By SALINA POST
Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the Smoky Hill Museum. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays."
Kraft Manor
As Salina expanded in the 1950s the retail landscape faced a massive shift. What began as a bold experiment would change how Salinans shop and pave the way for the bustling South Ninth Street we know today. The catalyst for this transformation — Kraft Manor.
In 1953, the idea of moving retail stores away from the bustling downtown area seemed outrageous. Residents enjoyed the familiarity of shopping in the heart of Salina, where businesses had long thrived.
When local businessman Ernest Larson decided to build a shopping center two miles from downtown, in what was then a wheat field on South Ninth Street, it sparked widespread skepticism and concern.
The Salina Journal captured the public's discontent on August 20, 1953, referring to Kraft Manor as the "target of all the scorn." But Larson, who had seen the early signs of suburban expansion during his travels to larger cities, was convinced that the future of retail lay beyond the traditional central business district.
Larson envisioned a new kind of shopping experience that catered to the growing number of suburbanites who wanted convenience without the hassle of navigating the hustle and bustle of downtown traffic.
As the development of Kraft Manor progressed, residents began to take notice. The once-quiet stretch of Ninth Street had neon signs lighting up the night. "When you drive southward on Ninth Street at night, you can make a selection of the stores you want to visit simply by glancing at their neon flashing sign, much as a hungry diner looks down the list of food on a menu."- Salina Journal August 20, 1958.
Kraft Manor, believed to be the first shopping center of its kind in Kansas, housed a diverse array of businesses. On the north side, shoppers could find Fredrick's House of Gifts, a beauty salon, Sampson Construction Company, The Verner Smith Agency, Padgett Electric Company, The Salina Color Center, Elmer's Furniture Store, Betty's Flowers, Roberts Shop, the Laundromat, St. Clair's Hobby Shop, Beau Franklin Store, and Hines Rothmen.
The south side boasted Morris Pharmacy, Kim's Steakhouse, Redfield Hardware, Jenkins Music Co., Ingram Appliance, Kraft Manor Barber Shop, Scott's Jewelry, a knit shop, and McConnell's Liquor. Above the shops, there were offices for 20 doctors, lawyers, and dentists, making Kraft Manor a one-stop destination for all kinds of needs.
Kraft Manor's success was undeniable, and it wasn't long before other shopping centers began to spring up outside of just downtown. The west, east, and especially the south sides of the city saw rapid development as more businesses followed in Larson's footsteps.
Today, South Ninth Street is a thriving hub of commerce, lined with businesses, restaurants, hotels, and car dealerships. Kraft Manor is the home of a massage business, an Asian market, a mobile phone store, a tanning salon, a travel center, a vape shop, sewing machine repair shop. a liquor store and barber shop.