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A Glimpse Into Coronado's Past-- The Crown Shops

Photo is from the Collection of the Coronado Historical Association Archives. Photographer: Unknown. Date: April 5, 1928. Description: A picture of where Crown Shops are now.

(The Crown Shops 2013)

Sifting through a variety of building and electrical permits at the Coronado Historical Association which Archivist, Sarah Dickey, found for me, I stumbled upon some terrific photos and information on some of the shops that once resided in the Coronado Crown Shops.

Clarence T. and Elwin T. Anderson appear to have been the owners of the property, leasing out different buildings to independent and chain store owners. With all the switching of hands throughout the years it was unique to see how some stores stayed the same.

(Crown Cleaners 2013)

The Crown Cleaners one hour laundromat was once One Hour Martinizing Company, a Dry Cleaning Plant leased in November, 1969.

Photo from Coronado Historical Association Archives. Photographer: Unknown. Date: 1970s. Sign reads, "One Hour Martinizing, the most in dry cleaning."

The Farmer's Insurance Group has seen a few changes to the lot space over the years.

Photo from Coronado Historical Association Archives. Photographer: Unknown. Date: Unknown.

(Where the Farmers Insurance Group lot once stood is now Swaddee)

Photo from Coronado Historical Association Archives. Photographer: Unknown. Date: Unknown. Photo of where The Fish Company stands today.

The Fish Company was once Oscar's Drive In in 1946. Evenutally changing hands to become Cole's Restaurant in 1971, and then again to become Fiesta Chicken in 1977.

Photo from Historical Association Archives. Photographer: Unknown. Date: 1970s.

Other shops that once stood in the Crown Shops outlet mall were Perkins Bookworm, Yarntree, Awesome Artist (now relocated), Reruns, and In and Out Alterations. It'll be exciting to see what new shop will fill the vacant space that Awesome Artist left.

Greer Goebels

Online Editor, Intern

eCoronado.com

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Tags: business, city of coronado, community, history, people

7 members like this

Comment by eCoronado on January 27, 2013 at 5:55pm: Greer, great job sharing details and photos about The Crown Shops!

Staff Comment by Sophia Zaller on January 27, 2013 at 6:55pm: Great article Greer, I loved the photos!

Comment by Lisa Krause on January 27, 2013 at 8:18pm: Where is Perkins Bookworm? Great photos.

Comment by Greer Goebels on January 27, 2013 at 8:43pm: Unfortunately I couldn't find a photo of Perkins Bookworm, it used to be where Swaddee is now.

Comment by Crown City Photo by Bill Sandke on January 27, 2013 at 9:50pm: I spent 2 years managing and 10 years owning and operating a photo studio and lab in the Crown Shops. Great memories!

Staff Comment by Kellee Hearther on January 27, 2013 at 10:56pm: It's always fun to see old pictures compared to current photos. Thanks for this piece, Greer. I really enjoyed it!

Comment by Erin Grady Brown on January 28, 2013 at 9:43am: My childhood memories are of the Fish House, dry cleaners, and then Perkins, Miss Ann's House of Dance, and going into Mr. Sandke's place with my mother to get our photos developed. Now I'm over there all the time with my kids, going to the karate studio and eating gelato!

Comment by Melissa Darabian on January 28, 2013 at 10:33am: I loved seeing this....really interesting! thank you!!!

Comment by carolyn moorhouse on January 28, 2013 at 11:17am: THE FISH COMPANY WAS OSCAR'S DRIVE-IN!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE I LEARNED TO EAT FRENCH FRIES WITH KETCHUP WITH MY DEAR FRIEND FROM CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL CHARLENE. AN ADVENTURE BEING SERVED IN YOUR CAR. OUT ON THE TOWN AT OSCAR'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Vincent John Flynn on January 28, 2013 at 1:37pm: The Crown Shops is were where many of us hung out in the early ''50's. Of Course, Oscars was the best, most famous drive- in in Coronado. Perkins book worm and records was where we would play records by the hour in a sound proof booth. The hobby shop was also in there, very popular for all kinds of models that we used to make.

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