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| The May Co.'s massive terra-cotta faced structure on Cleveland's Public Square at the head of famous Euclid Avenue |
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| An aerial view, taken prior to 1931, when the main store building was raised from 6 to 8 stories, shows the large, T-shaped complex with storefronts on Euclid Avenue, Ontario Street, and Prospect Avenue to the rear. |
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| A contemporary view shows the taller terra-cotta front on Public Square, and the 1964 Parkade on the corner of Ontario Street and Prospect Avenue. |
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| A part of the store, faced in red brick fronted on Ontario Street. |
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| The cool, ordered, yet very elegant main floor of the May Co. in Cleveland. |
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| In 1964, The May Co. added a large "Parkade" to the store complex; a complete auto center was located on the ground floor and the garage provided access directly into the store's various levels. |
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| "Ohio's Largest Store" |
158 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
Basement
Malt Shop • May's Budget Store
First Floor
Gloves • Scarves • Handbags • Hosiery • Fashion Jewelry • Gold Standard • Fine Jewelry • Accessories • Slippers • Fragrances • Cosmetics • Notions • Blouses • Sweaters • Top Shop • Young Image • Boulevard Shoes • Career Shoes • Men’s Accessories • Men’s Furnishings • Men’s Sportswear • Men’s Fragrance Bar • A.C.E. • Luggage • Cameras
Prospect Level
Gourmet • Candy • Hough Bakeries • Eat ’n’ Run • Stationery
Second Floor
Beauty Salon • Sleepwear • Foundations • Undershapers • Daywear • Leisurewear • Robes • Junior Intimates • Men’s Slacks • Men’s Outerwear • Men’s Clothing • Men’s Shoes • Quad Shop • Mike’s Place • Quad Outerwear
Children’s World Girls’ Accessories • Girls’ 3-6X • Girls’ 7-14 • Girls’ Sleepwear • Boy’s Shop • Cuddle Shop • Toddlers • Infants • Infants’ Furniture • Children’s Shoes
Third Floor
Young Ohioan Sportswear • Young Ohioan Dresses • Young Ohioan Shoes • Young Ohioan Coats • Misses Dresses • Social Occasion • Misses Moderate Separates • Misses Sportswear • Misses Coats • Career Dresses • Pavilion Dresses • Women’s Sportswear • Women’s Coats • Women’s Dresses • Town and Country • Home and Town • Forecast Shop • Collections • Coat Salon • The Ginger Snap • Contempo • Contempo Coats • Fur Salon • Shoe Salon • Contempo Shoes • Stagelight Makeup Center • Auditorium
Fourth Floor
Towels • Bath Shop • Domestics • Bedspreads • Draperies • Custom Fabrics • Fabrics • Art Needlework • Singer Sewing Center • Tabletop Shop • Cookie Corner • Trim-a-Home Shop • Music Center • Entertainment Center
Fifth Floor
Entertainment Center • Books • Hoffritz Cutlery • Fine Glassware • China • Silverware • Gift Isle • Housewares • Small Appliances • Cook’s Pantry • Environments • Affordable Furniture • 3 Crowns Dining Room • Pub • Health & Beauty Aids
Sixth Floor
Furniture • Sleep Shop • Recliners • Sleep Sofas • Oriental Rug Gallery • Rugs • Carpeting • Religious Articles
Seventh Floor
Entertainment Center • TVs • Stereos • Business Machines • Major Appliances • Dinettes • Sporting Goods • Toys • Garden Shop • Hardware • Customer Service
(1,121,000 sq. ft.)
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Mays On-the-Heights
University Heights
November, 1957
346,000 sq. ft.
The Mayfair Room
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Southgate (Taylor’s 1958)
Maple Heights
April, 1967
204,000 sq. ft.
The Tree-Top Room
Jiffy Bird Snack Bar
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Parmatown
Parma
August, 1960
305,000 sq. ft.
The Mayfair Room
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Great Lakes Mall
Mentor
April, 1964
187,000 sq. ft.
The Mayfair Room
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Great Northern
North Olmsted
September, 1965
211,000 sq. ft.
The Mayfair Room
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| Sheffield (O'Neil's 1954) Elyria, Ohio April, 1967 157,000 s.f. |
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Randall Park Mall
Randall Heights
August, 1976
177,000 sq. ft.
The Thistle Grill
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Euclid Square
Euclid
August, 1977
177,000 sq. ft.
Three Crowns Restaurant and Coffee Shop
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Coming in due course.
