Shopping Center Parking Lots in the 1950s and 1960s: Vintage Photos

Text by Patrick Bell.

Shopping can be fun … when you stay in the parking lot and look at the cars.  That is just what we are doing today, as we look at some vintage shopping center parking lots from the Mid-Century, when cars had lots of eyecandy to check out; from glitzy chrome accents, to fins and neat color combinations.  There is a lot to see, so let’s get started.

Our tour begins at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Tacoma, Washington, likely not long after its 1958 opening.  The newest cars I see are three 1957 models; a ivory over bronze Chevrolet Two-Ten wagon towards the end of the right hand row, with a blue over white Ford Custom 300 Fordor at the end.  And under the “Lilly” sign was a white over blue “Forward Look” DeSoto Firesweep 4 door sedan.  On the left was a tan 1950 Dodge 4 door sedan, with a matching color 1950 Plymouth 4 door sedan on the right side.  On the other side of the Plymouth was a black sedan delivery that looked like a 1949-1952 Pontiac.  At the beginning of the right row was a black 1954 Ford Crestline Fordor, followed by a two tone 1953 Chevrolet One-Fifty Handyman wagon.

Here is a store I am unfamiliar with, and an unknown location as well.  The newest and oldest cars bookended this row with a white 1961 Ford Galaxie Club Victoria in the left lower corner and a white 1953 Chevrolet One-Fifty 2 door sedan on the right end.  Two Ramblers are next; a red 1954 or 1955 Custom Cross Country wagon on the left with a white 1958-1960 American Deluxe Club Sedan to the right.  Two others of interest were the white 1956 Chrysler 300B, one of 1,102 built that year, and the fabric top likely of a Willys Jeep CJ3 or CJ5.

There is no location information on this image but a couple of the stores do look familiar.  A 1961 full size Ford in the left lower corner takes the newest honors again, this time in basic black.  The right row begins with two 1953 4 door sedans; a green Chevrolet Bel Air, and a two tone Dodge.  Next were two 1959 models; a Rambler Super 4 door sedan, and an Edsel Corsair convertible, one of 1,343 produced for the year.  Second from the end was a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, a companion to the 1956 Bel Air Sport Coupe on the left side.

The photo information on this one says “Tulsa, Oklahoma 1956”.  If correct it was the late part of the year, as a green over white 1957 Ford Country Sedan was in the center of the image.  Two more Fords were to the left; a 1951 or 1952 F-series on the edge, and a white 1955 Customline Fordor behind the light pole.  Next to it was a white 1953 Cadillac Series Sixty Special, and to the right of center were two Plymouth’s; a brown over tan 1954 Savoy 4 door sedan, and a 1952 Cranbrook Belvedere 2 door hardtop with its unique two tone treatment.

According to image notes this Co-Op store was located in Berkeley, California.  The newest car award goes to the blue over white 1958 Plymouth 4 door sedan on the right edge, to be shared with the partially blurred white 1958 Rambler Deluxe in front of it.  Seen between them was a white Renault Dauphine.  On the left side of the parking lot was a blue late 1950’s Hillman Minx Saloon and a grey 1948-1950 Packard sedan.  Passing by on the street was a white 1951-1953 Chevrolet Advance Design 3100 Panel, and a green 1947 or 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster Sport Sedan was heading the other way.  Parked was a coral 1956 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country wagon.

This was the Devon & Talcott Shopping Center in Park Ridge (Chicago), Illinois, with an image date of 1955.  The building has since been replaced by a newer Walgreens facility.  On the left was a three tone 1955 Dodge Coronet or Royal 4 door sedan, followed by two Fords; a 1946-1948 Tudor Sedan and a 1952 Country Sedan.  A black 1954 Oldsmobile was at the end.  The right side begins with two 1956 models; a Ford Fairlane Club Victoria and a Buick Special or Century 4 door Riviera hardtop.  And then two Oldsmobile Ninety-Eights; a black over blue 1951 Holiday Coupe and a white 1954 convertible parked facing the building.

We are now in Durham, North Carolina, at the Northgate Mall, probably not too long after its 1960 build.  The white 1960 Chevrolet Impala Sport Sedan in the lower left looks like it bumped into the 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta wagon and popped its upper tailgate open.  The turquoise car was a 1957 Lincoln 4 door hardtop, and there were two 1959 Ford Custom 300 Tudor sedans; a light blue just left of center and a white one parked near the building.

Here we are at a Food King, location unknown, on a quiet day.  The mid 1960’s likely was the time period, as we have two 1964 models in the parking lot.  From the left, the tail end of a 1964 Chrysler parked by the building, a tan over white 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan, a 1964 Mercury Comet hiding beside it, a white over blue 1957 DeSoto Firedome 4 door sedan, and a gold 1957 Oldsmobile Holiday Coupe against the building.

Now we are in the Buckeye state at a Buckeye Mart located in the town of Fostoria, Ohio.  The license plates were either 1963 or 1964, and I see three 1963 models on the lot.  In the row by the building, just to the right of the Westinghouse trailer was a white topped 1963 Chevrolet Chevy II wagon, and on the far right at the image edge was a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500.

In the third row from the bottom, just left of center was a white 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe, and four cars to the right was the oldest, a two tone 1953 Chevrolet Two-Ten.  In the bottom row from the left were two 1959 models; a Pontiac Catalina 4 door sedan and a Plymouth Suburban wagon.  Next were two Buick 4 door sedans; a 1962 Electra 225, and a 1955 Roadmaster.  And last were two 6 cylinder Chevrolets; a 1955 Two-Ten 2 door sedan, and a 1957 One-Fifty Handyman wagon.

This one was somewhere in the state of Arizona, as that is where Fry’s Food Stores were located.  There is not much to ID here due to the distance, so I will stick with the closest ones.  From the left a 1962 Rambler Classic wagon, 1965-1967 Dodge D100 Utiline pickup, two 1965 or 1966 Ford Mustangs, and a 1966 Buick Electra 225 4 door.

Our last stop is a Wegmans, in an unknown location.  The newest cars appear to be 1967 models, with a black Cadillac Calais or Hardtop Sedan de Ville in the left row close to the building, and a white Plymouth Fury III wagon at the far end of the center row.  Otherwise there was a nice 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Coupe in the center, plus several pairs; two 1964 and two 1966 full size Chevrolet’s, two full size 1965 Fords, and a 1962 and 1963 Ford Fairlane.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

Note: If you wish to see your vintage photos featured at Curbside Classic, send them to us at [email protected].

More Vintage Photos Here