Update II: Another step was taken yesterday in the march to build a new McDonald’s on the site of the vacant Detroit Theater, bringing happy meals and increased traffic for all.
Micky D’s got conditional approval for the site’s building and signage from the Lakewood Architectural Board of Review (you can see the designs here, via Lakewood Patch) after retooling the building and traffic flow to alleviate concerns. Except the traffic concerns aren’t really alleviated.
Yesterday’s meeting was packed, and plenty of folks in attendance worried that Woodward, where McDonald’s will have an exit and where the city is planning on removing a stop light, will become congested with cut-through seekers and hordes of Egg McMuffin cravers.
McDonald’s Rep Michael Lewis thinks the company has listened carefully to Lakewood citizens, and that they will totally love it once the Golden Arches go up. The Sun News reports:
“We feel we have created something that they (community members) will embrace,” said Representative Michael Lewis in his opening remarks. “We have been here for 47 years and we feel this development is something we’ll be proud of for the next 47 years.”
An October meeting is scheduled with the Planning Commission where traffic issues will again be addressed, undoubtedly populated by plenty of residents who think Michael Lewis is full of shit.
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This article appears in Sep 7-13, 2011.
Pleaseeee..Don’t take the theatre away !! I am a 53 yr old woman who grew up all thru the 60s and half the 70s going to that theatre..My Mother was a sngle Mother of 4 little kids and that theatre was 1 of the BEST memories of my life..Mom could’nt give us much entertainment wise and those “free ” tickets we got at “Dans” and “Andy’s corner stores were what gave us our “special Saturday afternoon cartoons and movies.” Mom made us each our own BIG brown paper bags of popcorn and a quarter each to fill our little brown bags with 2 for a penny candies to take with us..Not only did we have a full afternoon of fun, but Mom had a chance to actually get things done around the house..Man…Those were the best days and memories ever..(growing up in Lakewood , Ohio..Playing at “EdwardsPark” on the corner of Lauderdale and Detroit..( I just lived a few houses up) going skating at “Winterpark”..Going to the “Y”..(Which was also my backyard)…I truly would hater 2 see those memories gone just for another stinking McDonalds…I now live in a small town in Tennessee and next to my town is also another small town..Both of them still have their old theatres…One actually was playing old black n white movies all year until the economy got bad and they no longer could keep it running, but they would not even think of tearing it down..It is “history and we’re trying to find ways to keep it going….The town I reside in has turned part of theirs into a couple offices , but the sign is forever lit up with the name of our town and letting the world know it is the home of “Lester Flatt”..During spring, summer and part of fall they have some kind of event going on, whether it be a car show..a “movie night under the stars..a 50s-60s bash..etc……PLEASE..Is there not something that can keep the old theatre going?? Oh yeah ! And “Roma pizza parlor” was across the street in full gear…..I came back last year for a “blast from the past” and 1 of my highlights was seeing the theatre..LAKEWOOD ROCKS !!!! I don’t know that anyone will actually read this, but it sure did feel good to relive those “memories”//Only if for a moment on cyberspace…My name was Susan Chaffin and I lived at 1428 Lauderdale Ave..and also on Wagar…I went to Lakewood Lutheran school and then onto Harding and Lakewood High..Moved away in 1974..Anybody reading this that remembers those days..Send me a message on facebook..I am under “susan chaffin smith…….Thanx for listening
McDonald’s? Really? Nothing against McDonanld’s, but that buliding is a historical landmark. This is coming from a Coventry area, Cleveland Hts resident. One of the things that makes Cleve Hts so unique are the older houses and buildings that are well kept and preserved, giving our suburb and very unique character. Surely, you can renovate the theatre or think of something else unique to put there, that would be successful there, besides a McDonalds. When this recession is over, you’ll be looking at that McDonald’s kicking yourself, b/c of your knee jerk reaction.
Remember Miller’s Dining in Lakewood? One more land mark gone for chain stores.
I think its crap if they do anything but preserve the theater.
There is already a McDonald’s about one mile away from the theater on Sloane and another one just over two miles away on 117th. Regardless of what the building is/was, it’s ridiculous to put another one in.
I threw up in my mouth a little. This building is at the end of my street where I just bought a home. Part of why I chose Lakewood is the historic buildings, uniqueness, and the local businesses. I really hope Lakewood does the right thing here. That building has only been vacant a few months and is totally not a nuisance at all. Why not try and find a creative reuse before destroying a building that can never be rebuilt? I mean, you lose buildings like this and they are gone forever, and plus, Mcdonald’s sucks horribly.
Would have been nice to see that many people in the theater. The theater closed cause no one went. Your fault, citizens of Lakewood.
I bet if everybody stopped killing themselves by eating at McDonald’s, they’d stop building more of them. As much as many of you want to see that theatre stay, I equally want to see less obese people. I hope we both get our wish.