[tijlover]

Not sure if that is the name of that old 50's/60's commercial shopping center, between Paradise and Maryland Parkway, bordered by Karen.

I'm trying hard to push my limits with bike riding at night, between 2-4am, and last night I did Sahara from Mojave, which was a real test for my 65YO knees, as it's a gradual incline most of the way.

Haven't been in that shopping center, for years now, and what a sight for sore eyes! It seems like half the space is empty, some daytime Asian restaurants, Onyx Theatre, a couple of Gay bars, and a few evangelical storefront churches and a Mexican restaurant.

What a huge chunk of land, so close to the Strip, but who on earth designed this complex, in the first place, with way too much parking, and the distance between different sections of the shopping center?

It's going to be interesting to see what becomes of this place some day.

Anyone know of any plans for this neglected, overlooked shopping center?

[BBMW]

Just looked this over. What a horribly designed shopping center. It really need a good nuke and pave.

They should really chop it into two properties. The bigger of the two would be retail facing Sahara, and the smaller would be professional space facing Karen. Both would have the parking in front. People seem to have an aversion to stores where you can't see the parking and the front of the stores from the street.

Redoing this shopping center would likely have a major beneficial effect on the area.

[Buzz123]

You're thinking of Maryland Square. The one you're talking about is called Commercial Center. Back in the 60s, 70s, and part of the 80s, that was a very popular center. There were two large, very popular, stores in the part that is now dirt, and the parking on that side was mostly for them. As I recall, it was Von Toble's, an early local version of Lowes, and Vegas Village, an early version of a super Walmart. Times change, but that center is still going. In the old days it had two or three popular dress shops, a gym, a black and white store for dealers, a bunch of restaurants, Rainbow's End Vitamins before it moved to across the street, a place that made water beds, an ice rink, a fancy billiards parlor, my dentist, etc., etc.

There's always going to be a story behind things that were built before y'all got here.

The neighborhood has really gone down hill, so Commercial Center went with it. The old timers that still survive, both of us, will be disappointed when it's completely gone. Those apartments around there were pretty nice at one time too. Some fairly well known people lived in that neighborhood in those apartments before they became run down. My friend lived in one of them. He sold his business for 58 million a few years ago and semi-retired. Even Albertsons on Sahara and Maryland Pkwy gave up on the neighborhood.

[tijlover]

I'm guessing, back during those times, it was the first shopping center for the Huntridge community, with some of those homes dating back to the 40's. And then along came the indoor Boulevard Mall further south on Maryland, where you could shop in air-conditioned comfort in the middle of summer.

Unfortunately, the developer didn't make this an indoor mall back then!

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by tijlover

I'm guessing, back during those times, it was the first shopping center for the Huntridge community, with some of those homes dating back to the 40's. And then along came the indoor Boulevard Mall further south on Maryland, where you could shop in air-conditioned comfort in the middle of summer.

Unfortunately, the developer didn't make this an indoor mall back then!

Well, neither is Town Center, nor the Premium Outlets downtown. The first indoor mall was actually Charleston Plaza Mall, where the old Fox Theater was. At least it was partly indoors. The Boulevard Mall ruined downtown, just like malls everywhere have done in other communities. Now people want those beautiful old downtowns back.

[mojavedxer]

That whole area has gone to hell. I use to run a music store in Maryland Square back in the 80's and it was seedy but still safe. Now the unit is vacant. Just last week I witnessed somebody that was getting their ass beat in the parking lot of 7/11 while waiting for the light to change.

[tijlover]

I have an idea for that failed complex: An outdoor Flea Market! Lots of space and parking there!

[Buzz123]

Las Vegan Mark Curry put this together.

Commercial Center


Ok, so I thought it would be a good idea to document in one place the shops and stores that used to be in the Commercial Center on East Sahara. Here's what I remember: So, let's see, right off the top was The International Ice Palace which later in life turned into Playland Skating Rink and then a church of some type. Upstairs in The Ice Palace was a Chinese restaurant called Lamm's. It was also a cocktail lounge for a while too. Next door to that in the dirt lot was The Super Slide. I remember some of the individual business' but have a lot of gaps.


Down the West side of the mall I remember a school named Learning Foundations, there was a radio station up on the second floor of that section, I'm thinking it was KLAV. Also, a church named Christian Life Community Church. There was also a slot car track and Jeannie Moore's Arcade in that section. Also, Dana McKay Business College and Benson's Optometry. Then the West entrance off of State Street. On the corner of that entrance was Buddy's Health Food & Juice Bar, which later became Rainbow's End. There was Bob's Hobby Shop, he was one of the few places in town that sold model rockets, I bought a lot of them there. There was a pet shop next to him named Richland's Pet Shop & Doggie Circus. They sold Metaframe and Pemco aquariums and were known for their poodle grooming. At the end of the West side of the center was a restaurant called The Spaghetti Factory. I used to ride my bike there and get a spaghetti and meat ball dinner, for a dollar! It later became Macchiaverna's Restaurant and then in later years became the restaurant/nightclub State Street, owned by Gianni Russo. Right next door to the South I believe was Schulman's Meats.


