The Park Place neighborhood used to be one of those self-contained communities.
Five neighborhood groceries operated at one time, plus two drug stores, five gasoline service stations, two barber shops, two flower shops and many other businesses.
A number of businesses still operate, mostly along the East Eighth Street corridor. But most of the earlier stores are gone, reflecting changes over the years.
At Eighth and Walnut was the New Haven Nursing Home. At College Drive was the old Park Place Church of God, replaced by an apartment complex.
The Stanley Fluck insurance business to the east was razed for the former Marathon service station, now Paris Auto and Truck Repair. The one-time Salin’s Drapery, later a rent-to-own business, is currently empty. Next door was the original Bob’s Pro Shop, now a property management business.
A one-time Gulf station at Eighth and Cottage became a package liquor store and is now a Laundromat.
A beauty shop is gone, and a real estate office is now a property management location. To the north was Food Land grocery, later a used furniture store. And across Eighth Street was Ernie Owens Cities Service, later Edwards Citgo and now a dry cleaner. On the north side were a dental office and Gwinn’s Drug Store, which later was an ice cream store and a travel agency.
The Parkway Pastry Shop at Park Avenue later was a sub shop and now houses Murdock Construction. Next door was Keesling Hardware, now a financial services business. On the alley is Surbaugh and Son Realty.
Across Eighth Street, the former Johnny’s ice cream store now houses The Nile Restaurant. The strip has housed an insurance agency, beauty shop and a watch repair business, now McIntyre Jewelry. Buildings that housed among others Jerry’s Junkatique (which later moved a couple blocks away) were removed for parking for Mustin Builders. Mustin had moved into the former Richter Center, a forerunner of the present Hopewell Center on 53rd Street.
At Eighth and Central were Tom Dearing’s East Side Drug Store, a barbershop, Dr. W.C. Kelly’s office, and across the street, Park-N-Shop grocery, Roseberry’s Shoe Repair, Mary’s Beauty Salon and a coin shop. Dearing’s is now a tanning salon, and Park-N-Shop houses a dance studio.
Madison County Federal Credit Union, Swifty and Howard Webb Agency came along later. West of Ruddle Avenue, a beauty shop and a real estate office now are on the south side. To the north, the former Anderson Laundry is now Frank Chiropractic Clinic.
Shell and Standard stations were at Eighth and Milton. A dental office now occupies the Shell station, while the Standard location next to the Athletic Park pool, once an insurance agency and a home care office, is vacant. The former Klus Flower Shop across the street became an art studio.
Several other businesses operated off Eighth Street, though space does not permit elaboration.
Jim Bailey’s reflections on Anderson’s past appear on Sunday. His regular column appears on Wednesday. He can be reached by e-mail at jameshenrybailey@earthlink.net.
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