Next door to the old Sears Building

For those who date themselves with places that no longer exist in Louisville, from the CJ's "This Week in History" -

50 Years Ago - 1959
A Sears, Roebuck & Co. opened at 4121 Shelbyville Road in St. Matthews. The two-story department store cost an estimated $2 million to build. Modern amenities included music and air conditioning, and one cutting-edge demonstration was for a garage door that opened automatically when a homeowner pushed a button in the car. Sears closed its previous St. Matthews store at 3731 Lexington Road where it had been for 20 years.

No mention of when the Shelbyville Road store actually closed, thus leading to the famous quote "down the street from the old Sear's building. . . ."

Since arriving in L'ville we have discovered that "The Old Sears Building" is the center of the compass rose and that all directional radials are mysteriously emitted from it's rooftop. I would not be surprised to learn that aircraft navigate via it's aura.

I would not be surprised to learn that aircraft navigate via it's aura.

Good one, Steve.

I believe it's one of two questions/statements asked in authenticating a Louisville Native. The second,of course, "Where did you go to School?".

Ahh, so that's where it used to be. The 4121 snippet was very handy for finally pinpointing this ephemeral location that so many people talk about.

For those of you who are curious, during the epiphany it was as if the great square blocks of buildings with spindly roads running between them that had been swirling about chaotically in my mind finally descended to earth and coalesced into a coherent map. It was glorious. It was geography.

Ahh, so that's where it used to be. The 4121 snippet was very handy for finally pinpointing this ephemeral location that so many people talk about.

For those of you who are curious, during the epiphany it was as if the great square blocks of buildings with spindly roads running between them that had been swirling about chaotically in my mind finally descended to earth and coalesced into a coherent map. It was glorious. It was geography.

Dude,

Cartwheelin' Christ...I had to hit the dictionary four times on that one post. Have you been hittin' the bong again ?

Dude,
Cartwheelin' Christ...I had to hit the dictionary four times on that one post. Have you been hittin' the bong again ?

Haha, "Cartwheeling' Christ" made me burst out in laughter.

No, not the bong. I just love words, and sometimes something absurd like that comes spilling out, unbidden. I have a feeling that this is just going be one of those days!

I believe it's one of two questions/statements asked in authenticating a Louisville Native. The second,of course, "Where did you go to School?".

Keep in mind ... that this is Where did you go to High School.

Me .. I went to high school at 2nd and Broadway

Keep in mind ... that this is Where did you go to High School.

Not the way I always heard it, but whatever works...

[Robin Garr]

Ahh, so that's where it used to be. The 4121 snippet was very handy for finally pinpointing this ephemeral location that so many people talk about.

All kidding aside, Paul, the building is still there. If you're dining at Equus sometime, or going in the front door of Jack's, or anywhere else along the first block of Sears Avenue north of Shelbyville Road, look at the side of the big gray building that's now full of smaller stores. The hulking bland Eisenhower-era "architecture" of the old building gives it away.

I have always been baffled by the phenomena of giving directions here based on old landmarks that don't exist. If I had a dollar for everytime I was told "the old sears building" or "where Bacon's used to be" I'd be able to eat out at Veranese. One of the first set of directions I was ever given here included the words "You go around a big ol' curve past the tree....". I knew I could finally call Louisville my home when I found myself giving directions to Havana Rumba based on said directions.

I got instructions in Glasgow once and a guy told me to go out th' Roseville Rd. and turn where the upholstery shop that burned down used to be. Very helpful !

If someone gives me directions using street names I have to Google Map it or use GPS. I do better using landmarks that aren't there anymore.

, or anywhere else along the first block of Sears Avenue north of Shelbyville Road,

Well, do you think SEARS AVENUE might be a bit of a hint????

I have always been baffled by the phenomena of giving directions here based on old landmarks that don't exist. If I had a dollar for everytime I was told "the old sears building" or "where Bacon's used to be" I'd be able to eat out at Veranese. One of the first set of directions I was ever given here included the words "You go around a big ol' curve past the tree....". I knew I could finally call Louisville my home when I found myself giving directions to Havana Rumba based on said directions.

Forget directions based on old landmarks, I don't like directions based on current ones: I cannot tell you how many times I've been given directions like " It's just past the Dairy Queen," or right across from the "Taco Bell" or something like that. And they expect me to actually know where a random Taco Bell is in some part of town I'm not that familiar with. I mean, the only reason I notice those kind of places is because my son likes to make fun of some of them (like McD's and KFC - longer story). I don't eat that crap, so how am I supposed to know where it is? But I guess the rest of Louisville eats plenty (apperently - these joints are still in biz). So perhaps they're not horrid landmarks.