Toledo's Three Ls:: Lamson's, Lion Store and Lasalle's

This is one of those books that was perhaps the hardest to write. To begin with there is very little source material to provide research enough to validate such work. The author somehow sifted through the rubble of this modern day Atlantis and produced a fragile and important record of Toledo, Ohio. At one time predicted to be the largest city in the world by 2000. Fate stepped in and decided otherwise. For whatever reason, Industrial failure-Jeep is still there, its proximity to Detroit-its already starting to revive, so forget that thought or an old Indian curse, this once "city of tomorrow" is now mostly an abandoned parking lot. In my lifetime, I watched its tragic decline.I grew up in a small town east of Toledo near Sandusky and Tiffin and clearly remember Lasalle's. My grandmother loved shopping there. My father worked in Toledo and would take me shopping at Tiedkes that had a massive toy section. I never forgot those epic shopping experience. We travelled by train to Detroit by train and I was amazed at the Toledo skyline. It was sleek, industrial and ever so modern to my little eyes. I was born in the year they tore down the Paramount Theater. My father told me stories of spending the day watching movies in its cavernous darkness while his mother and her friends shopped at Lasalle's and The Lion store.The 1970s brought hideous glass towers that somehow didn't fell or look right. I forged on however. I remember the Toledo Speedway Jam with Journey as the headlining act. I always felt that Toledo was the real rock and roll capitol. Yes, I drove out to the malls and shopped at Lions and was offered a credit card. Fate stepped in and I moved to Columbus and Toledo was just a memory. Upon seeing it again in 2009, I have to wonder what happened here?This book was a great trip to my misty childhood memories. Don't it always seem to go that we don't know what we got till its gone?

A special book for me. I grew up in Toledo, Ohio and spent lots of time shopping in all three of these stores. My wedding gown came from Lion Store. This book takes me back to those days when it was a pleasure to shop and customer service was paramount. The author did a great job recapturing the beauty of these stores. If you cherish these stores, you will love this book. Thank you.

This is a welcome history for anyone with roots in the Toledo area. I remember these wonderful icons vividly. My father was Head of Advertising for Lion Store in the 50's and 60's, after working for Lamson's and Lasalle's. I see his hand in many of the historical illustrations. Fashion was king, and Kopytek captures the mood accurately.This book is valuable for anyone wanting to learn how American cities were hollowed out in the late 20th Century.

This book is full of wonderful local historical information and memories of these wonderful stores. I wouldn’t mind an expanded version, perhaps with a a short section on the fourth “L” (Lane’s Drug Stores) and some other bygone local favorites.

Love the history of these great stores and knowing that somehow they are being preserved for history in this book. I feel so badly for the youth of today Malls are not the same as downtown shopping it was an event and well worth it.