Willow Grove Park: Past & Present (The Goldbergs Mall) - Raw & Real Retail
This is my walkthrough of the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, PA from November 13, 2018. There is also some footage from a 1956 promotional video spliced in to give some contrast between its life as an actual amusement park in the 1940s and 1950s and today, as a high end fashion mall.
Songs used in this video (in order):
Second Direction - Freeland
Brian Bennett & Alan Hawkshaw - String Boogie
Orchester Gus Brendel - Shopping Center
Zbig Górny And His Orchestra - Funky Eyes
Geoff Bastow - Fillet Of Soul
Second Direction - Steps Ahead
Here is some backstory from Wikipedia:
Willow Grove Park was an amusement park located in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (the part which is in Abington Township), United States, that operated for eighty years from 1896 until the 1975 season. It was generally an alternative to the Woodside Amusement Park in Fairmount Park until its closure. The park operated under the name Six Gun Territory from 1972. After closure, announced in April 1976, the park sat vacant until the land was cleared for a large shopping mall known as Willow Grove Park Mall, which opened in August 1982. The mall pays homage to its predecessor by displaying banners and other objects which hark back to the land's days as an amusement park; a merry-go-round built and installed in 2001 operates within the mall.
The park originally was conceived by one of the three Philadelphia area traction companies, the Peoples Traction Company, as a means to encourage weekend customers on the trolley line, a practice that led to the coining of the term trolley park. Willow Grove was one of the premier amusement parks in the United States for a long time, until it was eclipsed by the openings of Disneyland and other more modern theme parks beginning in the 1950s.
One of the biggest attractions in the park was the music pavilion, at which John Philip Sousa and his band played every year, but one, between 1901 and 1926. The pavilion was demolished in March 1959.
A documentary of the park was created in 1991 titled Life was a Lark at Willow Grove Park. The title is based on the popular park slogan Life is a lark at Willow Grove Park.
Willow Grove Park - 1956 Promo Video
Pretty incredible video, yet sad. I was here once in '73 & 74, but only being 1,2 years old, I don't remember it. I only remember it as a closed fenced off place with trees - the Alps mountain in the late 70s..until it was demolished and cleared out to make way for the big mall - which is still currently there today. The area is so full of traffic now, SOME of the original buildings remain from the late 1800s, early 1900s, the hotel on Park Ave. Willow Inn. Very hard to imagine it once looked like this. Next to the park also had the Worlds largest Bowling Alley - Willow Grove Lanes. Vert art deco, retro...that closed in the mid 80s. The building is still there..although it looks nothing like the bowling alley. Typical shopping center with no personality (Old Navy, Petco, Michels Arts and Crafts)
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Willow Grove Park was an amusement park located in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (the part which is in Abington Township), United States, that operated for eighty years from 1896 until the 1975 season. The park operated under the name Six Gun Territory from 1972. After closure, announced in April 1976, the park sat vacant until the land was cleared for a large shopping mall known as Willow Grove Park Mall, which opened in August 1982. The mall pays homage to its predecessor by displaying banners and other objects which hark back to the land's days as an amusement park; a merry-go-round built and installed in 2001 operates within the mall.
Willow Grove was one of the premier amusement parks in the United States for a long time, until it was eclipsed by the openings of Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, Disneyland and other more modern theme parks beginning in the 1950s.
One of the biggest attractions in the park was the music pavilion, at which John Philip Sousa and his band played every year, but one, between 1901 and 1926. The pavilion was demolished in March 1959.
- Willow Grove Mall info
Penn City Hydraulic Freight Elevator-Willow Grove Park Mall-Willow Grove, PA
Filmed 2/28/19
Installed 1982
Residence Inn Philadelphia Willow Grove - Horsham (Pennsylvania) - United States
Residence Inn Philadelphia Willow Grove hotel city: Horsham (Pennsylvania) - Country: United States
Address: Three Walnut Grove Drive; zip code: PA 19044
Residence Inn Willow Grove offers self-catering rooms, an outdoor pool and a well-equipped fitness center. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily. Willow Grove Park Mall is 3.3 miles away.
-- Le Residence Inn Philadelphia Willow Grove propose des chambres indépendantes, une piscine extérieure et une salle de sport tout équipée. Un petit-déjeuner buffet est servi gratuitement tous les jours.
-- Das Residence Inn Willow Grove bietet Zimmer zur Selbstverpflegung, einen Außenpool und ein gut ausgestattetes Fitnesscenter. Ein kostenfreies Frühstücksbuffet wird täglich angeboten.
