Drive-In on N.W. Expressway

[Prunepicker]

Check that...

Research tells me that Service Merchandise moved directly from 5901 N.
May to the new location in Marketplace Shopping Center (the center east
of McArthur on the site of the old Cinema 70) in April of 1985.

That's odd. I lived on the street behind Service Merchandise when it
was on N.W. Expressway and Springbrook Drive. Did they have two
stores and consolidate them? Was it an outlet? I can't find anything in
the OK archives.

[Bill Robertson]

Mr. How didn't last long at that location or I believe, in general.

I had forgotten about it too and I lived less than a mile from that store.

It wasn't there long. Hearing the name has brought back memories. Accurate memories or not I don't know but this is what I remember. Wasn't Mr How only open a few months when the roof partially collapsed during a heavy rain? Then they only reopened long enough to have a going out of business sale and then the building sat empty for some time?

[Pete]

That's odd. I lived on the street behind Service Merchandise when it
was on N.W. Expressway and Springbrook Drive. Did they have two
stores and consolidate them? Was it an outlet? I can't find anything in
the OK archives.

I think you are confusing Medco -- which was very similar -- with Service Merchandise.

Medco opened in Springbrook in October of 1972:



And closed in May of 1979:




Mills Thomson furniture opened in October of 1979:



And closed in July of 1983:




Later in the 80's, that space was subdivided for Tony Via Roma and others; in the 90's the Tony's space became Der Dutchman.

[ctchandler]

SS, I think it was open longer than a few months, but it definitely sat empty for years. I worked in the Hertz building right next door, and shopped there, but not sure how long they stayed in business. I had forgotten about the roof problem and I think that was the beginning of the end. It was one of those casualties that happen when the parent company has problems. Our Mr. How was pretty busy but I believe they closed when Service Merchandise filed for bankruptcy.
C. T.

It wasn't there long. Hearing the name has brought back memories. Accurate memories or not I don't know but this is what I remember. Wasn't Mr How only open a few months when the roof partially collapsed during a heavy rain? Then they only reopened long enough to have a going out of business sale and then the building sat empty for some time?

[whorton]

Actually that was the Cinema 70 Drive in. Image (c) Wesley Horton 1983, 2023