Historian Jeff Murray takes a look into West Hartford’s past to uncover some surprising information, stir up some memories, or reflect on how much life has changed – or hasn’t changed at all. Enjoy this week’s ‘From West Hartford’s Archives’ …

By Jeff Murray

The Crossroads Plaza center was built at the northeast quarter of Bishop’s Corner in 1956 and housed many businesses near and dear to West Hartford residents, especially in the north end.

When the plaza opened at the beginning of 1957, the original tenant list included a Society for Savings bank; Grand Union Food Stores; S. S. Kresge; Maxwell Drug; and Kinney Shoes. That summer, the company developing it petitioned the town for additional capacity for building, increased off-street parking, and the elimination of a so-called Sachem Road from Albany Avenue north.

Even after it was built, zoning photos in color from 1958 depict a much greener Bishop’s Corner than we have today. Dense shrubs with small white flowers colonize the open and disturbed grounds of the Crossroads Plaza surroundings. Tall grasses and wildflowers show little to no maintenance outside the bounds of the parking lot.

In all, the zoning commission approved multiple buildings at this corner and rejected a fourth. If the original Bishop’s Corner plaza in 1954 on the southwest quarter was a ferocious battle with residents, the Crossroads Plaza a few years later was just normal bureaucracy at work. Built by the Fusco-Amatruda Company of New Haven (their first shopping center), it was formally opened in February 1957 and included additional stores: Harmac Men’s Store, Baggish Bakery, The Beauty Plaza, Berin’s Tailor Shop, Paul’s 3-Hour Cleaner, Falcone Orthopedic Shoes, Mario’s Barber Shop, and the Chocolate Shop. The upper level contained 30,000 square feet of office space.

The tenants formed the Crossroads Plaza Tenants Association under Maxwell E. Rulnick of Maxwell Drug as president. It was a massive establishment, especially among the vast farmland to its east. Aerial photos from 1957 show a patchwork of old farmhouses to the east.

One of the legacies of this area was the Crossroads Bowling Plaza, which was envisioned with the original plans. The Hartford Courant wrote on April 21, 1957: “Many stories in the past have come to this writer’s ears about new bowling alleys being installed in West Hartford. Finally the real news comes that 14 brand new lanes to be known as the Crossroads Bowling Plaza will be installed in the new building now being constructed at Bishop’s Corner.”

The lanes featured special lighting, air-conditioning (typical of 1950s commercial establishments), pin-setting machines, and acoustical tiles to deaden the noise of crashing pins. When it opened on May 29, 1957 under manager Norman Labrecque, the first matches were the men’s Club 48 vs. Arthur Drug and the women’s Hartford Fire No. 1 vs. Cow Shed Inn. A few months later, the Brotherhood of Beth Hillel Synagogue sponsored a bowling sweepstakes tournament. Labrecque looked to expand the activities by forming a house league in the fall of 1957.

Many residents today have fond memories of the bowling alley in the 1960s and 1970s (this photo was taken in 1966), especially when games were just 40 cents. When Northwest Catholic High School was built in the 1960s (and later the new Hall High School), it became a popular spot for high schoolers, especially those in the school leagues that bowled there weekly. By that time, it was owned by Don LaCroix. Pinball and other arcade games were a delight.

Alongside the bowling alley was Dino’s Pizza, which served grinders, pizza, and pasta. It opened in the early 1960s and became iconic in the neighborhood.

Also visible in this photo is Friedman’s Harmac Men’s Store. Max and his brother Al Friedman founded and opened the first store the same year that Max was discharged from the Army in 1946. When it first opened, the store focused on renting formal wear. After a wave of stores across central Connecticut, they opened the store in Crossroads Plaza in 1957. Men’s formalwear in the 1950s was strongly influenced by the postwar period – suits were dark or gray flannel; hats were everyday wear; ties were narrow; and the overall style was respectable and uniform.

It continued to serve the community through the 1980s. It closed on Dec. 31, 1991 after more than three decades when Al Friedman retired. “Friedman says the economic downturn did not shape his decision to close. Instead, it was the sense that it was time,” wrote the Hartford Courant on Dec. 26, 1991.

Next door was the Jupiter Discount Stores, a division of S. S. Kresge. In 1961, many underperforming Kresge’s locations began rebranding to focus on discount shopping and budget-conscious consumers. The S. S. Kresge in Elmwood did the same.

Crossroads Plaza in Bishops Corner, September 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Jeff Murray was born and raised in West Hartford and has been involved with the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society since 2011 when he was a high school student and won the Meyer Prize for his essay on local history. Jeff routinely volunteers as local history researcher uncovering information for numerous museum programs such as the West Hartford House Tour and West Hartford Hauntings. Jeff works as a data analyst at Pratt & Whitney.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.