Another email I got last week was from reader Pete, who was wondering if I had anything on the old Steinberg’s downtown.
This photo above comes from the book “Windsor 1892-1992 – A centennial celebration” , by Trevor Price and Larry Kulisek. The caption to the photo from the book noted that the building at the time had stood vacant for over 20 years.
The three architectural drawings for the Steinberg Miracle Mart were on display at my show at the Art Gallery of Windsor last fall. They were dug up by curator James Patten, from the City of Windsor Planning Department archives at City Hall with the help of Jim Yanchula.
Maybe there are some readers out there with some memories of the place?
what street was it on
I remember going to that building back when the Windsor Home Show was there, just before it was torn down. I was young, but I do remember going up stairs the 1 year, and the next year it was all downstairs. Still sad to see lots of these old business gone from Downtown. But at least this property is being put to good use in more then 1 way.
I remember it quite well – I guess I’m showing my age. It wasn’t a bad store – actually really 2 stores – Steinberg’s grocery on one side, Miracle Mart Dep’t store on the other. I remember it being quite large and a lot of selection. This was in the early 1970’s.
My father worked nearby and sometimes my mother would pick him up from work and then they would get groceries. I can’t really recall where you would park (parking wasn’t an issue for us as my dad had his own reserved spot nearby) You got your groceries, got your receipt, and then came around in your car to the other side – next street (PItt/Chatham?) and the stuff came out on a conveyer belt and harried looking young men loaded it in your car. There were a lot of stores that did that in the 1970’s.
I can’t remember when everything changed – but it got really seedy, really fast and then it was empty – when it closed it caused a lot of hardship for people who lived downtown because there was basically nothing really left – especially not having a reasonable food store was difficult.
I remember going there in the late 60’s with my mother. The thing I remember the most were the escalators. It was exciting for a 5 year old.
I have memories of going there with my family to buy shoes when I was a kid and all I can remember is how futuristic the place looked inside. It looked like something out of a science fiction movie.
I remember they used to sell new cars in there. Does anyone remember that?
I only have vague childhood memories of the empty building. As for location, where was it exactly? Again, if memory serves, it was basically where the new police station is, no?
I remember visiting the store not long after it opened. Like Dan, the only thing that I can recall clearly about the place is the escalators. I was told that they were the first set to be installed in Windsor.
i just sent you a photo i took inside there at an auto show, and a newspaper clipping from when they started to tear it down.
Sent the car show one for Guido who was asking about it above.
i just sent you a photo i took inside there at an auto show, and a newspaper clipping from when they started to tear it down.
Steinberg Miracle Mart came to Windsor during one of the city’s periodic recessions much like a period we we seem to be entering now. The city fathers, desperate for any new development, approved the construction even though an earlier plan developed when City Hall was built called for a vista from City Hall to the riverfront. The two storey building at Goyeau and Pitt (and Chatham) was placed across the proposed vista. There was a department story at the west end and the grocery supermarket at the east, with an enclosed concourse between them. The images above are of the concourse. Besides giving up the vista, the city also built the Goyeau Street parking garage to service the Steinberg customers.
Great site Andrew. My son got me interested in your blog late last year and I have been eagerly viewing all your photos and reliving many memories of Windsor from the 70’s. As far as the Steinberg Building goes, I used to do my grocery shopping there every week as I lived on Windsor Avenue as a new bride in 1970. My husband and I purchased my gold wedding band there in 1971 at a total cost of $4.95. It was a real buy because it was sized so small (4-1/2) and the matching ring for the man had been purchased separately. I still wear it 37 years later. I enjoy your blog and the comments made by all your fans.
Funny. I remember the escalators too. I think the Steinberg’s opened in 1966 or 1967 and the advent of Devonshire Mall in 1970 put a real hole in the downtown area. Something many cities discovered with the opening of suburban malls.
On childhood trips to the old market, I often asked my father whenever we’d pass by the Steinberg building if the place had ever been open (he moved to Windsor in ’69 and gave the impression it was only around for a year or two after he arrived).
I remember shopping there for clothing as a teenager. Stuff I could actually afford on my allowance and babysitting money!
I used to eat at the restaurant upstairs with my mom when I was a kid….. She used to work there
I was 19 when I moved to Windsor in fall 1967 to attend the University. I worked as a cashier at the Miracle Mart. I think I was paid 30 cents an hour. Thanks for posting!
If you where only paid 30 cents an hour in 1967 Steinbergs realy got a bargian. When started at A&P in 1956 they paid 75 cents per hour.
From some of the people that worked their they say its down fall was shoplifting. May be just an excuse to get out of a poor location. Their where regular reports in the Star back then about people in court for shoplifting at that location.
During the mid ’60’s Kresges was paying .95 per hour & the new Metropolitan, only .85 per hour.
i remember going to miracle mart on the west side of steinbergs, riding the escalator to the top floor and go to the record department where i would get and check out the CKLW list of top 30 hits. if i liked a 45 i would buy it for less than a dollar. great store, was sad to see that it closed. i even remember the inviting smell of the store. something unique. really cant describe it.
I moved to Windsor in 1965 as stockroom manager to set up the new store. I was transfered from Hamilton We opened in 1966 and were the newest thing in town. We opened with a staff of 60 cashiers making 60 cents an hour,120 clerks and 40 people in back room service. Boy, has retail ever changed! Would be nice to contact some of the old staff. I transfered to Ottawa in 1969 to open Bayshore Shopping center so was not around for the break-up as I had mopved on to NB by then