October 2007 The History of Downtown Retail Presented by The Palm Beach Post and the Delray Beach Historical Society Atlantic Avenue Businesses - as recalled by area historians and authors Sandy Simon, Lora Sinks Britt and Cecil and Margoann Farrar The late 1890s: Henry Sterling established Linton’s first commissary. The building consisted of one large, first-floor room used exclusively for the commissary and three rooms upstairs which served as living quarters – Incomparable Delray Beach, C. and M. Farrar W.J. and Florence Cathcart (early 1900s): W.J. opened a store where he sold hardware, cutlery, dishes, pots and pans, wagon parts, tools, kerosene and other necessary household commodities. Next door, in the same building, Florence had a store for the ladies where she sold yard goods, thread, edging of fine embroidery, ribbons and those “unmentionables” that ladies would never have bought except from another of their own sex. – My Gold Coast, Lora Sinks Britt (page 118) Downtown Delray from 1924 on: Mrs. Ethel Sterling Williams eventually would own most of the entire block of stores between the railroad and Southeast Second Avenue, including during the 1940s, a laundry on the east end near the railroad, later a restaurant named Ken and Hazel’s, my Uncle Sam’s fruit market, my Uncle Johnnie’s Tropical Market, Billings Fish Market and the chicken and egg store. – Remembering: A History of Florida’s South Palm Beach County 1894-1998, Sandy Simon (page 10) Allen’s Five and Dime Store (the 1940s): We could buy candy, small toys, funny glasses with a mustache and nose. We could find games and we could actually buy authentic handmade slingshots made from the fork-shaped small limb of a guava tree. … Mr. Sam H. Allen Sr. was the owner. The store was located on East Atlantic Avenue where Allen’s Five and Dime Store, circa 1940’s Vince Canning’s Shoe Store is today. … During the 1920s, Mr. Allen started a grocery store with E.H. Scott. The store’s name was S. H. Allen & Company. In 1936, Mr. Allen sold that business to the A&P Company and opened his dime store. – Remembering, Sandy Simon (page 66) Gloria’s: Gloria and Hackney (Allen) owned and operated “Gloria’s,” a successful ladies clothing store on Atlantic Avenue for many years until the malls came to South Palm Beach County and drew the customers away from downtown. – Remembering, Sandy Simon (page 66) Cars in 1947: “New cars weren’t built during World War II from 1942-1946 so (my father) bought a gleaming new 1947 four-door Chrysler from Joe Rose, Delray’s Chrysler dealer, for the extraordinarily high price of $2,500.” – Remembering, Sandy Simon TV comes to Delray: “In 1952, television came to town. The first set sat in the front window of Atlantic Electric’s Inc.’s showroom on East Atlantic and everybody went to see it, standing outside on the sidewalk gazing at the television set.” – Remembering, Sandy Simon (page 86) Rhoden Building Circa 1910: One of the first masonry vernacular commercial buildings on the Avenue. Owned by the Robert Rhoden family, it is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Delray Beach and is currently home to the Bull Bar. Rhoden Building, Circa 1910 West Settlers District Businesses -as recalled by city historian Vera Farrington The area on Southwest 5th Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and 4th Street was named Frog Alley by the early settlers, who were primarily from the Bahamas. At Southwest 5th Avenue and 3rd Street, on the NE corner of the street, was a haberdashery/sundry/bakery, owned and operated by a black family, Jim and Della Freeman. Fred Monroe’s Taxi Cab On the west side of 5th Avenue between 1st and 2nd Streets was a grocery store black owned and operated by a black family headed by John Young. On the west The Hot Dog Hovel side of 5th Avenue and 1st Streets was a black-owned fruit/vegetable market. (Walter Thompson). It has since been converted into a church. On the SW corner of 5th and Atlantic Avenues (now vacant), Marie and Joe Reynolds, a black couple, owned and operated businesses in a two-story building. Downstairs were two stores – one was a barbershop; the other was a billiards and games store. Upstairs were rental rooms. Day laborers gathered in front of the building to become selected for work. NE Second Avenue Businesses Headlines in the 1950’s in the Delray Beach Journal heralded the “fast growing N.E. Second Ave.” This commercial district consisted of four blocks bounded by Atlantic Ave. on the south and Lake Ida Road on the north. Pierce Tire - photo courtesy of MacLaren Signs In the first block north of Atlantic Ave. were the distinctive shapes of the two Quonset arched steel buildings which made up Pierce Tire. Several chain grocery stores such as Winn Dixie, Kwik Chek, A. & P., and Publix were located in this area. Other business included Toddle Town, a children’s store; dry cleaners, and photography studios. In 1954 Swift Cleaners, which had been a dry cleaning business in Palm Beach County since 1925, announced a new plant on the street. The street was considered an auxiliary street to U.S. 1. By the 1980’s, N.E. Second Ave. was in decline. A few local business owners and residents got together and decided to infuse the district with some charm by naming it “Pineapple Grove.” In 1988 the name of the street was officially changed to Pineapple Grove Way. Today most of the buildings have been renovated, new urban-style townhouse residences have been built, and public art projects help the district maintain its character as an arts district. Heritage Month Activities Saturday, September 22 Spady Living Heritage Day Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, Old South demonstrations, interactive exhibits, musical performances, food vendors and children’s activities. 170 NW 5th Ave. 279-8883, 10am to 10pm, Free admission. Learning to make a broom A kettle of lye soap Wednesday, October 3 The Delray Beach Historical Society Opens its new exhibit, “Mid-Century Signs of Commerce,” featuring historical images of current downtown retail locations and shopping venues. Reception sponsored by Bob Miller State Farm Insurance. 