Camayo Arcade

Camayo Arcade is a historic commercial arcade located on Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland, Kentucky. Opened in July 1926, it is recognized as the first indoor shopping mall built in the state. The building forms part of the Ashland Commercial Historic District and represents an early twentieth-century attempt to organize multiple retail businesses within a single, purpose-built indoor setting. The project was developed on the site of the former Josselson Brothers Furniture Store. A construction contract was awarded to C. Harrison Smith of Huntington, West Virginia, on September 22, 1925, and demolition began the following week. Development proceeded while leasing was already under way: approximately 60 percent of the retail space on the second and third floors had reportedly been leased before completion. The building was designed with storefronts finished in rosetta marble. Individual interior stores were configured with a standard depth of 17.5 feet and widths of 15, 30, or 45 feet, with partitioning available according to tenant requirements. Electrical fixtures were installed beginning in June 1925 by the Beardslee Chandelier Manufacturing Company of Chicago. The arcade opened under the management of John C. C. Mayo Jr. and Alexander Cameron. Its name combines elements associated with these managers or developers, although the available reference material does not establish a formal corporate ownership structure or a separate operating company. The complex was more than a retail corridor. On October 9, 1926, the Camayo Arcade Recreation Center opened in the basement, adding billiard tables and a bowling alley. With the recreation center completed, the building contained approximately 68,190 square feet of total floor space, or about 6,335 square meters. Camayo Arcade's significance is primarily architectural, commercial, and local rather than that of a contemporary consumer brand. It provided a concentrated indoor environment for shops and leisure activities at a time when downtown arcades and department-store-style developments were important components of urban retailing. Its inclusion in the Ashland Commercial Historic District links the property to the broader preservation history of downtown Ashland. The building underwent significant renovation in 2012 after it was purchased by Ashland resident Perry Madden. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete account of the renovation's scope, the current tenant roster, or the property's present commercial operations. Accordingly, Camayo Arcade is best understood as a historic shopping and entertainment property whose identity rests on its surviving building, local architectural importance, and role in Kentucky's early indoor retail history.

Camayo Arcade was developed in downtown Ashland, Kentucky, during a period when American cities were increasingly using enclosed arcades and multi-tenant commercial buildings to consolidate retail activity. The project occupied the site of the Josselson Brothers Furniture Store on Winchester Avenue. On September 22, 1925, the construction contract was awarded to C. Harrison Smith, a general contractor based in Huntington, West Virginia. Demolition of the former furniture-store building began the following week. The development was marketed to prospective tenants before construction was complete. By the time work was under way, 60 percent of the retail space on the second and third floors had reportedly been leased. The planned storefronts used rosetta marble, giving the interior a distinctive architectural finish. Store units were laid out at a depth of 17.5 feet and were available in widths of 15, 30, or 45 feet, with partitions provided where required. Electrical fixtures began to be installed in June 1925 by the Beardslee Chandelier Manufacturing Company of Chicago. The arcade opened in July 1926 under the management of John C. C. Mayo Jr. and Alexander Cameron. Its completion made it historically notable as the first indoor shopping mall in Kentucky. The building provided approximately 68,190 square feet of floor space once all of its planned components were finished. Camayo Arcade also included an entertainment function. On October 9, 1926, a basement recreation center opened with billiards tables and a bowling alley. This addition broadened the property beyond conventional retail by combining shopping with leisure and social activities. The arcade therefore operated as a small mixed-use downtown destination, reflecting the period's interest in indoor commercial and recreational environments. The property later became part of the Ashland Commercial Historic District, preserving its association with the city's commercial development and architectural history. In 2012, Camayo Arcade underwent significant renovation after its purchase by Ashland resident Perry Madden. The available reference material does not identify all subsequent owners, managers, tenants, or uses, and it does not establish whether the historical recreation facilities remain in operation. The documented history nevertheless places Camayo Arcade among Kentucky's notable early indoor retail complexes and historic downtown commercial properties.

• 2012

  Major renovation

  [1]Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org

  The building underwent significant renovation after being purchased by Perry Madden.

• 1926

  Arcade opened

  [1]Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org

  Camayo Arcade opened in July 1926 under the management of John C. C. Mayo Jr. and Alexander Cameron.

• 1926

  Recreation center opened

  [1]Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org

  The Camayo Arcade Recreation Center opened in the basement on October 9, adding billiards tables and a bowling alley.

• 1925

  Construction contract awarded

  [1]Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org

  A construction contract for the arcade was awarded to C. Harrison Smith of Huntington, West Virginia, on September 22, 1925. Demolition of the Josselson Brothers Furniture Store began the following week.

• 1925

  Pre-opening leasing and electrical installation

  [1]Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org

  About 60 percent of the retail space on the second and third floors had reportedly been leased during development. Electrical fixtures began installation in June by the Beardslee Chandelier Manufacturing Company of Chicago.

A historic downtown shopping and recreation arcade with architectural significance and a documented role in the development of indoor retailing in Kentucky.

• Commercial retail space · 1926

  Camayo Arcade retail space

  The main arcade was designed as a multi-tenant indoor shopping environment. Storefronts used rosetta marble, and units were arranged with a standard depth of 17.5 feet and widths of 15, 30, or 45 feet. The available reference does not provide a complete historical or current list of tenants.

• Recreation facility · 1926

  Camayo Arcade Recreation Center

  The basement recreation center opened in October 1926 and featured billiards tables and a bowling alley. It expanded the arcade's function from retail into indoor leisure and social entertainment. Current operating status is not established in the available reference material.

• 2012

  Renovation following property purchaseStrategy

  Background

  The historic building required substantial investment after a change in ownership.

  Action taken

  Perry Madden purchased the property and undertook significant renovations.

  Aftermath

  The renovation marked a major later chapter in the preservation and continued use of the arcade, but the available source does not specify the work's cost, detailed scope, or resulting tenant mix.

  Source

• 1926

  Launch of the Camayo Arcade Recreation CenterProduct launch

  Background

  The arcade was designed to combine shopping with additional downtown activity and entertainment.

  Action taken

  A basement recreation center with billiards tables and a bowling alley opened on October 9, 1926.

  Aftermath

  The addition helped establish the building as a mixed retail and recreation destination, although later operating details are not available in the reference material.

  Source

• 1925

  Development of a multi-tenant indoor retail arcadeStrategy

  Background

  The project replaced the Josselson Brothers Furniture Store site with a purpose-built indoor commercial complex. Leasing began before construction was complete, indicating an early focus on securing multiple retail occupants.

  Action taken

  The developers commissioned a building with standardized but flexible storefront widths, architectural marble finishes, and substantial floor area distributed across multiple levels.

  Aftermath

  The completed property opened in 1926 and became recognized as Kentucky's first indoor shopping mall.

  Source

• 2012

  Camayo Arcade underwent significant renovation after purchase by Perry Madden[1]Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The historic arcade underwent substantial renovation after it was purchased by Ashland resident Perry Madden.

1. 1Camayo Arcadeen.wikipedia.org