Post by bchevy on Oct 15, 2006 7:59:34 GMT -4
Remember the sign that was up for years, before construction started and after the center was left to ruin for years, saying "better than you remember"?
They'll have a long way to go to live up to that line. I grew up just down Riva Rd. I remember Parole Plaza, in it's heyday, very well:
Sears with the big "open tonight" blinking neon? sign on the roof, and the bug circus looking sign on rte 2 with the multi color circles spelling out PAROLE PLAZA.
Reeds drug store with the cafeteria built in, and the old juke box selectors on each table. This later became Rite Aid.
Britts, had a neat rolling shelf showcase with old coin sets for sale, this store was different.
Doktors Pet Center, with the big windows in front with critters playing in them. (another of my 1st jobs) This job didn't last long due to the store policy of "selling" pets, I was supposed to hard sell, animals, push, push, push. I didn't agree with pushing a pet wher it may not be welcomed soon afterwards. This was before it was PC.
W.R.Blair came along later, just in time for my 1st job/budget minded gift buying needs!
Holiday shopping with my parents at the Hickory farms store, a real store, not a booth in the mall!
And how about the Santa house out in the breezeway, how it was also the Easter bunny house....
Pantry Pride.
Bumping into family members at some of the stores mentioned above.
Was there a Buster Brown shoe store there too?
One of my early jobs was at Kmart (after Britts closed) that was cool for what it was.
Spending night after night at the "Silver Ball" arcade was quite the learning experience.
One of my later jobs was with a local electrician who did the electrical maintenance for the plaza and a lot of the stores. Fixing the parking lot lights, replacing most of the ballasts & bulbs in sears, AND putting up the Christmas decorations at the Plaza- THAT was neat.
There were a lot of stores I never went in, the womens stores, you know?
What's YOUR memories of Parole in it's heyday, and do you think the new site will be "better than you remember"
They'll have a long way to go to live up to that line. I grew up just down Riva Rd. I remember Parole Plaza, in it's heyday, very well:
Sears with the big "open tonight" blinking neon? sign on the roof, and the bug circus looking sign on rte 2 with the multi color circles spelling out PAROLE PLAZA.
Reeds drug store with the cafeteria built in, and the old juke box selectors on each table. This later became Rite Aid.
Britts, had a neat rolling shelf showcase with old coin sets for sale, this store was different.
Doktors Pet Center, with the big windows in front with critters playing in them. (another of my 1st jobs) This job didn't last long due to the store policy of "selling" pets, I was supposed to hard sell, animals, push, push, push. I didn't agree with pushing a pet wher it may not be welcomed soon afterwards. This was before it was PC.
W.R.Blair came along later, just in time for my 1st job/budget minded gift buying needs!
Holiday shopping with my parents at the Hickory farms store, a real store, not a booth in the mall!
And how about the Santa house out in the breezeway, how it was also the Easter bunny house....
Pantry Pride.
Bumping into family members at some of the stores mentioned above.
Was there a Buster Brown shoe store there too?
One of my early jobs was at Kmart (after Britts closed) that was cool for what it was.
Spending night after night at the "Silver Ball" arcade was quite the learning experience.
One of my later jobs was with a local electrician who did the electrical maintenance for the plaza and a lot of the stores. Fixing the parking lot lights, replacing most of the ballasts & bulbs in sears, AND putting up the Christmas decorations at the Plaza- THAT was neat.
There were a lot of stores I never went in, the womens stores, you know?
What's YOUR memories of Parole in it's heyday, and do you think the new site will be "better than you remember"
