Yesterday's strip malls

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?

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.

Vet I think Lovely’s Furniture Store on South Main St is the only furniture store left in Middletown now.  Liberty Restaurant and Elite's was the place to go after a great Middie's ball games. The Cambridge Inn was a cafeteria type chain restaurant. After they closed all the restaurants in this area I helped redesign one of their buildings in Cincinnati into an office. I really liked the look of the building and it's a real shame that someone didn't reuse the one here in Middletown.

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

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.

I really liked the look of the building and it's a real shame that someone didn't reuse the one here in Middletown.