Bel-Air Center, Detroit, MI

[Hudsons81]

This is a large strip complex located on 8 Mile Road along the border between the cities of Detroit and Warren. Three structures are laid out in a "U" pattern, with another two in the outer perimeter. Once home to many familiar local and national chains, it leaves much to be desired today.

The site was previously the Bel-Air Drive-In Theater, hence the name. It was constructed between 1985 and 1988. Original anchors included Toys "R" Us, Kids "R" Us, Farmer Jack, Target, Builder's Square and the AMC Bel-Air 10 Theaters. Previous tenants included Big Lots, Winkelman's ladies' apparel, Sally Beauty Supply, Sibley Shoes, Fashion Bug, Arbor Drugs, Payless Shoe Source and McDonald's.

McDonald's has been torn down for additional parking. Toys "R" Us is now Forman Mills. Target is now Cheapskate Charley's. Builder's Square later became HQ, then was National Wholesale Liqudators, then Cabinets to Go, now vacant. The Bel-Air 10 was later acquired by local chain Phoenix Theaters and is now an independent cinema.

Photo tour, starting at the former Builder's Square, proceeding counter-clockwise around the "U" and then the other two structures. Photos taken by Google in July 2015. I am unsure of what some of those stores were, so please reply if you do.

Former Builder's Square/HQ/National Wholesale Liquidators/Cabinets to Go




Former Target


There is still a pretty good Winkelman's labelscar over one of these storefronts.





One of these MAY have been Farmer Jack...


Former Toys "R" Us. This one kept the rainbow stripes and brown roof all the way until closing in 2003. It was the last remaining brown-roof TRU in Metro Detroit, all of the others had already been remodeled into other exterior prototypes by 2003. (Previous to this, the last brown-roof holdouts were Madison Heights and Westland)


Swerve is the location of the former Payless Shoe Source.


Bel-Air 10 Theaters (AMC, then Phoenix Theaters, now independent)

[TheFugitive]

In general the buildings seem to be in pretty decent shape.

[Ameskid]

Is "Cheapskate Charlie's" anything at all like Ollie's? Seems to live up to the name from the outside.

[BillyGr]

Is "Cheapskate Charlie's" anything at all like Ollie's? Seems to live up to the name from the outside.

I was going to say the same, even to using a funny face as part of the logo.

Or maybe just that Charley is such a cheapskate that he didn't want to pay for someone to design a log, so he just took an existing one and modified it (slightly)?

[Hudsons81]

Is "Cheapskate Charlie's" anything at all like Ollie's? Seems to live up to the name from the outside.

I believe Cheapskate Charley's is more like a flea market place...