Magnolia Village (Gone)
Ocala, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Here is something you don't see everyday. Two decades old signs stand
side by side on N. Magnolia Street just outside downtown Ocala, FL. Looking
at the font style and odd shape of Magnolia Village, one would guess it
was constructed some time in the 1960s. It's counterpart, with boomerang
arrow and friendly looking character, seems to fit the styling of the
1950s.
Magnolia Village has been part of North Magnolia Avenue for decades, serving as home to all sorts of neighborhood businesses over the years. While the shopping center itself is still around, the vintage roadside signs didn't survive later renovations. It's a shame, because they gave the plaza a personality that modern shopping centers just don't seem to have anymore.
UPDATE: Magnolia Village remains open for business, but both of the classic roadside signs shown here have been removed. It's a shame that both of these gem of signs are now gone and just part of the roadside memory. 07-26
Southgate Shopping Center
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
The Southgate Shopping Center marquee is a fine example of what
most suburban shopping center signs looked like in the mid-70's. Imagine
stopping off at the your nearest Music Plus looking for the new Bee Gees
album for example. Or perhaps imagine not.
Driving down South Florida Avenue, it's hard to miss the giant arch welcoming you to Southgate Shopping Center. Rising high above the road, the marquee has been catching motorists' eyes since 1957 and still looks like something from the future. The sweeping curves, bright lights, and Space Age styling make it one of those signs that's nearly impossible to drive past without taking another look.
Southgate Shopping (1971)
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Robert Droz
When Southgate opened in 1957, shopping centers like this were still a pretty new idea. Instead of heading downtown, families could pull into one place and find groceries, clothing, restaurants, and just about everything else they needed. The futuristic arch quickly became the symbol of the shopping center and has welcomed generations of Lakeland shoppers ever since. It may remind you of the 1970s, but this landmark was already turning heads well before then.
It's fun to imagine what this place looked like during its heyday. Maybe you were stopping by Publix for groceries, meeting friends for lunch, or spending a Saturday afternoon wandering from one storefront to the next. Shopping centers like Southgate were gathering places as much as they were places to shop, and the giant arch let everyone know they had arrived.
Archway at the Southgate Shopping Center
Lakeland, FL Photos courtesy Scott Strickland
UPDATE: The Southgate shopping center had
a great neon display, so good it was in "Edward Scissorhands."
Now, the sign out front is gone, replaced by generic backlit plastic.
The huge arch's neon is gone, but the metal framework remains. Many thanks to Robert Droz for update. 03-05
Hollywood thought so too. Fans of Edward Scissorhands may recognize Southgate from Tim Burton's 1990 classic, where the famous arch can be spotted during scenes filmed around Lakeland. Nearly thirty years later, the shopping center found itself back in the movies when Disney used the plaza while filming The One and Only Ivan. Not many shopping center signs can say they've shared the screen with both Johnny Depp and Bryan Cranston.
Archway at the Southgate Shopping Center
Lakeland, FL Photos courtesy Scott Strickland
Fortunately, this landmark is still around. While many classic shopping center signs have disappeared over the years, Lakeland chose to preserve this one. The original neon has since been replaced with modern lighting, but after dark the arch still lights up much as it has for generations, reminding travelers that some roadside landmarks are simply too good to lose.
UPDATE: Southgate Shopping Center remains open, and its famous 1957 arch continues welcoming shoppers after a careful restoration brought the landmark back to life with modern lighting. 07-26
Edgewood Plaza (Rem.)
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
Back when shopping centers still lit up the night with real neon, Edgewood Plaza was one of Lakeland's brighter stops. The glowing letters stretched across the storefronts, giving the plaza plenty of personality after dark. It's easy to picture spending an afternoon here browsing the shops or stopping by one of the local businesses. 10-09
Over the years, Edgewood Plaza was home to all kinds of neighborhood stores, including Turtle's Records & Tapes. Rock fans may remember the plaza as the site of a packed Queensrÿche appearance in the late 1980s that drew one of the biggest crowds the shopping center had ever seen. Just down the road, Edward Scissorhands was filmed at neighboring Southgate Shopping Center, making this stretch of South Florida Avenue a memorable one for movie fans as well.
The shopping center is still around today, but the vintage neon storefront lettering has disappeared. Like so many classic plazas, it lost a little of its character when the lights went out.
UPDATE: Edgewood Plaza remains open, but the classic neon letters shown here have been removed. 07-26
Magnolia Village (Gone)
Southgate Shopping Center
Southgate Shopping (1971)
Archway at the Southgate Shopping Center
Archway at the Southgate Shopping Center
