Magnolia Village (Gone)
Ocala, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Two neighboring signs gave Magnolia Village an especially interesting roadside introduction in Ocala. One used an unusual shape and stylized lettering, while the other paired a sweeping boomerang arrow with a friendly character. They looked like representatives of different design eras standing together along North Magnolia Avenue.
The exact installation dates aren’t established here, but the contrast was part of the appeal. The angular lettering suggested the changing tastes of the 1960s, while the character and oversized arrow recalled an earlier approach to roadside advertising. Together, the displays gave the shopping property an identity that went well beyond listing the businesses inside.
UPDATE: Magnolia Village remains in commercial use, but both vintage signs pictured here have been removed. Their disappearance took away a distinctive pair of roadside advertisements. Photographs preserve the scene when two very different designs shared the job of attracting passing motorists. 07-26
Southgate Shopping Center
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
The enormous arch at Southgate Shopping Center makes quite an introduction along South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Its sweeping shape looks ready to launch over the parking lot, giving an everyday shopping trip a little Space Age scenery. This landmark dates to 1957, well before the 1970s shopping-center era its older marquee might bring to mind.
Southgate opened when suburban retail developments were drawing shoppers away from traditional downtown districts. Groceries and other stores gathered around convenient parking, and the arch gave the center a recognizable identity from the road. Tenants could change without taking away the feature that told motorists exactly where they had arrived.
The movies brought Southgate an audience beyond Lakeland. Its arch appeared in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, released in 1990, and the property later served as a filming location for Disney’s The One and Only Ivan. The distinctive entrance made an effective backdrop, preserving its futuristic appearance even as the surrounding retail landscape evolved.
Southgate Shopping (1971)
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Robert Droz
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
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
UPDATE: Southgate Shopping Center remains open, and the famous arch survives. Its original neon and older roadside sign panels were removed, a change already noted in 2005. Later restoration introduced modern lighting, allowing the landmark framework to remain a prominent feature after dark. Good to see this piece of Lakeland’s roadside history still welcoming shoppers. 07-26
Archway at the Southgate Shopping Center
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
Archway at the Southgate Shopping Center
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
Edgewood Plaza (Rem.)
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
The neon lettering at Edgewood Plaza gave this Lakeland shopping center plenty of personality after dark. Glowing names stretched across the storefronts beneath the covered walkway, turning an everyday retail stop into something worth photographing. It’s easy to overlook details like these until renovations leave the same buildings looking considerably less colorful. 10-09
The plaza housed a succession of neighborhood businesses, including Turtle’s Records & Tapes. Local rock fans remember a crowded Queensrÿche appearance there in the late 1980s, adding a musical chapter to the shopping center’s history. Nearby Southgate Shopping Center supplied another pop-culture connection when it appeared in Edward Scissorhands, making this stretch of South Florida Avenue interesting beyond its stores.
UPDATE: Edgewood Plaza remains open, but the vintage neon letters pictured here have been removed. The businesses have continued changing with the times, while the illuminated storefront display has become another part of Lakeland’s roadside past. 07-26
Magnolia Village (Gone)
Southgate Shopping Center
Southgate Shopping (1971)
