Wilmor Shopping Plaza

Now a bustling Walgreens drug store location, the northeast corner of Wilmor Drive and Peoria Street was a significant area of Washington trade for many years.

The corner's early history, though, is unimpressive.  The land was originally purchased from the government by Josiah Yager in 1835, and throughout Washington's early history, looks to have been a small farm residence with the house sitting just east of the corner.  In 1963, Lanny and Penny Vohland Hirstein wanted to build a residence on the property with plans to house their Studio Royal Photography and dog breeding businesses.  To do this, the property needed a zoning change to commercial.  Neighbors opposed the change due to the potential disruptions of the dogs, and the motion was denied.  The couple later built  "Penlan Kennels" at 2095 Washington Road, which became one of the top Schnauzer breeding names in the United States.  By 1969, however, the corner had been re-zoned to Commercial, and a 3-unit shopping center was constructed.  

101 N. Wilmor

The first business to open was a Convenient Food Mart on the south end of the building. The Convenient corporation was moving into Central Illinois from the Chicago area and constructing many of these 3-unit centers.  Another one went up in Sunnyland around the same time.  The original owner of the Washington Convenient was Larry Stone, and it went through many subsequent owners, including Madelyn Chesser and Dale Jones.

Convenient remained open until around 1994, when it was replaced by 2nd Cinema Video, which had a 10-year run at the location.  2nd Cinema moved to the new plaza by Jimmy Johns when the Wilmor property was bought out by Walgreens in 2005.

105 N. Wilmor

On June 12, 1970, Convenient Economy Dry Cleaner & Laundry opened into another spot on the north end of the building owned by Don O'Dea, brother of Tom O'Dea of Odea's Cleaners.  In 1973, the business changed to the Speed Queen Economy Dry Cleaner & Laundry, and then in 1975, the name was shortened to Economy Cleaners, which remained until 1985.  

In 1986 ownership changed, and Courtesy Coin Laundry & Dry Cleaning opened which lasted until at least 1992.

103 N. Wilmor

The middle unit of the center was somewhat of a revolving door of businesses.

Heights Finance: 1971-1973

Heights Finance was a branch of a Peoria loan business founded by E.B. Hoerr in 1953. The Washington site was run by Mortonite Hank Zeller. After only a couple of years at the Wilmor location, the business moved to the swanky new Hillcrest Plaza and remained there until 1978. Heights Finance has grown considerably and now has over 400 branches across the country, with its headquarters still in Central Illinois.

Arn’s Apothecary: 1974-1975

With the closing of Rexall Drugs on the Square in 1973, Washington needed another pharmacy, as Don's Pharmacy was the only one left to serve the city.  In April 1974,  James Arn, a well-traveled pharmacist and graduate of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, established his operation in the center unit of the Wilmor Plaza for two years.  However, the majority of the lifespan of Arn's Apothecary is remembered by most people at 300 Peoria Street in the old A&P building where it resided from 1976-1986.  

Vince’s Pizza: 1976-1977

Vince's Pizza, a legendary take-out joint in Morton, tried two different locations in Washington, but neither really gained any traction. This first iteration lasted two years, while another attempt on the Square survived from 1981 to 1983.

B&P Electronics: 1977-1979

B & P Electronics was basically a Radio Shack-type store and probably the first place in town where you could buy a late 1970s $1000 VCR.  In 1979, they moved to Sunnyland Plaza and changed their name to B&P Home Center to expand their appeal in a poor economy.  That business closed by the end of 1980.

Country Bake Shop: 1980-1982

The Country Bake Shop moved from 308 N. Main Street in early 1980 to make way for a new business at that location: Russell's Cycle World. The bake shop was Paula Zimmerman's love and certainly a favorite donut stop for many Washingtonians.

Jenkins Bake Shop: 1983-1985

Doug and Sally Jenkins, natives of Toulon, Illinois, and newlyweds, took over the Bake Shop in 1983, and it lasted two years.

Washington's New Image: 1985-1990

Barb England and Dee Dotson opened this hair salon in 1985, and Pam Gomer took it over in 1986.  The business had the longest tenure at the location.  New Image then moved to 616 Peoria Street, roughly the corner of Peoria Street and Tiezzi Lane.

Frames & Fronts: 1990-1994

Kent Schlink owned Frames & Fronts, which opened in September 1990. Along with his custom framing, Schlink also did cabinet work. When the cabinet work expanded, he closed the shop in 1994. Schlink remained in business in East Peoria for a couple more years. In 1996, at 30 years of age, Kent had a heart transplant, which saved his life but forced him to sell his growing business.

Change

When 2nd Cinema opened in 1994, it appeared to occupy all three building units, requiring extensive renovation. The building was demolished in 2005, and Walgreens constructed its current store, which has mostly stayed the same since its initial construction.