Author: retrotoledometro

Hing Mee, 6256 W. Central Ave.

Formerly the Swinger Night Club. Hing Mee opened in 1979 and was owned and operated by Yuk (Hank) Hing Lee. The building was demolished to make way for Taylor Kia.

Hank, 26, emigrated to the U.S. from China via Trinidad where he was the proprietor of a dry goods shop. He made is home in Toledo, while working at various Chinese restaurants before opening the Hing Mee Restaurant with his sister Mee. The restaurant ran for 11 years before Hank closed the business to work with his Uncle Kim and Aunt Garling Wong at Kim’s Gardens of Novi, Michigan. Hank retired at the age of 65 and spent his remaining years dividing his time between Toledo and Akron with his family. He was an active member of the Asian Senior center of Toledo and spent his free time gardening, observing nature and daytripping. – from obituary. 

2-2-1979

Rusty’s Jazz Cafe, 2202 Tedrow Dr.

Rusty’s Jazz Cafe, 2202 Tedrow Drive (designated Jazz Avenue in 1997). Margaret “Rusty” Monroe opened Rusty’s in 1963 at 3310 Secord Road, then relocated the club to 2202 Tedrow Drive in 1979. Rusty’s Jazz Cafe was sold in 2001. Rusty passed away in 2008.

“Jazz places flourished in Toledo and at hotels including the Park Lane Hotel, the Secor Hotel, the Hillcrest Hotel, and the Commodore Perry Hotel. But it is Rusty’s Jazz Cafe, Murphy’s Place, Ragtime Rick’s, the Waiters and Bellman’s Club, and the Aku-Aku Club that are the notable places — now all gone.” – Barbara Hendel, The Blade, February 28, 2021

Rusty’s

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Black Panther Carry-Out, 1215 Dorr St.

Operated by James Mitchell (former pro wrestler). Demolished. Mitchell’s most well known rivalry was with Gorgeous George. After retiring from the ring, Mitchell opened a store in the Toledo area called Black Panther Carryout. The walls of the store featured photos and memorabilia from Mitchell’s career, and locals would come in to talk wrestling in addition to shopping. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 87.

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Local Musician: Tom Scholz (Boston)

Born in Toledo, Scholz grew up on Edgehill Road in Ottawa Hills and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School. Before his musical career, Scholz received both a bachelor’s degree (1969) and a master’s degree (1970) in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked for Polaroid Corporation as a senior product design engineer. Scholz had a keen interest in music and began recording demos in his home studio while working at Polaroid. He spent six years unsuccessfully submitting demos to record companies. Eventually the demos attracted the interest of Epic Records, who signed Scholz and singer Brad Delp to a recording contract. Most of the guitar, bass, and keyboards on Boston’s debut album were performed by Scholz in his home studio. Boston’s first album is filled with hits, including, More Than A Feeling. The track took almost five years to complete. Scholz noted the song was about a “fantasy event. But it’s one that almost everybody can identify with, of somebody losing somebody that was important to them, and music taking them back there.” Crafted in Scholz’s basement, the song was the bands first single and immediately went gold after it’s release. Scholz also started his own line of guitar effects under the name “Rockman.” Among the many Rockman effects available, one could reproduce the unique “Boston” guitar sound.

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Boogie Records, 2629 W. Central Ave.

Located in the Westgate Village Shopping Center. Created, owned and/or operated by Pat O’Connor, Jim Rodbard, Don Rose, Debbie Marinik, Steve Essick over the years. After closing Boogie Records Pat O’Connor opened Culture Clash, a record store located at 4020 Secor Road, in 2004. Demolished with Westgate Mall. Site Status: The Fresh Market.

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Ray’s Barber Shop, 6212 W. Central Ave.

“The small building off Central Avenue formerly known as Ray’s Barber Shop. (6212 W. Central Avenue) down on the ”Old Central Avenue” which was renamed to Mortemore Drive was used by Ralph VanGlahn, when he was the Justice of Peace of Sylvania Township. and is where he used to hold his “Justice of the Peace court.” He rented the small building from Lloyd Dewey from 1953 until 1956. On 5-2-1956 Raymond Hassen purchased the building and soon after started operating his barber shop here. Mr. Hasson operated his barber shop here until 2012 and sold the building to Stephen D. Taylor Family Properties on 5-2-2012. The small building still survives in 2013.” – from Gayleen Gindy’s amazing work, From Footpaths to Expressways and Beyond, Vol 4.

Ray’s Barber Shop was demolished between 2013 and 2015. The new Taylor Hyundai opened on this spot in July 2015.

 
 

Driftwood Lounge, 3535 Holland-Sylvania Rd.

Formerly the Frontier Bar. Before that it was Houser’s Animal Hospital. Before that it was the Melody Inn (built in 1917). Melody Inn relocated to 6118 W. Central Avenue around 1946. After the Driftwood Lounge closed the location has been various businesses, and a large metal barn was built directly behind the former bar.

1989

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Melody Inn, 6118 W. Central Ave.

The Melody Inn was located on the northeast corner of Central at Piero. Opened in the late ’40s. Closed December 1973. Structure was destroyed by fire March 1974. This was the second location of the Melody Inn. The first location was at 3535 Holland-Sylvania (NW corner of Holland-Sylvania and Blossman) in a building constructed in 1917 that would later become the Frontier Bar and Driftwood Lounge. Charles Scott was part owner of the Melody Inn from 1954 to 1965. In 1974 the Melody Inn was owned by William Pompili, alleged associate with organized crime figures from Detroit in the ’70s.

1-9-1969 Ad
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