-- Situato a 5,3 km dal centro commerciale Willow Grove Park, il Residence Inn Willow Grove offre camere con ristorazione indipendente, una piscina all'aperto, un centro fitness ben attrezzato e, ogni giorno, una colazione a buffet gratuita.
-- Residence Inn Willow Grove酒店提供自助式客房、室外游泳池和设备齐全的健身中心，每天供应免费自助早餐，距离Willow Grove Park Mall商场有3.3英里（5.
-- В отеле Residence Inn Willow Grove гостей ждут номера-студио и люксы с собственной кухней. В числе удобств отеля – открытый бассейн и хорошо оборудованный фитнес-центр. Ежедневно в отеле сервируется бесплатный завтрак «шведский стол».
-- يوفر Residence Inn Willow Grove غرفاً بالخدمة الذاتية ومسبحاً في الهواء الطلق ومركز لياقة بدنية مجهز تجهيزاً جيداً. ويتوفر بوفيه إفطار مجاني يوميًا. ويقع مركز Willow Grove Park للتسوق على بعد 5.28 كم.
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Otis GEN2 Elevator @ The Willow Grove Mall Parking Garge, Willow Grove PA
Losing My Mind Over the Willow Grove Fountain
USA: Willow Grove to Philadelphia 2010
Driving from Willow Grove north of Philadelhia into Philadelphia center. USA, July 31 2010. Map:
Mobile Stroke Unit Unveiled In Bucks County
Stephanie Stahl reports.
Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1960
Elevator in Forever in Willow Grove
Illusionist - LIVE (May 9th - Willow Grove, PA)
May 9th, 2015 - Varials, Hysterian, Abhorrence, Kaonashi, Borderlines at Willow Grove American Legion. TRI-STATE.
Dead Loss - 2:52
Vexation - 7:16
Pushover - 10:02
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Westinghouse Hydraulic Elevator at Sears (former B. Altman Co.) Willow Grove Mall Willow Grove, PA
This was installed in 1982 when the mall opened. According to dea41396returns, This store was originally a B. Altman Co. There is no existing space for a new store, so sears will let out part of its store for Primark, an Irish fashion retailer.
Although slightly modded with EPCO Searsline, it is still a nice Westinghouse elevator. Unfortunately, the Montgomery G&P glass elevator has been modded with HIDEOUS innovation! (It still has its original motor, cab and controller, though). I believe that it is a Fujitec Mod.
Unfortunately, The Thunderbird Bowling Lanes in Willow Grove on York Rd (PA-263) is now closed after 50 years of business and it is being converted to a car collision repair center. I don't know if it will be demolished or not, but hopefully not. There is still an open Thunderbird Bowling Center in Warminster, PA on Street Road/PA-132, but the one in Willow Grove will be missed.
2016 marks the 130th anniversary of Sears Department stores and there are 793 sears stores throughout the nation.
There is a JCPenney store here which I hate because they got rid of the old Strawbridge's & Clothier elevator which was a Westinghouse. I don't Understand why the couldn't have kept it. :( Grrrrrrrr. And what's worse: After Strawbridge's closed in 2006, That store was originally planned to be a Boscov's, but Boscov's cancelled those plans because they were in financial trouble.
Luckily, Boscov's opened its first New England store location at Westfield Meriden, CT in a former JCPenney space. Later they opened a store at Sangertown Square Mall in New Hartford, NY.
Update: The JCPenney store at this mall closed in July of 2017. I hope it re-opens as Boscov's. (King Of Prussia and Franklin Mills closed their stores at those malls as well). I hope those store re-open as Boscov's because Boscov's ROCKS!
Tech specs:
Brand: Westinghouse
Type: Inground Hydraulic
Fixtures: WEstinghouse AE/ Classic Adams
Year installd: 1982
Floors Served: 3
January 12 2013 Bottom Dollar status update Willow Grove PA
Willow Grove Amusement Park 62
Family trip to park
Travelling from Pennsylvania Convention Center to Sugar House casino in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Queen of Angels Band - Willow Grove,PA
Hershey Park Band Competition 2013
War Memorial Park Dog Beach in Willow Grove PA I
Lots And Land for sale - 0000 LAMOTT AVE, WILLOW GROVE, PA 19090
Listing Site:
Property Site:
Opportunity * Build your own home - Abington Township Lot 52: Lamott Ave. Affordable 51' x 91' approx. 4732 sq. ft. vacant lot waiting for your new home. Great Location, flat lot, utilities available. Close to Willow Grove Mall, Restaurants, public transportation. Vacant lot please drive by. Lot is located between 2550 Lamott and 2560 Lamott use either for GPS. Buyer should do due diligence before making offer. Bring an offer. Don't miss out this is a rare opportunity.
