Some Orlando Institutions Long gone (Bithlo: live in, floor, stores)

[bdpop]

Colonial Plaza Mall was on E Colonial Dr between Bumby and Primrose. It used to have a Jordan Marsh, Belk Lindsay, Publix, Ronnie's, Infinite Mushroom, Mall News, etc.

[thebalogas]

I moved to Orlando in 85 and I remember a lot of these things. I lived in the apartments behind Off the Wall, we used to walk back home after we had too much to drink LOL. Americana Apartments were known for drugs back then and not a place to be. I wasn't far from there. We didn't realize what part of town we moved into. I used to be a buyer for Iveys and I had to work the stores in Colonial Plaza Mall and Winter Park Mall, my office was in a cubby in Winter Park store. When I met my husband, he was a Seabee in the Navy and did his weekend maneuvers at the Naval Training Center. And my friends and I used to go to JJ Whispers all of the time. We also enjoyed parking on Frontage beside the airport and watching the planes take off and land. 9-11 ended that. Great memories. Thanks for bringing them up.

[jokah2000]

In the fifties and early sixties the airport was just east of colonial plaza. It looked like the airplanes were landing on top of Belks. Champ Williams' Skyline Restaurant was at that airport. sometime in the sixties the airport was moved to the old McCoy air force base. the terminal there was a large quonset hut.

[Granny Sue]

Originally Posted by kai34759

Ok, I'm confused. I thought Colonial Plaza was that place down on west colonial (near john young) where they had the movie theater, skating rink and the arcade. I grew up playing down there and I was just telling my daughter about it the other day. But there wasn't an airport anywhere near where I'm thinking of. At least I don't think there was.

You're thinking of Parkwood Plaza....most of what you mentioned it gone.
I work on that corner.....bit a trivia...my 1st job in Orlando was also on this corner when the Hilton and Ruth Chris's House of Beef.

I've either gone full circle or haven't gone anywhere.

And for those who are panicking....Beefy King is still here and as wonderful as ever.

[kai34759]

Originally Posted by Kali's Grandma

You're thinking of Parkwood Plaza....most of what you mentioned it gone.

Oh, that's right! I don't know why I was thinking Colonial Plaza, except maybe that they both had Plaza in the name and they were both on Colonial Drive.

Man, I practically lived over there when I was kid. We need another place like that.

Speaking of Colonial Dr., does anyone even call it that anymore? I've run across people who've lived here for several years and look confused when I said that something's on Colonial Drive. I have to say East or West 50 for them to know what I'm talking about. Semoran/436 is another one.

[Granny Sue]

I too have noticed in becoming just HWY 50.
I've always done better with street names instead of numbers but a relative new comer told me that ##'s were better for him so maybe that's the new trend.

[strykalot]

I worked at Colonial Lanes for many years which was behind the Colonial Plaza Mall. I remember going to the Plaza Theater for Rocky Horror Picture Show every weekend. Infinite Mushroom, we will never see a place like that again. I think there was a place on Colonial by the airport called 94th Aero Squadron where you could listen to pilots through a radio at the tables. I also remember a place on Colonial that was out towards UCF, the Orlando Sports Auditorium or something like that. They had a lot of motocross races there, maybe early to mid 70's. Orlando Speedway in Taft, the "Big O". I believe it's a subdivision now.

[pianogal]

Oh my gosh...I'm old! I remember almost ALL of these. The first time I came to Orlando, the airport terminal was the 'little' building along 528. We had season passes to Boardwalk and Baseball when our son was small. I ran into Tammy Faye Baker shopping at the outlets near her ministry center. Eating out a the 94th Aero Squadron was for special occasions for us in those days. Ronnie's had a HUGE ice cream dish my DH loved. We went to the movies at Plaza Theatre, and bowling at Colonial Lanes and roller skating at a place in Pine Hills (can't recall the name) BEFORE it became Crime Hills. My favorite places to shop were Jordan Marsh and Ivey's at Colonial Mall and the best Dillards around in Winter Park Mall - all gone!

[pianogal]

Originally Posted by doom1001

YouTube - Family Auto Mart

You mean he's not around anymore? I don't watch much TV....but he was a riot!

[Granny Sue]

Ok I finally remembered what I forgot.....don't laugh...it's a old thing lol

Eddie Graham Sport Stadium.....back when rasslin was real!!!!

That was my poling place when I 1st moved to town.