The 70s-era "Big M" logo you have between the downtown store address, is that from the Los Angeles May Co. division. The Cleveland May Co. had two versions of the "Big M" logo.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the forerunner to the Cleveland May Co. was called E. R. Hull & Dutton Co., acquired and renamed in 1898.
the telephone number for the May Company Cleveland was originally CHerry 1-3000 which it had well into the early 1970's. There also was a May Company store in Sheffield Lake, Ohio that was a former O'Neil's store (opened in 1953 under the May umbrella) and was changed to the May Company nameplate in 1967. I have some original match book covers from the May Company restaurants from the early-mid 1960's that list each store and have the May Company logo that you have on the top of the page which adorned most of the Cleveland area stores.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the old May Company Cleveland jingle??
ReplyDelete"Take a look at the May Company...Do a double take."
I heard it the other day when they were playing vintage store commercials on the radio here in Cleveland. I think they said it was from 1966.
The May Company downtown was such a great store....I still get sad everytime I see it and miss those famous chocolate malts in the basement or the Three Crowns Restaurant on the 5th floor..... I still have my mom's old Gray May Company charge card that says...Eagle Stamps are added savings. The card even has our old home address on it.... What great memories....
Who sells the original chocolate malts.....
ReplyDeleteI heard a few years ago that there was a place
around the Cleveland area that had the resicpe.
Please look at the Strouss-Hirschberg exhibit and the comments after it. I would assume they were the same malts, because both were part of the May Company.
ReplyDeleteBAK
Did may co on the heights have an auditorium?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the restaurant in the basement of May Co. on the heights? I think it was cafeteria style. I remember going there with my mom when I was little.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any information on Antonio D'Angelo? He owned a small shoe store on Cleveland's Public Square and later went on to work for the May Company for over 50 years in the shoe department. I found his picture in the October 19, 1939 issue of the Cleveland PD as one of the May Company employees celebrating 50 years of employment. I have that picture if you'd like to include it on your site. I am very interested in additional information about Antonio, his work at May Company, and especially any pictures of the shoe store he owned on Public Square. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI recentley purchased a fur at a consignment store in Louisville. It's lining had the Shillito's Fur Salon on it. It's a beauitful coat, knee length, black leather belt, black/white mink fur with black leather intracut designs. Curious to know what its worth, how long you've been closed, etc ? My friends seem to think it's a 3-4 thousand dollar coat! I LOVE IT! I'm not from your area so never had the pleasure of shopping at your dept store.
ReplyDeleteahh yes... I can't tell you what inspired me to come to this sight, but the memories that come flooding in as I see someone else mentioning Stamp Books, Chocolate Malts, and softwarm pretzels
ReplyDeleteHi, anyone knows of the old christmas jester dolls used as promotion and sold at the Cleveland location during christmas, I believe in the 1980's? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI remember the May Company at Randall Park Mall had a small restaurant on the first floor by the Toy Department and the Candy Counter. It had a counter and about a dozen tables. All the restaurants at Randall Park Mall had restaurants when the mall opened (most notably the Josephine's--a large Brown Derby--on the third floor of the Joseph Horne Co. department store) but most of them closed within a few years of the mall's opening.
ReplyDeleteI have a print in a frame that has a sticker on the back that says the "May Co. 6th Floor, Picture & Mirror Dept." I would like to know if May Co. sold art or just did framing or both. The print is dated 1929, I'm trying to discover if this print was purchased at the store or just framed there. Thanks for any help.
ReplyDeleteFor those looking for May Company malts, you should check out Honey Hut Ice Cream. They have several locations in Cleveland and use the exact May Co recipe.
ReplyDeleteI have merchandise coupons face value of .50 from May Co that seem to be of the 1970's. They could be older as my Aunt was a long time employee of the downtown location in the late 50's-70's. Does anyone know if these are of value?
ReplyDeletei'm looking for carol o'niel who used to work at may company at may's on the heights. She was a beautiful black woman with most gorgeous smile and short hair cut. I live in Fl now and have been searching for years. please help.
ReplyDeletejvons42@yahoo.com
Getting a Frosty Malted at May's was an essential part of Christmas shopping in downtown Cleveland. The counter was on the basement level between the escalators and the malts were served in real glasses. I think it was the only thing they served there. They took forever to eat because they were so thick they stuck in the glass and you had to wait for them to thaw, and then it would slide out and hit you in the face. Wonderful stuff! And then we always had to stop at the Nuthouse on the corner of Ontario Ave. and buy warm peanuts to eat on the ride home on the Rapid Transit. The perfect end to a perfect day!
ReplyDeleteIn the mid sixties, my husband worked at May's on the Heights while he was still in college. He worked in the ski dept. and had to wear apres ski (after ski) clothes consisting of stretchy stirrup pants, a sweater, and short boots that zipped up the front. He got to keep them when that department closed up in the spring. He then worked in the ladies' shoe dept. but didn't like it because many women insisted on buying shoes that were too small and he had to help shoe horn their feet into them, an impossible task.
ReplyDelete