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OK Barber Shop on the right side of this photo. Photo from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens Note from Nick Demetrion.: The OK Barbershop was located at 1045 Central Avenue and was owned by Tony Phillips (aka Trappas). He and his brother George had a two man operation for many years. Tony died in 1945, George began working at the barber shop behind Ogelsby Barnitz Bank, and Greathouse took over the location, expanding his clothing store. |
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The Elite Ice Cream and Candy Company was
owned and operated by the brothers Revelos: James, John, Nick and Charles
as pictured here. One of several Elite stores. Another of the Elite locations. Advertisement for Elite Confectionery, c. 1913 George N. Revelos, son of Nick, holds sign from demolished Revelos Building on Central Av. marking the end of an era. 9/25/10. Mdtn. Journal Story. Read a brief History of "The Elite" written by Michael N. Revelos. . |
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WE DELIVER... Business man on wheels, Stratton Papakirk starts his first business after immigrating to Middletown. c.1960. Several Greeks, including Tom Demetrion, sold ice cream bars (usually part time) from similar cycle carts in the 1930's and 1940's - many of those were owned by Elite Ice Cream Co. and the Ohio Ice Cream Co. |
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At Verity Parkway (previously Miami &
Erie Canal) looking west along 3rd street (later Central Av) -
picture dated 1920. Castell Bldg on southeast corner with Revelos Elite Confectionary on corner. c.1940 Across Central is the Gordon Theatre on corner with the City hotel on the west side of the theatre. Another view of the Gordon theater, built in 1912 along side the Miami & Erie Canal. Across Central was the Castell Bldg. and behind it, the towered building was the old Sebald Brewery. Photo from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens |
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The
Fraternal Order of Eagles, Middletown Aerie No. 258, erected this
building c.1911. Its club rooms were on the upper levels of the
building, while storerooms were on the lower level. The right-hand
storeroom was a 200-seat movie theatre that opened in 1912 as the Eagle
Theatre. It became the Majestic in 1917 and the State in 1940. It closed
November 30, 1948. The State Theater was operated by George
Turlukis.
Many of its offerings were "cowboy movies" featuring Roy
Rogers, Gene Autry, & John Wayne. Description and Photo from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens |
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The Family Theatre was located in the Bundy Building adjacent to the "Big 4" railroad tracks. The apartments above the theatre were considered to be a very nice place to live. When a train went by, the seats vibrated and the train whistle competed with the movie's sound track. Many years later the building was razed for urban renewal. Pete Turlukis is standing in front of the 'Box Office" where tickets were sold. He worked for his dad, George, who operated this theatre as well as the State Theater.. John Demetrion was also associated with the Family Theater and many Greek youngsters, including George N. Revelos and Jim J. Demetrion worked there during school years. |
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The "Talkies" debut in
1929.at the Sorg Opera House on Main Street in Middletown.
Read the Middletown Journal story about the first theater manager, Gust Chifos, to offer the "talkies." Photo from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens |
Research and transcription of article by Marian
Bugitzedes. |
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The Strand Theater
was built in 1929 by a
corporation of Greeks including Theodore and Gust Chifos, Steve Chakeris
and John Demetrion. The theater has been scheduled for demolition
in 2010. Many theaters, most of which were demolished
decades ago, are remembered in this Journal
article by Roger Miller on Oct. 15,2008. Photo from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens. |
Clipping from Jim J. Demetrion Dec. 2009 |
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The Dixie Lunch at 901 South Main St. was owned by Christ
Pallas from 1935 to 1951. From L to R: unknown,
Sam Pallas, Christ Pallas, Helen Pallas. Note: this photo is also displayed in the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. GC |
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Broadway Market Anna Garofalos operated a grocery store on the corner of Broad St. & Columbia Av. (previously owned by the Louis Poulos family) in the 1950's. Prior to that, she owned & operated Anthony's Tavern on Central Av. west of Main St., following the death of her husband. Thr grocery was later owned & operated by the Eliopoulos brothers, Art & Jim, for several years. L-R: Mrs. Creona, neighbors, Anna Garofalos |
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George's Grocery was on Central Av. across from the Strand
(Studio) Theater. As downtown business slowed down in the 1960's, George's store became a "cracker barrel" destination for Greek men, mostly retired (there was no kafenio by then) and George Bugitzedes was a good host. He and his visitors might spontaneously break out into a Greek folk dance (George leads here) and share in a little of the brandy George made in the basement in small quantities for his friends. Many would leave with some feta and olives from his imported barrels, or a jar of hot banana peppers he canned himself. His was truly a friendly and unique store in downtown Middletown. Photo by Middletown Journal on Sunday, July 28th, 2002 |
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The Barber Shop of Gus Demetriou
on Clinton Street in Middletown on March 22, 1945
He was proud of the lemon tree he grew there. |
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Gus Christy operated a unique store on Central Av. a few
doors east of the Strand Theater (Marquis is visible in background
beyond Joffe Furniture). This is the only picture available - taken to
show son George tipping the scale. Read more detail. Gus bought property in 1945 at the corner of Burbank & Brentwood which included these 3 buildings. He operated a Grocery in the building on the right until the 1960's |
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Central
Avenue, West from Broad, South Side, c.1938 Fay's drug store was at 1024 Central. Other businesses were Redd & Waller Hardware at 1030, the Awanda Studio, operated by music teacher Robert M. Neely, at 1032 (upstairs), George Garofalos Restaurant at 1034, Klein's clothing at 1036, Rogers Jewelry Store at 1038, Parrot Restaurant operated by Vassilios P. Karras and Gus Mardas at 1042, and the K of P Hall with the G.C. Murphy Co. at 1046. (view is toward the east). The John Ross Store was on the opposite corner of Broad c.1938 when this photograph was taken. Photo and text from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens. Nick Garafalos notes: My dad's restaurant, Klein's and Rogers were all torn down the following year and a W.T.Grant variety store erected in their place. Dad opened another restaurant, Anthony's Tavern, further west on Central Ave. |
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Ohio
looking north  toward
Central Avenue c. 1940
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Vradelis Brothers store on
So. Broad Street (looking North toward Central) c. 1940 called the Radio
Shop. It was in the first fully pictured building on the right - the
Vess Cola sign painted on the side shows Vradelis Brothers below.
