email: roadarch@outlook.com

Virginia Mid-Century Modern Roofs & Canopies

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Martinizing Dry Cleaning
Martinsville, VA		 Martinizing Dry Cleaning
Collinsville, VA
The Martinizing Dry Cleaning nationwide chain was founded in 1949. There were thousands of locations. There are now about 600 locations. I believe this building design is from the early 1960s. There are many of these buildings still in use by other cleaners and different types of businesses. [Martinsville map]; [Collinsville map]

Colony Cleaners
Richmond, VA		 Specialty Cleaners (now Commonwealth Cleaners)
Richmond, VA
Colony Cleaners and Specialty Cleaners were probably Martinizing Cleaners originally. The photo of the Specialty Cleaners is from around 2001. Since at least 2007, the building has housed Commonwealth Cleaners. [photos thanks Steven Winner] [Colony map]; [Specialty map]

Austin's Dry Cleaners
Highland Springs, VA
The Austin's Dry Cleaners building may also have been a Martinizing Cleaners originally. The building has been vacant since around 2017. [map]

Mel's Cafe
Charlottesville, VA
Mel's Cafe was most likely a Martinizing Cleaners originally. [map]

Skyline Cleaners
Salem, VA		 Harper's [gone]
Richmond, VA
This Skyline Cleaners opened in the early 1960s with these giant canopies. There was originally a star or satellite ball on top of the plastic sign. There are at least two locations in Salem and others in Roanoke but I don't know if they have this look. [photo thanks Robby Delius] [map]

Harper's was originally Harper's Children's Department Store. They then sold clothes for all ages for many years. Despite some wear and tear, the building retained its great table leg corner and wonderful display cases. My best guess is this storefront is from the 1950s or possibly earlier. The building was completely renovated and this feature/storefront removed in 2008. For more, see this website.

strip mall
Annandale, VA
This strip mall has 1960s looking canopies. [map]

Police Operations Center
Norfolk, VA		 former Rich's Hamburgers [gone]
Hampton, VA
The Police Operations Center canopy appears to be from the 1960s or 1970s. [map]

Rich's Hamburgers opened here in 1961. The building now houses Cap City. This photo is from 2010. By 2021, the building was gone. For more, see this website.

More Virginia:
Minute Market (Altavista)
Minute Market (Bedford)
Pretlow & Sons Funeral Home (Chesapeake)
Riverside Lanes (Danville)
Siegel's Supermarket (Richmond)
Colony House Motor Lodge (Roanoke)
Virginia Beach Pavilion (Virginia Beach) [gone]