Bedrooms: 0
Bathrooms: 0
Square Feet: 0
Price: $37,900
MLS ID: 6676007
For more information about this property, please contact Stephen Marchese at 2155308791 or smarchese@remax.net. You can also text 3193463 to 67299.
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WFAB-TV 2011 Willow Grove 300 Tri-Centennial History
WFAB-TV & the 44th annual Frank & Beans Day Festival celebrate the Willow Grove, PA Tri-Centennial in our hometown! We'll celebrate at The Summit House - Tolton Hall on July 30, 2011. Chester 'Roadhog' Moran takes a look at why Willow Grove traces it's history to 1711 in this video recorded for WFAB-TV 2011!
In memory of Ralph Levy
Ralph M. Levy, 94, of Warminster, and formerly of Abington passed on May 6, 2015 at Ann's Choice.
Ralph was born on May 23, 1920 at his home, 814 Merrick Ave., Collingswood, NJ, to Rae & Myer Levy. At home at that time were his two brothers, A. Charles and Willard F., both of whom preceded him in death.
At about the age of eleven, he, his mother, and two brothers moved to 3856 N. 19th St., Philadelphia, PA., the home of his mother’s parents, Rose (Blitz) and Alexander Reinheimer. When he was thirteen, he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Adath Jeshurun Synagogue, then located on Broad St., just north of Diamond St.
Shortly after graduation from Simon Gratz High School in June 1937, he spent a winter at Flagstaff, Arizona as a member of the CCC’s (Civilian Conservation Corps), a government agency. He, with others, worked building steps and walkways so that future visitors could more easily visit caves in the canyon walls that had been used by pre-historic man.
Prior to serving in the army during World War II, he worked at various jobs and was drafted from Kellett Aircraft Co., assigned to the Army Air Corps. He trained as an aerial gunner on bombers, as a nose gunner on B-24’s and as a tail gunner on B-29’s at Harlington, TX.
After his discharge in 1946 he spent time as a member of the 52/20 Club; no jobs at that time. That government club stopped when he became employed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. He also became a partner in a printing company, the “Rawl Printing Co.”, with his brothers. It was at this time he met Eleanor Paul who later became his wife.
They married in 1952 and started a family a couple of years later. After several years in an apartment in N.E. Philadelphia, they bought a house in Abington, PA, where they lived for many years with their two children, Bonita and Alex.
While living in Abington he changed Jobs several times. He went from working at “Kaiser Metal Products Co.” in Bristol, PA to “Standard Pressed Steel” (now SPS Technologies) in Jenkintown, PA to Honeywell, Ft. Washington, PA.
He had enrolled in Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University) during the 52/20 period taking courses in Mechanical Engineering, graduating in 1954.
Retiring from Honeywell in May 1985 he started his life of leisure, playing at golf, taking an occasional trip to Las Vegas and Atlantic City and enjoying his family which grew from four to sixteen. He also spent some winter weeks in Nakomas, Sarasota, and Bradenton, Florida.
A heart attack and triple by-pass operation in 1992 changed some aspects as to how he spent his time. He started walking every morning, at first outside if the weather permitted or inside at the Willow Grove Park Mall. At the Mall he socialized with other retirees who became new friends.
He is survived by his daughter Bonita Greiner and her husband, Nevin and their children: Benjamin and his wife Brandie and their son Levi; Matthew; Jesse and his wife Courtney and their children Olivia and Everett; Micah and his wife Hanna; Johanna; Anya; Sarena; and Caleb, all living in the Manheim area. He is also survived by his son Alex, his wife Brenda, and their daughters Sarah of Virginia Beach and Alyssa of Hatboro.
Along with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, he is survived by many special relatives and friends, including Rita (Reinheimer) Hornstein, her husband Al and their son Garry; Marvin Levy, his wife Robin and their sons Scott and Andrew; Barbara Dargo; Ron Brown and his children Rachel, David, and Josh; Clair and Stu Gruber; Libby and Abe Kern; Hank and Bonni Basich; Bill Erhardt; Don McDermott; Leslie Bell and all the great friends at 'The Mall'.
Relatives and friends are invited to his graveside service on Friday May 8, 2015 at 1pm at Shalom Memorial Park, 101 Byberry Rd., Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Arrangements by John J. Bryers Funeral Home. bryersfh.com
John J. Bryers Funeral Home, Inc.
406 North Easton Road
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090
(215) 659 – 1630
Jeffrey S. Thompson-Supervisor