Jim and Pete later operated a bigger store, adding furniture sales,
across the street on South Broad St.
James Vradelis and Stavros (aka
Steve) Vradelis owned several Middletown businesses including a
vulcanizing shop. Stavros then moved
to Dayton and bought the Salem Theater which he operated until his
retirement. Years later some news
articles about the theater were discovered . |
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July 14, 1921 Thursday
Middletown, Ohio NEW TAILOR SHOP FOR THIRD STREET Ed Konig, manager of the Famous Tailors, has purchased the tailoring shop of James Vradelis, 403 East Third street(Central Av), and will open a first class merchant tailoring, dry cleaning and pressing establishment there soon. Mr. Konig came to Middletown several years ago from Newport, Ky., and has established himself here firmly in the minds of the Middletown buyers. He is known as an excellent cutter and a merchant of unusually good taste as to the needs of his customers. |
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Alice and Bill Netsos bought
the Garrett Tobacco Co. upon Garrett's retirement and ran it for years.
They had a Grocery Store in the Avalon area for many years, then
retired. After a restless retirement they bought the wholesale tobacco
business, supplying tobacco products and candy bars to local businesses,
such as Gus Christy's grocery store. This is a picture of the building on Wilbraham Road where the Netsos Grocery was located prior to its later conversion to a residence. |
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Politz Confectionary |
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Nicky Nick stands in front of the family store, the Ohio Grocery, located at 323 Clark Street and Flemming Rd. c 1941. His mother, Mary, was a classically trained pianist in Greece who studied at the Cincinnati College of Music briefly but then worked alongside her husband, Louis Nick, in his grocery. |
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The Dukas Grocery store was located at 1635 Baltimore St. and operated by Steve and Esther Dukas. The building contained living quarters as well. After Steve died, Esther moved to California and opened the store pictured here in Culver City, which likewise contained living quarters in the building. Her daughter, Varta, lived nearby. |
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The East End Restaurant was located at the corner of
Crawford St. & Woodlawn Avenue. It was owned and operated by Pete Kavouras from 1924 to 1947. It later changed names and owners several times as in this recent photo.
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By George Christy Oct 2012 |
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The Liberty Restaurant was located on Central Av near Canal St. It was owned and operated by Gus Valen from 1926 to 1951 and
operation was continued by Otis Tekakis and John Pantel when Gus became
ill. Still in the family, it is now up for sale in 2012. This photo was taken during a party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Liberty Restaurant. Gus Valen gives a balloon to his niece, Irene Pantel. The Liberty Restaurant was for years the unofficial meeting place of
Middletown's powerful people and many future decisions were formulated
in the Round Table Room. Reporter Chad Pergram mentioned
it in this partially reproduced
article on John Boehner. |
By George Christy Oct 2012 |
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The Schomer
Building
was constructed in the late 1930's by Louis Schomer on the
southeast corner of Central and Clinton. On the upper floor of the
building were offices, where Schomer had a real estate office and
two dentists C.T. Barthotomal and Waldo P. Ligett and one optometrist
C.C.Marlett were located. The Paradise
Grill
at 1300
Central
was operated by Peter
Laras.
At 1302 with P.C.James as manager, was the Capitol Loan and Savings Co.,
Leo's Stores Inc., sold auto accessories at 1306. Harrison Vail was the
manager. The building in back on Clinton
contained the Clara E. Farenholtz Beauty Shop and Thomas
J.
Cotzagianis'
restaurant.
This is a c.
1939
photograph. Photo and text from the George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens. COMMENT: We knew that Laras had an eatery either next door to the Revelos brothers (when they were at the Castell Drugs location) or one or two doors west of the Revelos brothers. (East of the Revelos brothers was the canal.) There was a gap for Laras after that location. Crout's picture and information filled that gap. Nick Kitson/Kitsos probably purchased the Paradise from Laras and changed the name to Chrystal Restaurant. After Kitsos died, the restaurant was sold to George Dimitroula in 1943 and the name was changed to Anchor Bar. per N.Demetrion and his Research on Restaurants (Index/Maps) Cotzagianis, aka Thos
Athanasi from Derekoy, Asia Minor (Turkey,) who owned the
kaffeneo (most of the time) at 13 S. Clinton is listed as Thos. Cotzagianis,
and the address was later changed to
11 1/2 S. Clinton. Nick Demetrion
notes. (see Restaurant Rearch) |
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The Eliopoulos Beauty and Barber shops were located at 412 Crawford St. in the 1930's & 1940's. The house on the left is where the family lived and also where Effie Eliopoulos operated a beauty parlor in one room with the help of her 4 daughters. Nick Eliopoulos operated a barber shop in the building on the right. Both buildings are vacant today. |
By George Christy Oct 2012 |