1926 Bungalow, 3 NE First Street, 243-2577, 5:30 to 7:30pm. Saturday, October 6 Delray Beach Public Library presents Hispanic Heritage Month Reception, open to all with food, music etc from 3-5pm at the Library. The exhibit on the 2nd floor Gallery of the Library is on display 9/25 - 11/6. 266-0194. Saturday, October 13 Ride & Remember Historic Trolley Tour Series presented by the Delray Beach Historical Society and the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. Departing from Cason Cottage, 3 NE 1st St. All ages. 279-8883. 10am, $15 per person; $12 for members of The Spady Museum and DBHS. Hispanic Heritage Month Artists Atlantic Avenue Bridge Saturday, October 13 Sister Cities Golf Classic Sister Cities of Delray Beach presents the 2007 Golf Classic “The Mayors’ Challenge” at the Delray Beach Golf Club. Proceeds benefit Sister Cities of Delray Beach student exchange programs. Registration forms are available at Delray Beach City Hall lobby. 2200 Highland Ave., 243-7011. Sunday, October 14 Multi Cultural Festival Pine Grove Elementary Park, 400 SW 10th St., music, food, games and entertainment celebrating cultures of the Southwest Neighborhood Associations, Noon-5pm, 243-7280. Thursday, October 18 Art & Jazz on the Avenue Enjoy the sights and sounds of Atlantic Avenue featuring historic photos in celebration of Heritage Month. Enjoy entertainment, open house Arcade Tap Room specials, meet artists from the Fine Art Galleries and more! 279-1380, ext. 3, 6-10pm. Wednesday, October 24 Passport to Japan Food and Sake Tasting at The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Young professionals in their 20s-40s are invited to the second annual Passport to Japan, a unique Japanese food, sake and wine event. 4000 Morikami Park Road. 495-0233 ext. 240. 6-9 p.m. . Saturday October 27 Delray GreenMarket opens for its 12th season with trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving demonstrations. Worthing Park, 150 E. Atlantic Ave. 276-7511, 8am to 1pm every Saturday in season. Free admission Tomatoes heading North via F.E.C. Saturday October 27 Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach presented by The Museum of Lifestyle and Fashion History. Departs from Delray Beach Public Library. Pre-paid advance reservations are encouraged. 243-2662. 11am. The Colony Hotel Through Sunday October 28 National Collage Society’s 23rd Annual Juried Exhibition and “Metrotextural” Art Quilts by the Manhattan Quilters Guild. Cornell Museum, Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., 243-7922. Delray Beach Historical Society Quilt Section by Sandra Sider, exhibit curator for MetroTextural: Art Quilts from the Manhattan Quilters Guild 3 & 5 NE 1st Street, 243-2577. Historic house museum that offers visitors a rare glimpse at daily life from 1915 to 1935. www.DelrayBeachHistoricalSociety.org. cont’d Delray Beach Playhouse 950 NW 9th Street, 272-1281 A fully equipped 238 seat theater overlooking scenic Lake Ida. www.delraybeachplayhouse.com Delray Beach Public Library 100 W. Atlantic Ave., 266-0194. Extensive book & media collections, programming for all ages, electronic info. and volunteer opportunities. www.delraylibrary.org Milagro Center 340 SW 6th Ave., 279-2970. An arts-integrated educational and cultural arts program for at-risk children ages 6 to 12. www.milagrocenter.org Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens 4000 Morikami Park Rd., 495-0233. Experience the essence of a century of Japan at South Florida’s biggest celebration of Japanese art & culture. www.morikami.org Museum of Lifestyle and Fashion History The Museum offers retrospective & anthropology exhibits showcasing lifestyle, history, cultures, people, places, fashion, architecture, furnishings & toys. www.mlfhmuseum.org Old School Square Cultural Arts Center 51 N. Swinton Ave., 243-7922 Houses the Cornell Museum of Art & History, Crest Theatre, Old Gymnasium and outdoor pavilion. www.oldschool.org. Spady Cultural Heritage Museum 170 NW 5th Ave., 279-8883 Dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing the African-American history and heritage of Florida. www.spadymuseum.com Sandoway House Nature Center 142 S. Ocean Blvd., 274-7263 1936 historical house now home to live animals, a coral reef shark pool & a world-class shell collection, weekly nature programs and shark feedings. www.sandowayhouse.com Heritage Month is sponsored by Weiner and Aronson, P. A. Celebrating the 16th anniversary of the renovation of The Clark House Clark House, circa 1898. Vernacular Style As the office for Michael S. Weiner’s law firm, the house has served the purpose of being the incubator for many of the business concepts which ultimately revitalized downtown Delray Beach, Florida. The first gathering of the Pineapple Grove support group was in Mr. Weiner’s conference room. The first of the new wave of upscale restaurants, Damiono’s, was a plan hatched at the house. The first meetings involving Art and Jazz on the Avenue were convened within its four walls. It is only fitting that the 107 year old residence serve this purpose of birthing winning strategies. In the decades prior to its decline, it was the house of Coach Clark, the coach for Delray High School’s football team. The team was a powerhouse under the Coach’s tutelage. In a hometown approach, the Coach would cook up his plays on the front porch and hold his team meetings in the backyard. Weiner & Aronson, P.A. is a proud sponsor of Cultural Heritage Month and is proud of the past history of the Clark House. Delray Beach, Florida will continue to use that hometown spirit to improve the City and create an atmosphere of brotherhood and friendship between all who wish to live within its borders. Heritage Month is presented by Downtown Marketing Cooperative •City of Delray Beach •Community Redevelopment Agency •Downtown Development Authority •Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Photos courtesy of Delray Beach Historical Society Archives and Spady Cultural Heritage Museum All information included in this brochure is believed to be correct at the time of publication. ! NEW www.DowntownDelrayBeach.com