Who can identify this Walnut Creek shopping center? It’s pretty cool to see all the old stores, lots of memories in one picture!
Click on the photo for a much larger view.
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26 comments
WC parking was easy in those days. Stores were great, too! Capwell’s, Magnins, Hastings, Smiths, Sloans, JC Penney, Sears (they were good, then), See’s (of course) Young people don’t know what they’ve missed. Also, Walnut Creek wasn’t so stuck up, as it is today!
PC, I agree, I came as it was transitioning, but remember being able to park in the plaza horseshoe
This is the original entrance to the Broadway Plaza back when Walnut Creek was a nice community to live in. Olympic Blvd dead end into this “U” shape parking lot. To the left of Lucky’s where you see the second oak tree above the roof line, is where Bullocks Department Store was built (now Nordstoms). Also the second sign below the same oak tree was the J.C. Penny’s Catalog Store. You would go in there and order items through their catalog and either have the items delivered to your home or pick up from that store. This parking lot was notorious for flooding every heavy rain, and would be lake for days.
Check out all those station wagons. Not too many SUVs back then.
Because SUVs were the replacement of station wagons.
I think that statue is where the Apple Store is now located, South Main St. at the edge of Broadway Plaza.
That tells me how long it has been since I’ve been down there! I still thought that was California Pizza Kitchen. 🙂
Broadway Plaza in the 60’s.
See’s Candy, Stinette’s Bakery, Grodins, Capwells,
Nice little ’56 Chevy there on the left.
Pied Piper Candy and Music Town!
Broadway Shopping Center, Circa 1957. The picture was taken from the sidewalk in front of what’s now the Apple Store. The tower in the background was in front of the Lucky supermarket. Other tenants included JCPenney hidden on the left, Sears hidden on the right, FW Woolworth, Contra Costa Stationers, Rexall Drugs, Roos Atkins and Smith’s men’s clothing stores, Birdies Toy Store, Capwell’s Department Store, and many others, including a busy barber shop.
The barber shop was inside Grodin’s Clothing and was called “Ye Clip Joint”. The Barber was Mel Smith, a great guy. The parking was great also……
On Locust Street Goodie’s Speed Shop used to have the “Hairy Canary” Drag Car on display. A couple of door’s up was “The Kat Patch”. We were just kids, but we knew there was something going on in there.
Uh, Broadway Plaza. Birdie’s Toy Store!!!!
no homeless
Broadway Plaza, of course. And after our Capwell’s fun, on to Compton’s for a 1/2 tuna salad on ww sandwich and a salad with bleu cheese, please.
Compton’s was the absolute best! For me it was always baked mac and cheese with jello cubes for dessert.
Yum!!
Safeway on the north end of Broadway; long before WC became a hoity toity mess. I remember seeing Santa there as a little kid, in the 60s.
When the Broadway Center opened the famous actor Harpo Marx was there for the grand opening. He dedicated the center with the famous words: ” “.
It looks like it’s from the early 60’s. There’s a ’60 Buick station wagon parked next to the ’56 Chevy on the left, and a blue ’60 Chevy station wagon on the right. The white Ford in the middle is a ’58..
What the hell has happened to Walnut Creek. It’s like a Snow Ball headed for Hell. Concord too.
Decades of poor planning, and band-aid fixes without understanding long term consequences. As such, Walnut Creek is no longer a community, it’s a destination.
Younger people don’t mind the crowds and impossible parking, as that’s all they know. Only those of us that remember how much nicer it used to be look at the changes as decline.
Further, the people are much less courteous.
Broadway Plaza – as I remember it early 1960’s. Good ole’ Woolworths. (I stole that place blind as a kid…)
Anissa Jones made an appearance at the Lucky’s in the background. She was child actress on that TV show – Family Affair. Remember Buffy & Jody?
Too sad. I would love to have those stores now. They are now closing Mels Diner. The real estate rent is too expensive.
Don’t forget Bette’s, Senior Junior Boot shop, and of course the Hof Brau.
right on the corner across from what is now Nordstroms
All the girls at my school got Keds and cute little white gogo boots, but I had to wear hideous brown and tan saddle oxfords from Kushins Shoes.😭😭😭 Of course mom was right when she said my feet would thank her someday.
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