Beef Corral was dreamed up by brothers Dick and Ed Modzelewski. This was not their first restaurant venture, but it was unique in that it was quick serve beef with a "western flavor".¹ The A-frame buildings that still stand proudly in your mind were designed by Chesterland, Ohio's Samuel M. Mills in 1967.² The Modzelewski brothers had become "real ranchers" and raised their own beef.
Shoregate's announcement came in November of 1953. Planned and financed by Willowick Estates, a group of all Clevelanders, layouts included four separate buildings in a semi-circle fronting towards Lakeshore blvd. A total of 1,200 feet of frontage for retail would be available. These smaller units offered spaces ranging from 40 to 200 feet wide.
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| Original Weinberg & Teare rendering November 1953 |
Check out Shoregate Was A Golf Course! Part 1.
What do you do with 125 acre golf course with a clubhouse, garage, tennis courts, and more when the rich decide to move? You make it a public golf course!
March 1929:
The Willowick golf course, along with another called Ridgewood, were made public by the Ridgewood Willowick company, headed up by father and son duo G.T. Whitmore St, and G.T. Whitmore Jr. The course would call Bill Livie it's general manager.
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| Cleveland Plain Dealer |
You post an old picture or story or anything relating to Shoregate Town Center and there's always someone in there telling you, "Shoregate was a golf course," or, "I remember when Shoregate was a golf course," or perhaps, "Shoregate used to be a golf course when I was a kid!".
My point is, I think Shoregate used to be a golf course. Really though, it was more than just a few holes in the ground where old men slowly followed rolling balls. Let's go there now.