29700 Lakeshore Blvd - Sears Roebuck and Co

Shoregate shopping center opened in 1955, but within a year, plans were made to add on to the young complex. From an article dated September 6, 1956:

Willowick Approves Rezoning Ordinance

Willowick Council last night passed a rezoning ordinance paving the way for a 28-acre expansion of the the Shoregate Shopping Center on Lake Shore Boulevard.

The center's westerly limit, now E. 305th Street, thus will be at E. 293rd Street.

With passage of the rezoning ordinance, Wm. Taylor Son & Co. is expected to go ahead with its plans to build a four million dollar store at the center. Several other concerns will probably build stores there also.

Council first listened to arguments for and against the expansion from Willowick Residents.

Mayor John Olsen said the ordinance would become law in 10 days unless he should veto it. He does not expect to do so, he added.

This addition extended Shoregate to the one that would be familiar to locals for years, and would also be the part razed and replaced with homes 50 years later. 29700 Lakeshore Blvd. was on the corner where Fairway blvd. cut through, and it opened as a Sears, Roebuck, and Co. 

29700 Lakeshore Blvd - Jote's

Sears, Roebuck, and Company had a run of over twenty years at 29700 Lakeshore Blvd. in the Shoregate shopping center. On December 1, 1982, the unit had a new tenant: Jote's Discount Store.

Easter 1976 Shoregate Merchant's Ad

 

Reel in Spring! Advertisers on this Easter 1976 Shoregate ad were Bill's clothes, Greenhut's Gifts, Floor to Wall Coverings, The Windsor Shops Inc., Alesci's, Tot's N Teens Footwear, Shoregate Beverage, Farohs Candies, Lakeshore Sporting Goods, Clown Town photo Studio, Alvin's Jewelers, Shoregate Optical, The Hobby Horse SHop, Eve Loren Wig Boutiques, and York Steak House.

 In addition to lots of sales, two (!) Easter Bunnys would be at Shoregate in Willowick giving out candy to the children. You and your kiddos could see the Easter Bunny at Abbott Cards, American Appliance, Andre Dubai, Beachland Cleaners, Best Products, Burrows, Jo Ann Fabric, Cunningham Drug, Dornback Coin & Stamp Co., Euclid National Bank, Faflik Shoes, Fanny Farmer, Fireplace Restaurant, Healthland, Hough Bakeries, HRP Auto Parts, Jack's Pizza, Klup Service Center, SS Kresge, Kurtz Furniture, Lake County National Bank, Laurel Camera, Lerner Shops, Medic Drug, Nobil Shoes, Ohio Savings, Red Robin, Richman Bros., Shoregate Cinema, Shoregate Bowling, Shoregate Shoe Repair, Shoregate Sewing Center, Spiegel's Catalogue, Thom McAn, Winkleman, and Woolworth's.

Shoregate Plans to Completion 1953, 1954, Grand Opening 1955

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. 

Original Weinberg & Teare rendering November 1953

Shoregate Was A Golf Course! Part 2

 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.

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Shoregate Was A Golf Course! Part I

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.