How about doing a "Fabulous Ruins of Downriver Tour?"

[mtburb]

Would it be a great idea to do a Downriver communities version of the Fabulous Ruins of Detroit Tour? Where we can see the triumph and tragedy of Allen Park, Brownstown Twp., Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Huron Twp., Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven and Wyandotte? Such as that mostly-abandoned strip mall at Eureka and Dix?

[Lowell]

Let's get started here. I really love the area. It has so much character, unpretentious hard-working honesty and its known history runs back beyond the French.

[wilderness]

Such as that mostly-abandoned strip mall at Eureka and Dix?

Hey Lowell
There were still a few business' there, however over time, their leases were not renewed. I've heard that the entire buildings are supposed to be razed to make way for a Wal-mart's. No idea what the delay is.

Another mostly empty mall is the former Southgate at Eureka and Trenton Roads, which for may years included both a Ward's and a Federal's.

One area of rejuvenation is the former Korvette's property at Fort and Trenton-Pennsylvania, which was an eyeysore for a good many years as the former Korvette's lay vacant and for sale. In fact on the west side of the street is an auto dealer that was originally located in Ecorse [[W. Jefferson and a few blocks south of Southfield) until the early 70's [[Stu Evans Lincoln-Mercury). In close proximity was the former Fort-George Drive-in Theater.

[mtburb]

One area of rejuvenation is the former Korvette's property at Fort and Trenton-Pennsylvania, which was an eyeysore for a good many years as the former Korvette's lay vacant and for sale. In fact on the west side of the street is an auto dealer that was originally located in Ecorse [[W. Jefferson and a few blocks south of Southfield) until the early 70's [[Stu Evans Lincoln-Mercury). In close proximity was the former Fort-George Drive-in Theater.

What is in the place of the places you mentioned now and how long? Including the dark hi-rise nearby that now houses a PNC?

[wilderness]

What is in the place of the places you mentioned now and how long? Including the dark hi-rise nearby that now houses a PNC?

The former Korvette property is the entire east side of Fort St., beginning at a Car wash, then McDonald's and even a bit further a White Castle. There must be at least twenty of more outlets on the property today.

It's interesting to note that on the west side of Fort St., and when I was young there was a small carnival [[year-around; although it was not open on the winter) on the "point" of property of which Fort St., and Trenton Roads intersect. "Wonderland" was there until at least the the late-1960's.

There's a restaurant that sits way back [[behind McDonal's) that was there when Korvette's was open, and remains open today. Name escapes me.

As to your inquire of the PNC Bldg., that was initially built and owned by Security Bank [[defunct). Last time I was in that building many of the offices were vacant.

Directly in front of that bldg and what is today the adjoining Meijer's was building that held a variety of tenants for years, with the longest being the Mich MESC, however initially it was an Arlan's or a Shopper's Fair, believe at one time it was even a grocery store.

[wilderness]

River Rouge, Ecorse and the area known as Southwest Detroit [[beginning at the Fort St., drawbridge over the Rouge River and heading south) were thriving communities until I-75 opened.

Even Melvindale was vibrant.

[mtburb]

that was initially built and owned by Security Bank [[defunct).

Which security bank?

[wilderness]

Which security bank?

[br]
I'm not sure if your being facetious or your inquiry is genuine?
[br][br] At one time there were four Security Bank's in four different locations in Lincoln Park alone. More in other cities. Their original bank was located next to the former Lincoln Park theater. Later they bought an adjoining building and some more buildings in the same long block, however south of the former Mellus Newspaper bldg.
[br][br]
Fort & Oconnor, Dix and St. John, Dix and ?? [[north of Quandt Park), and Fort and Leblanc. They out grew their main and scattered administration office and built the building with a regular bank on the first floor on Trenton Road, just west of Fort St.
[br][br]
There must be some old pics somewhere?
[br][br]
They were in business until at least the early 1990's.

[The Dude]

[br]
I'm not sure if your being facetious or your inquiry is genuine?
[br][br] At one time there were four Security Bank's in four different locations in Lincoln Park alone. More in other cities. Their original bank was located next to the former Lincoln Park theater. Later they bought an adjoining building and some more buildings in the same long block, however south of the former Mellus Newspaper bldg.
[br][br]
Fort & Oconnor, Dix and St. John, Dix and ?? [[north of Quandt Park), and Fort and Leblanc. They out grew their main and scattered administration office and built the building with a regular bank on the first floor on Trenton Road, just west of Fort St.
[br][br]
There must be some old pics somewhere?
[br][br]
They were in business until at least the early 1990's.

OK, for the record:
Security Bank
then became Security Bank and Trust;
then became First of America,
then became National City,
then became PNC.

