Retro Toledo Metro – Indie Local History

House, 417 Wamba Avenue

Built c1948. Some early names associated with this home were Basilius, Smith, Reitmeier, and Fritz.

Four B’s Gulf Station, 6204 W. Central Avenue

1958. The sun casting the shadow of the Gulf sign on the roof.

This Gulf gas station was located on the northwest corner of Millicent and Central Avenue. Gone by 1962.

House, 3339 Warner Avenue

1998. The house used to have a small two garage, which is partially visible in this image. In the ’80s the left side was a drum/band room where the sounds of Rush’s Tom Sawyer often emanated from.

Built c1942. Some of the family names associated with this home were Van Meer, Jett, Merril, and Gingrich.

House, 3122 Millicent Ave.

Was located between Ohio Tool & Manufacturing and 3132 Millicent. Demolished c1961.

Initially a single family home (c1905), later converted to a duplex (1922), later remodeled as a single family residence again (1928), later converted to duplex, again. Some of the names associated with this house were Wallace, Lee, Fritz, Wyatt, Garries and Connor.

Grodi’s Beer Store, 6221 Dixie Highway

Although slightly north of the Ohio state line on Dixie Highway, Grodi’s was a regular stop for many in Toledo.

Denny’s, 5125 Monroe St.

Opened 1973. Sold to El Rodeo in 2001. Breakfast 24/7.

Tastee Freez, 1720 W. Alexis Rd.

Brown Pontiac, 5625 W. Central Ave.

Before Brown Pontiac, and the Central Avenue Strip, there were various residences, small businesses, and some woods between Reynolds and Holland-Sylvania. C.L. Bleckner lived at 5625 Central.

1949. Brown Pontiac location circled in white.

Home Cafe, 5102 Alexis Rd.

There have been various Home Cafe’s in Lucas County over the years. One at 518 Adams (1903) and one at 811 Jefferson (1925) in downtown Toledo, and another very near this one at 4421 Alexis (1954).

Our Home Cafe appeared on the first floor of the two-story building on the right in 1961. As a kid I passed by this building on occasion and I appreciated it’s rough and always old-timey appearance. Some “enhancements” were attempted in later years.