1970s

1970 Jimmy

Despite the energy crisis of the 1970s, it was full steam ahead for new retail in Toledo. In 1971, the Rouse company converted West Toledo’s Franklin Airfield and Ice Cream parlor (where our Grandma Mac was a chocolate dipper) into Toledo’s newest mall. South Toledo countered with the Southwyck Mall in 1972. Both retail centers generated commercial, multi-family, and single-family residential projects which kept us busy.

Our commercial projects dominated Reynolds Road and Heatherdowns Boulevard with developments of Heatherwyck, Renywck, Meadowbrook, and Mossville Acres. Monroe Street was dotted with commercial strip centers founded by Dynamic Stores and Bellevue Investors while two of our refining and marketing clients battled for supremacy at Sylvania and Talmadge.

The decade also found brothers Jake (draftsman) and Patrick (survey crew) joining their older brother in the family business. Louis Lewandowski now had his son, John, and three grandsons working at his side.