Indie Local History
A small building and business once located near the northeast corner of Central and Fairbanks, next door to Central Avenue Snip. Owned by Robert Roberts. Demolished. Formerly: Central Avenue Barber Shop. Country Lane Beauty Salon. My Love’s Beauty Salon.
The 5.5 million dollar 11-story Ramada Inn at 2340 S. Reynolds Road opened its doors on October 2, 1974, two years later than originally planned due to court battles brought on by the Holiday Inn across the street. It was built during a commercial development boom spawned by the opening of the Southwyck Shopping Center. The Ramada Inn offered 220 rooms in the only high rise in the South Toledo-Maumee area. In its best days it was a “vanguard of activity.”
In 1995 it became the Holiday Inn Toledo West. On September 8, 2006 it became the Clarion Inn. Each name change took it further and further away from the prestige it possessed in the ’70s and ’80s as the Ramada Inn, to me anyway. The hotel has stood empty since 2009 when previous owners Toledo Hotel Investment Group LLC defaulted on $2 million in loans. The hotel has since caught fire, been broken into, vandalized, and lived in illegally. An undignified end to a once grand hotel. Demolition of the building began in September 2014. I doubt many were sad to see the Clarion go. Perhaps even the Holiday Inn. But I suspect many were sad to see the Ramada Inn go.
Dr. Shock, host of Dr. Shock’s X-Ray Chiller Theatre on WUPW-TV Channel 36 in Toledo, OH. The show was put on by a local pair, Lance Otto Smith and Doug Agosti. The show ran from July 1989 to September 1992 until it was forced off the air and replaced by infomercials, which nobody watched. After being replaced by infomercials, Agosti and Lance Otto Smith partnered to form After Shock Productions. Dr. Shock’s X-ray Chiller Theater website is a must for fans. https://ghoulardi.tripod.com/shock.html
Opened November 1978. Sold in 1991 and soon after relocated to 4100 Monroe Street as Dave’s Drum Depot.
“Advertised as a place to move together, Renee’s, 1532 S. Byrne Rd., is just that. Originally a disco, the jocks at Renee’s now spin both rock and disco records. Renee’s spacious three-level dance floor, possibly the best In Toledo, is usually filled to the maximum on Thursday, which is college ID night. Renee’s also has two well-stocked bars. Renee’s does have a dress code (no tennis shoes or faded jeans). On college ID night beer is $1.75 a pitcher, but there is not much emphasis on drinking, because dancing is the main attraction. The décor is Impressive with thick, plush carpeting under low, lounge-type furniture surrounding the dance floor. There is also an elevated area isolated by lattice work away from the chaos of the main floor.” – BG News, November 29, 1979
Lineup:
Blue Öyster Cult
Eddie Money
Molly Hatchet
Outlaws
Roadmaster
Touch of Joy, 6048 W. Central Ave., at Marsrow Ave. Opened in 1980. Became Tiffany’s Gentle Touch in 1982 and owned by Joseph Garry. Garry co-owned the well known Jolly Trolly Restaurant in Toledo in the late 1970s. Tiffany’s Gentle Touch later became Tiffany’s Escort & Massage. Closed in February 2009. Demolished.
Seaport Automotive (Racing Engines) 2607 W. Central Avenue. Located on the southwest corner at Douglas Road. Owned by Dick Titsworth of Sylvania, Ohio.
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.