[The Dude]

The former Korvette property is the entire east side of Fort St., beginning at a Car wash, then McDonald's and even a bit further a White Castle. There must be at least twenty of more outlets on the property today.

It's interesting to note that on the west side of Fort St., and when I was young there was a small carnival [[year-around; although it was not open on the winter) on the "point" of property of which Fort St., and Trenton Roads intersect. "Wonderland" was there until at least the the late-1960's.

There's a restaurant that sits way back [[behind McDonal's) that was there when Korvette's was open, and remains open today. Name escapes me.

As to your inquire of the PNC Bldg., that was initially built and owned by Security Bank [[defunct). Last time I was in that building many of the offices were vacant.

Directly in front of that bldg and what is today the adjoining Meijer's was building that held a variety of tenants for years, with the longest being the Mich MESC, however initially it was an Arlan's or a Shopper's Fair, believe at one time it was even a grocery store.

The building was a Shopper's Fair in the early 60's. For those of you too young, it was where folks went to shop before Kmart opened on Eureka in 1962. There was a Duff's Smorgasboard there back in the 80's, they're still in business in some states. I don't remember the Wonderland, I do remember when the Metro pcs store was a Jack In the Box.

[The Dude]

The building was a Shopper's Fair in the early 60's. For those of you too young, it was where folks went to shop before Kmart opened on Eureka in 1962. There was a Duff's Smorgasboard there back in the 80's, they're still in business in some states. I don't remember the Wonderland, I do remember when the Metro pcs store was a Jack In the Box.

P.S. The grocery store was a Great Scott.

[DetroitZack]

I've taken pictures in a lot of the cities listed. Ecorse especially interests me. Its downtown is depressed but has some excellent buildings.

[hudkina]

I'd hardly call much of Downriver "ruinous"... It may have a large amount of vacant commercial space, but it's not as if it is in ruin. Downtown Wyandotte is probably one of the nicest of all the suburban urban nodes, and while the rest of the cities might not be as "cool" or "vibrant" as the SE Oakland Woodward Corridor communities only Ecorse and River Rouge are really economically depressed. The rest of the communities just have a lot of unnecessary [[and arguably outdated) commercial development surrounded by typical middle-class and working class neighborhoods.

BTW, there is definitely a good reason why that strip mall at Eureka and Dix is vacant. The rest of the area is virtually 100% occupied, so it's no coincidence that all of those storefronts remain vacant. I've never heard of a development going in there, but I really hope they don't build a Walmart. Hell, I think it would be interesting if they built a cheesy lifestyle center or some kind of walkable development. It would be nice to turn that intersection into a sort of "downtown" for Southgate.

[The Dude]

I'd hardly call much of Downriver "ruinous"... It may have a large amount of vacant commercial space, but it's not as if it is in ruin. Downtown Wyandotte is probably one of the nicest of all the suburban urban nodes, and while the rest of the cities might not be as "cool" or "vibrant" as the SE Oakland Woodward Corridor communities only Ecorse and River Rouge are really economically depressed. The rest of the communities just have a lot of unnecessary [[and arguably outdated) commercial development surrounded by typical middle-class and working class neighborhoods.

BTW, there is definitely a good reason why that strip mall at Eureka and Dix is vacant. The rest of the area is virtually 100% occupied, so it's no coincidence that all of those storefronts remain vacant. I've never heard of a development going in there, but I really hope they don't build a Walmart. Hell, I think it would be interesting if they built a cheesy lifestyle center or some kind of walkable development. It would be nice to turn that intersection into a sort of "downtown" for Southgate.

Walmart already has been given the green light to build there.

[hudkina]

That's awful...

[freckles]

The building was a Shopper's Fair in the early 60's. For those of you too young, it was where folks went to shop before Kmart opened on Eureka in 1962. There was a Duff's Smorgasboard there back in the 80's, they're still in business in some states. I don't remember the Wonderland, I do remember when the Metro pcs store was a Jack In the Box.

ick
I ate at Duff's... wasn't it more late 70's?
Went to many a movie at Ft. George and shopped at Korvettes and Federal's.

[Downriver Gal]

ick
I ate at Duff's... wasn't it more late 70's?
Went to many a movie at Ft. George and shopped at Korvettes and Federal's.

Is that a Michigan thing, to make the names of places possessive? I do that too.

When I first started buying records as a kid in the 70s, I bought them at the Riverview Korvette's. I believe single albums were $3.99 on sale when they came out. My parents bought their first food processor there. I remember when the movie "Annie Hall" came out, there was a big display of the layered clothing Diane Keaton wore in the movie. I don't think the trend really took off, though the idea of women walking around Downriver dressed like that makes me laugh.

