This 1958 ad promises all of your favorite stores without any of the hassles. (Image: Indiana State Library)
Business: Glendale Shopping Center
Date of Ad: December 2, 1958
Location: Keystone Avenue and 62nd Street
Years of Operation: 1958-present
Notable: Even though it’s only Halloween, shoppers around the Circle City will notice Christmas decorations beginning to pop up any minute now. In 1958, a new way to buy goods promised shoppers all of the finest stores in town without any of the hassle. The 500,000 square foot Glendale Shopping Center featured L.S. Ayres, Blocks and a host of other stores surrounded by acres of asphalt insuring a parking spot for everyone.
Additionally: Glendale thrived through the 1980’s. Times began to change in 1987 when a merger with Lazarus ate up the local Block’s department store chain. Lazarus already had a store at the nearby Castleton Square. In 1993, Ayre’s opened a new store at Castleton, essentially making Glendale an older and smaller shopping option. When Lazarus left in 1999 several ill-fated remodeling attempts were made, but the center still lacked shoppers. In 2006, the center mall courtyard was demolished leaving the former Ayres (now Macy’s) and Block’s (Now Target) as stand alone stores. An outdoor “lifestyle center” component was also added. Glendale remains a convenient shopping destination for folks on the north if not the mega destination it once was.
The inside of Glendale in the 1970’s. In 1969, Glendale enclosed its courtyard to remain competitive with the Lafayette Square Mall which had recently opened on the northwest side. (Image: of Evan Finch)
A souvenir ashtray celebrating the opening of L.S. Ayres at Glendale in 1958. (Image: eBay)
Thanks for the great article on Glendale. It was a favorite destination of my moms through the 1960’s and as a kid I loved going there too. I last saw it in the late 1970’s, when it still had some of its glory days left.
I had the honor of working as a Visual at L S Ayres in the 1980’s. When retail was still “Grand”……
I remember Glendale when it was an open air mall. It was disappointing when they enclosed it. It became a bit more ordinary and déclassé.
I worked at a woman’s clothing store at the Glendale mall and also a store downtown in the 1970’s. Does anyone have any information about Morrisons?
Please help me! There use to be a bar/restaurant to the right upon entering the west entrance of Glendale Mall. Very “woody” and kind of dark. Bar was on the left and the restaurant on the right which seemed to wander with hallways and eating areas everywhere. I cannot remember the name of it and it’s like a song the gets stuck in your brain for days. Just guessing it was open maybe80/90s. Thanks in advance
Sorry for the late reply but the bar/restaurant was “Houlihan’s Olde Place” (sp?) I worked security there (the mall) many years ago. One evening I saw Barbara Edon (of I believe in Genie fame) and her entourage just entering there. 👍
There was also a restaurant called Magic Pan there that made crepes.