Now, moving to the north side, the first business in the corner was Golden Venus, a fitness center for women only. It was always fun to watch the "older women" dressed in their leotards and tights go in there! Next to that was Pat's Chinese Kitchen. Pat's was probably the number one place in town responsible for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor!" They wouldn't card anyone, and served great Polynesian drinks such as Scorpions, Mai Tai's, Hurricanes, Zombies, Confucius Nightcaps, etc. All to go in styrofoam cups with lids and straws! Wow! The memories of pulling up in the car, drunk, someone pouring out the door and going into Pat's and coming back in a few minutes with another round! Then back to driving around again. I can remember getting pulled over by the cops, everyone with a drink and wasted and the cops would have us pour them out and "get on home". That world does not turn anymore. Pat ended up getting busted for child pornography and I really don't remember what happened to him after that. There is a new Pat's now on MLK and Vegas Drive I believe, in an old gas station. Not sure if they have a liquor license though. Next to Pat's was The Cue Club. I didn't hang there, but my sister did. Somewhere in that stretch on the North side was Sanchez Photo Studio where we would get our school pictures taken in high school. There was Fat Moe's Bar, George Eifferman's Gym and then next door to that was First Western Savings. At the end of the North side was a drug store, a White Cross, but in the back was Jackie's Deli. It was owned by the Fields family. They had great Kosher sandwiches and the best Kosher pickles I ever ate. There were a couple real cool shops called Toys for Men and The Earth Shoe Store. I believe they were also in the North wing, next to the White Cross. There was also a place there called Serge's Wigs where all the showgirls would go (after they left Golden Venus)


Then there was the North entrance onto Sahara and on the East side was a restaurant called The Wharf. It was originally owned by The Dickenson's and then by a guy named Jim Talbott who also owned Jay's Furniture store. Before it was The Wharf, it was Brathendle Original Soup Kettle. They had great chicken soup, but it didn't last long. There was actually a "street" side and a "mall" side to the buildings that ran down the front of the Commercial Center. The Wharf straddled the street and mall or inside. Next to that on the mall side was Sun Stereo. They had these signs mounted on the wall outside that read "Since 1969". I admit to taking one off the wall one night after a few too many Scorpions at Pat's! I still have the sign. I bought my first pair of JBL speakers there, still have them too! I'm thinking that before it was Sun Stereo, it was Tech Stereo, maybe it was after. Next door to Sun was a jewelry store, John Fish Jewelers, they are still there last I knew. Next to that is Tiffany Cleaners. Then there were a few more shops on the street side behind them, Vitorio's, an Italian restaurant East of The Wharf and next to that was Dana McKay's Book Store. Then, on the street side there was The Camera Center which I believe later changed into Roxy's PX Camera Shop. On the mall side there was Jack Slote's Women's Apparel, and The Sound Emporium and then in the Northeast corner on both sides was Garhime's Music store. I bought a lot of LP's there. On the Sahara side of the center, behind Garhime's was Aaron Brothers Art Mart. Somewhere in this area of the center was a restaurant/nightclub called Chasen's, one of those places that served phoney Champagne at extremely high prices! That was the first "sex place" in that corner of the center, now there's a bunch of them.


Down the East side, I don't remember much, there was Wild West Stereo and a home appliance store I believe called Ardan's. There was also Sound Electronics Services in there, which was a stereo-electronics repair facility. Also was a location of Import Audio, which did a lot of automotive stereo installations. There was a traffic school in that stretch which I attended once. The building it was in was called the S.T.& P. Building. In the S.T. & P. building was a business called Vita Plus Industries. Then there was Vegas Village all on its own on the South side, right next to Von Tobel's lumber. Von Tobel's fronted Maryland Parkway and is where the current Las Vegas Athletic Club is. Vegas Village was right behind that and fronted Karen Ave. In later years, the Vegas Village building was a farmer's market for a short time, and then was purchased by The Jackson family. I remember a sign on the building for years that said, Jackson Square and there was a gold star, but the building never opened. On the corner of Vegas Village was Tick Tock Cleaners. On the other side of Vegas Village was The Town Pump Liquor store. I bought my first bottle of booze there when I was 18. It was a bottle of Lemon Hart 151 proof rum! North of Von Tobel's was Cattlemans' Steak House, which was formerly Bumbleberry Pies and in front of that, fronting onto Maryland Parkway was R & B Furniture Store. In later years, there was an H. Salt Fish & Chips in there, closer to the corner of Sahara next the Terrible Herbst.


Next to the Town Pump on the South side was a head shop called Sir Williams along with a few other shops. On the back side, facing Karen I remember Carmine's Villa Pizza, before they moved up on Maryland Parkway. There was also a Standard/Chevron gas station there as well. I have been told by several people that Suzy Creamcheese Boutique was also in there on the South side, but I don't remember that and have never confirmed it. Notice I have not mentioned any of the stores in the middle because originally they were not there, it was just a unpaved dirt area in the middle, the stores came later. I did see the great Commercial Center Fire (both times) take down the center buildings. There was a deli in there, I think it was called The Commercial Deli. Also, I remember a seafood place called The San Francisco Bay and a steakhouse called The Mine Shaft. I also remember a Mexican seafood place called La Barca that had great fish tacos, and many jewelry stores, including Bernard Minden Jewelers and Williams Jewelers. There was also a steakhouse and sandwich place called The London Broil, I believe that is where one of the fires started. Also in the middle section was The Lobster Trap. Anyway, please fill in the gaps and add your own memories!


Additions: I'm not sure where the following places were located in the center, but I'm adding them based upon other's suggestions. They Call it Macaroni, a women's clothing store. ABC Beauty School, The Nevada Mining Company, also a clothing store. Also, Bricktop & Boris, Tops 'N Bottoms, Pass The Word, Casino Clothiers, Carnaby Street, all clothing boutiques.

[clutchcargo777]

Wow... I remember most of those places.