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.
Ray’s Barber Shop, 6212 W. Central Ave.
Ray’s Barber Shop (formerly Central Avenue School) was owned and operated by Raymond Hassen. Mr. Hasson operated his shop at this location until his retirment. He sold the property in 2012 to Stephen D. Taylor Family Properties. The building was razed c2012. The former barber shop property is now part of the Taylor Hyundai parking lot.
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.
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.
Howard’s Hardware
6141 W. Central Ave.
Currently Yark Suburu. Former site of Robinson Hardware, owned by Elmer L. Robinson. Howard’s Hardware was opened by Howard Ziegler in 1951. The building on Central was demolished in the early ’80s. The Howard’s Hardware business was relocated to 3121 Marsrow Avenue.
Sylvan Motel, 6155 W. Central Ave.
Was located on the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Moffat Rd. Later named Northern Keys Motel (1956). Demolished late ’70s/early ’80s. Site status: Brown Honda.
“Beautiful Sylvan Motel, 11 ultra-modern units. Soundproof, fireproof, private showers, central heat. Permastone buildings. AAA approved Motel. Excellent new restaurant adjacent, serving fine foods. Phone LU 2-3296. Three miles west of Toledo, Ohio, on Route U.S. 20 and Ohio 120.”
Oak’en Bucket, 2841 N. Reynolds Rd.
Formerly the Country Inn. Opened December, 1970. Closed September 30, 2006. Demolished.
“I treated everybody like Frank Sinatra when they came in that joint, said manager Elaine Nicolaidis, sister of owner Gus Nicolaidis.” – from Oaken Bucket gone after 36 year tenure, Toledo Blade, October 11, 2006
“Xanadu,” or Gibbs Bridge
“Xanadu,” or Gibbs Bridge (over Tenmile Creek) on Gibbs Road just north of Sylvania-Metamora.”The victims of a nasty car accident haunt this bridge. Aside from the noises of their final moments (squealing tires, breaking glass), laughter is heard here at night, and dark figures will sometimes pursue people who walk across. Gibbs Bridge is also home to another legend. This one claims that a man was decapitated by two of his classmates, they drug a fishing line across the middle of the bridge during the 1970’s and waited for him to cross on his motorcycle. When he did, he was decapitated. Somehow this story became known as Xanadu and many people claim that by flashing your headlights three times, you’ll hear the sounds of a motorcycle quickly followed by a man screaming.”
Imperial Lanes, 5505 W. Central Ave.
Imperial Lanes 5505 W. Central (1963-2009 demolished) Corner of Reynolds and Central. Owned by Bob Rehkopf and later by Darrel Ducat. Imperial Lanes was designed by Cleveland architects Jack Alan Bialosky Associates. The Crown Room, a circular restaurant with floor to ceiling windows, was attached at the north end of Imperial Lanes.
Centre Supermarket, 5928 W. Central Ave.
Centre Supermarket was started by brothers Fred, George and Raymond Saba in 1951 at Stickney Avenue and Manhattan Boulevard. They had previously worked at their father’s grocery store Saba’s Market on Cherry Street. At its peak, the chain had eight supermarkets in the Toledo area, including one in Bowling Green. Centre Supermarkets closed in 1989.
“We were among the first stores in the area to have a full line of services. We always were good with produce, from working in our father’s store, but we learned as we went along. Our stores were among the first to have in-store deli’s and bakeries.” -Fred Saba
This location (next to Kmart) was a Kmart Food before it became Centre. After Centre it was a Food Town.