Pilgrim Gardens Shopping Center
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Pilgrim Gardens is a major shopping center in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania in Upper Darby Township. One of the oldest area shopping centers, it was built in stages from 1951 to 1955. A public road runs between the shopping center and its main parking lot, but it has metered parking at store level. The plaza received minor remodels in 1974 and 1994. In 2004, one portion of the center was acquired by UK-based Centro Watt (now Centro Properties Group) in a large purchase of US shopping centers. The rest is owned by local management company National Realty Corp (NRC). Notable tenants, current and former: Food Fair (1951-1971; later Pantry Pride), Pantry Pride (1971-1979; now Dollar Tree), Evans Drug (1951-1991; acquired by Thrift Drug), Thrift Drug (1992-1997, acquired by Eckerd), Eckerd (closed in 2004, now Tuesday Morning), Wine & Spirits Shoppe (added 1994; relocated to different spot in Pilgrim Gardens 2004), Maggie O'Neill's (local bar; known for its distinctive architecture and rare modern cigarette machine, added 1994), Howard Johnson's restaurant (later Loehmann's, empty since 2010), Office of Republican state senator Edwin Erickson, and a post office. A joint Honda/Oldsmobile dealership shared the property for many years. The Oldsmobile portion discontinued sales in 2002, before the Oldsmobile brand retirement in 2004. The building has since been used for Honda displays and service, and in 2007 discontinued Oldsmobile warranty service.
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