Downtown Wyandotte is nice, but they should have things like small groceries and fruit markets there so that people can live down there and get what they need within walking distance. Kind of like Campau in Hamtramck. If they had those amenities, I'd probably move there. It has such potential.

I used to enjoy Java Joe's and the B.C. Beans coffee shop that was in the building that burned down. Unfortunately The Grind, the worst of the 3 coffee shops there, was the only one to survive AFAIK. The only time I went in there they served me the worst latte I've ever had. I never went back.

I used to love going to Gail's Office Supply. For a nerd like me it was better than a toy store.

I was sad to see that Good Eats closed. I used to go to their old space, which is now Joe's Hamburger's. Haven't been there yet. Any opinions?

I used to love the Stonehenge neon sign on Jefferson. I read that it was at various times a metal bar and possible a gay bar, but it's now closed. Is the sign still there?

Is the old Harbor Theater gone? I haven't been down there in quite a while. Never went in there, because it showed porn when I was a kid.

Is the Auburn Cafe worth a trip?

[The Dude]

Is that a Michigan thing, to make the names of places possessive? I do that too.

When I first started buying records as a kid in the 70s, I bought them at the Riverview Korvette's. I believe single albums were $3.99 on sale when they came out. My parents bought their first food processor there. I remember when the movie "Annie Hall" came out, there was a big display of the layered clothing Diane Keaton wore in the movie. I don't think the trend really took off, though the idea of women walking around Downriver dressed like that makes me laugh.

Downtown Wyandotte is nice, but they should have things like small groceries and fruit markets there so that people can live down there and get what they need within walking distance. Kind of like Campau in Hamtramck. If they had those amenities, I'd probably move there. It has such potential.

I used to enjoy Java Joe's and the B.C. Beans coffee shop that was in the building that burned down. Unfortunately The Grind, the worst of the 3 coffee shops there, was the only one to survive AFAIK. The only time I went in there they served me the worst latte I've ever had. I never went back.

I used to love going to Gail's Office Supply. For a nerd like me it was better than a toy store.

I was sad to see that Good Eats closed. I used to go to their old space, which is now Joe's Hamburger's. Haven't been there yet. Any opinions?

I used to love the Stonehenge neon sign on Jefferson. I read that it was at various times a metal bar and possible a gay bar, but it's now closed. Is the sign still there?

Is the old Harbor Theater gone? I haven't been down there in quite a while. Never went in there, because it showed porn when I was a kid.

Is the Auburn Cafe worth a trip?

. The Harbor was razed in the 80's, there was once a Rally's Hamburgers there.

Possesives, as in I work at Ford's and shop at Kmart's?

[Downriver Gal]

Possesives, as in I work at Ford's and shop at Kmart's?

Yup. Some of my relatives worked at Ford's. I used to shop at Great Scott's and A&P's, now I shop at Kroger's.

[The Dude]

Yup. Some of my relatives worked at Ford's. I used to shop at Great Scott's and A&P's, now I shop at Kroger's.

I'm 56 and I';ve never heard anyone say A&P'S

yOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE hARBOR WAS LONG GONE? Excuse the caps, sorry, I don't go to Ecorse much either.

[Downriviera]

Ruins of Downriver; does this mean I don't have to cut my lawn this summer? Excellent!

[Downriver Gal]

you didn't know that the harbor was long gone? Excuse the caps, sorry, i don't go to ecorse much either.

sorry now that you mention it i vaguely remember seeing that rally's but it's been ages since i was down there so i couldn't remember if the harbor was there or not. :d

ETA: Rats, I guess the forum won't let you post a run-on sentence in all caps. So much for my little joke.

[lpg]

My wife still has her Korvette's charge card. We purchased our Super8 movie camera, projector and screen there in 1972. We are still using the dining room table and chairs my mother bought there in the 60's from there.
I remember the opening of the Southgate Shopping Center in 1958. I got my first helicopter ride in front of the Federal's. In the early 70's I worked a summer at Montgomery Ward. There was also a Woolworth store in the center.

[thewitz]

How about the building at Fort Street and Sibley in Riverview. It use to have a Farmer Jacks, Dunhams, some hair salon, the Golden China Restaurant and a pet store. All have closed but the Dunham's. When I was growing up, the Farmer Jack's building was a Yankee's Department Store. I'll tell ya, I still miss Farmer Jack's! And The Golden China had the best Szeuchuen Chicken, but the owners have apparently retired and now it's gone too.

[freckles]

I used to work across the street at Showboat Cinema back in the early 80's. Haven't seen it in a while, but I think it's a big empty building now.