You can tell that this community mall for "a city within a city" was once in full swing about 30-40 years ago. When the Jewish and white population left, it looks like the finances, cares and concerns left with them. The interior design and space appears to look exactly the way it was when they left, too.
Rochdale residents and surrounding neighbors patronize the independent businesses, but no one remembers the stores by their name. They're known as "the discount store" or "the sneaker store." You can find great deals, but they lack individual personality. There is a West Indian bakery and a Chinese restaurant, but it feels like "take-out," not "eat here and join us." Shop signage for most part is dull.
The L-shaped layout also have a couple of public displays that were removed. You'll see a couple of empty pits with a railing surrounding it. You'll also see a structure which resembles a life-sized birdcage. It sits in a large opened area, which is wasted space. If this is art, no one pays attention to it.
Nevertheless, it's a place to pick up last minute items. Key Food is also one of the main attractions. It also remains to be a meeting place for Rochdale's senior population.
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8 comments:
This looks like a great opportunity to do something that will benefit the entire community.
This is the guy that e-mailed you about moving to Jamaica. Kudos on the site, I always enjoy the updates.
Hey I remember this mall when it opened in the mid 1960's - and it looks far better now! Up through the late seventies it didn't even have all the stores in it - just empty store fronts. Sadly, it never was "in full swing" - it was just someplace to go because you didn't have a choice.
My family were among the original white/Jewish residents of Rochdale; we moved away about 36 years ago. The mall looks immaculate on the inside; it's nice to see. It lacks the pizzazz of the malls we know nowadays, but 40 years ago it was a wonderland. The outside exit (that must be the back of the mall that looks out onto Baisley Blvd) looks depressing yet, again, neat and clean. There used to be a post office and movie theater on either side of that entrance.
Thanks for posting those photos; it was a trip down memory lane for me.
I was born & raised in Rochdale. Growing up there was a great place to live, until the 1980's hit. When the crack era hit Rochdale, the community as a whole declined. lack of adaquate security left alot of un secured areas. Crime had risen and left alot of families torn. What you see now is a result of that time, which has left the Rochdale Village a shell of what it once was. As a young black male, I was fortunate enough to go to college & see different things. Allowing me to make the decision of never raise my own children there. I pray for the many young misguided youth still living there. Many have become what seems like to be institutionalized & glorify Rochdale as being some sort of project only to be called a coop.
I was born & raised in Rochdale. Growing up there was a great place to live, until the 1980's hit. When the crack era hit Rochdale, the community as a whole declined. lack of adaquate security left alot of un secured areas. Crime had risen and left alot of families torn. What you see now is a result of that time, which has left the Rochdale Village a shell of what it once was. As a young black male, I was fortunate enough to go to college & see different things. Allowing me to make the decision of never raise my own children there. I pray for the many young misguided youth still living there. Many have become what seems like to be institutionalized & glorify Rochdale as being some sort of project only to be called a coop.
I have only been in the area for about 3 years. It is a good place to pick up little necessities. The post office is horrible though. Slow and lacks a stamp machine. Hopefully, with just a little updating it can be even better. The community does need the services it provides.
I too was a young 13 yo jewish white boy when my family moved away. These pics actually seem to show the mall has improved. I think the name of that hardware store was Crest or something like it. There was the little pizzeria, named i think little pigs. Thanks for sharing the picture. I too, enjoyed the stroll down memory lane
I am also one of the white Jewish kids that moved away in 1971. I remember the mall quite vividly. King George Pizza, Kress, The Kosher Butcher, Co Op Supermarket, and there was a traveling petting zoo that came to the mall quite often. These photos have brought back many memories.
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