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Arthur Beerman

The Fate of McCook Shopping Center, Dayton’s First Suburban Commercial Strip

December 3, 2025 By Andrew Walsh 2 Comments

mccook dayton's first modern shopping center

I've written about Downtown Dayton's retail history, as well as its decline as suburban shopping malls emerged to take advantage of a region that was spreading out significantly in the 1950s and 1960s. But today we will look at an interesting chapter bridging the gap in … [Read more...] about The Fate of McCook Shopping Center, Dayton’s First Suburban Commercial Strip

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Arthur Beerman, Demolition, Elder-Beerman, McCook Field, Retail, Shopping Malls, Suburbs

The Decline of Downtown Retail post-1950: Suburbanization, Urban Renewal, and More

February 3, 2025 By Andrew Walsh 4 Comments

Recently I reflected on the golden age of retail in downtown Dayton, tracing the history of Rike's, Elder-Beerman, and other popular downtown department and specialty stores. Today the environment is much different, with many local businesses struggling to survive and only a … [Read more...] about The Decline of Downtown Retail post-1950: Suburbanization, Urban Renewal, and More

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Architecture, Arthur Beerman, Cesar Pelli, Cincinnati, Dayton Mall, Downtown Dayton, Elder-Beerman, J.C. Penney, Kettering, Retail, Rike's, Salem Mall, Suburbs, Urban Planning, Urban Renewal

History of Rike’s, Elder-Beerman, and Downtown Dayton Department Stores

December 4, 2024 By Andrew Walsh 6 Comments

rike's downtown dayton

The Golden Age of Main Street Shopping The last few years have been a difficult time for many downtown small businesses. Retail stores especially face a combination of challenges ranging from lingering pandemic effects and economic struggles to competition from … [Read more...] about History of Rike’s, Elder-Beerman, and Downtown Dayton Department Stores

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Adler and Child's, Arthur Beerman, Centre City Building, David L. Rike, Downtown Dayton, Elder and Johnson, Elder-Beerman, Frederick Rike, Home Store, Reibold Building, Retail, Rike's

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