For the younger guys & gals, just a little on what we did have Downtown.
With all of the local businesses being mentioned, Downtown also had at least three banks...and a Savings & Loan. There was an electric company on Niedringhaus Ave...where you could go in and pay your bill, and a separate utility gas office on Adams Street for paying that utility. We had our own Ma-Bell where you could go in and pay your telephone bill for the month.
Bars and taverns seemed to be on every corner...grocery stores right in the Downtown area...and it seems to me that we even had a Fire Engine House on 19th Street between Grand & State...could be wrong about that...but I think it was there.
We also had several Automotive Parts Houses...National Auto Parts...Houser Auto Parts...Berger's Auto Parts...and perhaps one on (I think) Edison between 18th & 19th Streets...that I cannot remember the name of.
With all of the department stores...and the 5 * dimes...and drug stores, Downtown really had it all.
Just to bad...they did not have ample parking...and city leaders who nickled and dimed you to death with those old parking meters. everywhere.