Bill Knapp's (Zingerman's) building was built on a strange angle. That was the angle of the Stadium cutoff, so by doing that Bill Knapp's could use the old roadbed for the parking lot.

David Briegel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 1:22 p.m.

SPM, I always say that I have lived within two miles of Webers my whole life. What is now Dolph Park was my back yard. I love the West side of town! My Father reminded me of an ice cream stand where Maple Village now exists. My Mom and now me have shopped at the Westgate Krogers for 60 yrs (or since they opened). Change is the one constant in life! Fast Food Nation is a great book about the highway system. Ed, thank you for your curiousity.

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.

The restaurant after La Pinata was Watercress.

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 12:09 p.m.

And finally, it looks like this is the begining of Westgate, February 1956. http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/dt_corp.asp?id_nbr=129273&name_entity=WESTGATE%20PLAZA,%20INC.

spm

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 12:09 p.m.

@81wolverine, I vaguely remember some restaurant that served southern soul food and I thought it was at the old La Pinata place. @David Briegel, It sounds like there was a ton of changes in the area around that time. Of course, there must have been big changes in every community where they were built. (Coming into the world about 6 years later the highway system was just something that had always been around.)

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 12:02 p.m.

Ooops, here is the link for the Carpenter Road location. http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/dt_corp.asp?id_nbr=020724&name_entity=BILL%20KNAPP'S,%20YPSILANTI,%20INC.

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:52 a.m.

It looks the restaurant building on the corner would not have been there before 1958. http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/dt_corp.asp?id_nbr=193714&name_entity=BILL%20KNAPP'S,%20ANN%20ARBOR,%20INC. The vriarwood location appears to have come about twenty years later, 1977 http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/dt_corp.asp?id_nbr=196714&name_entity=BILL%20KNAPP'S%20BRIARWOOD,%20INC. And then the one on carpenter road loooks to have surfaced around 1964. http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/dt_corp.asp?id_nbr=196714&name_entity=BILL%20KNAPP'S%20BRIARWOOD,%20INC.

treetowncartel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:46 a.m.

Per wikipedia, William Sleeps was founded in 1956.

81wolverine

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:36 a.m.

Edward: nice post. I believe another restaurant of some name was in the La Pinata building after the latter closed up and before the bank went in. I can't remember the name, but my family and I ate there once.

David Briegel

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:33 a.m.

Great photo at Casey's and maybe elsewhere of the corner of Stadium and Liberty lookin NW. Stadium Tavern was on the NW corner and Sportsmens Park was just N of there. I saw my dad play donkey softball there! The first bldgs I remember at what is now Westgate were an Arlans Department store and Krogers. Then Bill Knapps and then the mall was built in phases. I worked at the Noble shoe store while still in High School. The Fairgrounds were located where Vets Park arena and pool are currently and the (Allen Creek?) drain and dump (hockey was played on a pond there) was filled in to make the wonderful Baseball and Softball area. The Culligan fountain just E of the SE corner of Jackson-Maple was a landmark and most of that SE corner was (is?) owned by the Cross family. I remember when 94 was built. A huge undertaking for a 10 yr old to observe. Heavy equipment and all. I remember my schoolmates drag racing on the freeway. From a dead stop! Traffic was light. 54 years of 2 lane that really needs to be 3 lane each way. There is a lot more info for the area but I can't recall much more for that specific corner.

SalineGuy

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.

The Detroit Edison Aerial photography collection has parts of Washtenaw County. http://www.clas.wayne.edu/photos/ap_index.htm

Haran Rashes

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:22 a.m.

A great source for old aerial pictures is http://www.historicaerials.com/ From a quick check, it does not look like the Bill Knapp's / Zingerman's Roadhouse predated the highway. The site has aerials from 1955, 1963, 1973 and 2003. That building and most of Westgate was there in 1963, but not in the 1955 picture.

RayA2

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:16 a.m.

suswhit, I haven't seen the picture in Little Ceasars but it sounds like the one that used to hang in the Mexican restaraunt that was at the corner of Liberty and Stadium (the place with the great Margaritas in the location that is now Bank of Ann Arbor).

suswhit

Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 10:42 a.m.

There's an old aerial photo hanging up at the Little Caesars on Stadium. I don't think the image goes all the way to Jackson/Maple but it's pretty darn rural out that way.