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History of The Gateway
Area
Business Association
The Gateway Area
Business Association was started in 1950 as the Woodland Park
Merchants,
with
15 charter members. The purpose was to promote the area
with
services to the community. One of the first activities was the
organizing
of a parade in 1951, with eager participation. One of the highlights
of
the parade was the annual appearance of the Senior and Junior Rose
Festival Courts.
The first
Fun-O-Rama
days were held in 1952, with a carnival used as a fund-raising
event. The
Gateway Keystone Cops were a west coast-side fun group, appearing in
many
local and regional events such as parades and other fun-type activities.
In early 1954
construction of the Gateway Shopping Center began, to be completed
August
17th of that year. Founder and owner Fred Meyer had an
arch
built as part of the center. This would demonstrate, in a
highly visible and meaningful manner, the importance he felt for the future of the
area.
In 1991 the arch had to be removed due to some deterioration of the
structure.
In 1957 the
Menlo Park
Plaza shopping center was started with the opening of Kienow’s food
store,
followedby many other merchants. The following years saw the
construction of San Rafael Center, Mall 205, Glisan Street Station and 111th SQUARE.
In 1958, as the
name
Gateway grew in recognition, the group changed its name to Greater
Gateway
Boosters.
In 1993, it became the Gateway Area Business
Association.
In 2002, the City of Portland identified Gateway as an urban renewal district, part of a decade-old
plan to turn Gateway's business district into a regional center. GABA is in the forefront
of the effort to revitalize business in the neighborhood.
The Association
serves
Gateway Shopping Center,
Mall
205, 111th SQUARE, Menlo Park Plaza, Glisan Street Station,
Midway, San Rafael and all businesses in between. |
