Greater Richland Center
The Greater Richland Center was completed in December of 1955. To celebrate the opening an event was cosponsored by the Civic league, the Garden club, and the North Richland Hills Merchants' Association. During the 10 day opening event various prizes were put up by the businesses, including a grand prize of a 1956 Chevrolet. The drawing was held December 23, 1955 at 8pm. Santa Claus was even in attendance, arriving by helicopter no less.
The shopping center was the final step in developing the family farm into a community. 180 houses and 31 businesses now occuiped the area.
Clarence Jones' home was located directly behind the shopping center. According to his daughter, he could often be found in the North Richland Cafeteria drinking coffee and visiting with business owners and other associates.
See (http://nrhtxhistory.com/items/show/515) for a full map.
The above map legend of the Greater Richland Center shows the businesses that occupied that space just 4 years after its construction.
The list includes Buddies Supermarket, North Richland Drug, and others pictured below.
Green, G. N. (1999). The History of North Richland Hills : Where Families Live, Work, Worship, and Play. North Richland Hills: Smithfield Press.
Buddies Supermarket (1960)
North Richland Drug (1964)