Hello, So Cal regional outdoor malls were the big hit for their respective communities when they first came to light. Now, in one central location, the big name shops and big brand name stores (as well as a ton of little specialty shops) were all gathered in one place. The photo shows an inland community of West Covina. This photo could have been a duplicate of the same outdoor shopping center. But, it was about 11+ miles from our Westside of Long Beach house to the new Lakewood Center during the wild outdoor shopping center building days. From Bixby Knolls, it was a short 3 mile+ trip for some shopping. As far as regional shopping centers, the above photo was about 25+ miles away, so the distance from the original, Lakewood Shopping Center was far enough away to build a similar concept experience. The Lakewood Shopping Center with the Clifton’s Cafeteria in a similar place. Close to the large draw, May Company. (at the time, the largest suburban shopping store in the world) The long corridor led to all kinds of small shops. Appliances, vacuum/sewing machines, jewelry+ repair, and clothing material, etc. It was an outdoor shopping center opened in 1952 and enclosed in 1978. Jnaki For some reason, our mom loved going to Clifton’s in the shopping center. Mainly so she did not have to cook, but just walk on down the line and pick/choose what is the tasty looking dish behind the glass panel. Even after our dad was gone, she still liked the “day off” from cooking. She still made the most fabulous meals, but unless we visited, she cooked for one. The cafeteria was a finished meal of your chosing… For a free lunch or dinner, Clifton’s Cafeteria had some tasty meals. Roast beef chunks and gravy on mashed potatoes was our favorite. Our mom made the same meal at home, but for eating at the Clifton’s Cafeteria, it was completely different taste and flavor. YRMV Note: One would think that the larger shopping center would have been a draw for the local teenage hangout. Since we had cars, the various drive-in restaurant parking lot places allowed a separation of older teens versus a gaggle of younger junior high school kids gathering on a Saturday for movies and other activities. Those large centers were not for us. Except for shopping for clothes. Although, across the main street, Lakewood Boulevard, from the shopping center, was a very popular place with tons of old cars and hot rods in the parking lot. It was the largest Wallich's Music City record shop. It drew a lot of teens from all over So Cal to the glassed in sound proof booths for LP album + 45 record listening prior to buying.
Kent Ave. Williamsburg. Used to watch the guys Roll the kegs off the truck onto that rope mat on the floor and then down the wooden plank to the basement when they delivered them to the local bars in my neighborhood.
The Jalopy Journal
