Westgate Outdoor Theatre (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions

In 1959, the theater added a go-cart attraction, the Mighty Midget Race Track, to its property.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45508806/the_racine_journaltimes_sunday_bulletin/ "A Go-Cart Race Track Starts to Click in Racine"], [[Racine Journal Times]], September 13, 1959, page 18.</ref> In March 1961, Papas announced plans to build Westgate Family Center, a {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} [[discount department store]] immediately north of the theater, at a time when such stores were a new concept in retailing. Although Papas owned the land extending north to Washington Avenue from the theater, his plan required purchasing land west of Perry Avenue from the Racine Water Department for part of the store's parking lot.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45509006/the_journal_times/ "Westgate to Build Store Containing 50 Departments"], [[Racine Journal Times]], April 6, 1961, page six.</ref> The Water Department agreed to sell the land for $27,750. By July 1961, Papas had come to an agreement with the Chicago-based [[Jewel Tea Company]] grocery store chain, which would open its first department store in the new building. The planned store was downsized to {{convert|90000|sqft|m2}}, allowing a larger parking lot in front of the store and making the land purchased from the Water Department unnecessary for parking. Instead, Papas announced that the land would be used for [[HollebClayton House (Racine, Wisconsin)|a motel]] with 65 to 70 units, with the possibility of an attached restaurant.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45509708/the_journal_times/ "Plan New Motel of 65-70 Units"], [[Racine Journal Times]], July 28, 1961, page 4.</ref>