Subject,William Gruber
Date,5/5/12
Interviewer,Gabriela Halligan-Taylor
Abstract,"William Gruber is a life-long resident of the Cleveland area whose family owned the popular restaurant Gruber's. Growing up in Beachwood and Shaker Heights, William eventually settled down with his wife on the edge of Shaker and the city of Cleveland. In this interview Mr. Gruber relates his experinces growing up in Shaker Heights, discussing schools and shopping in detail but also touching upon his relationship with downtown and recreation outlets that were available to him."
Tags,
Special Notes,*There is a child crying in the background at the 39-40 minute mark*
Minutes,56 minuntes 
0,Grew up in a house in Beachwood. Parents owned the house for 50 years. Shopped and went to the movies in Shaker and also attended grade school there. Father owned a restaurant in Shaker as well.
1,Moved into a house in Shaker in 1996. Grandfather came from Germany and opened restaurants in which father became involved.
2,Father reluctantly entered into the business because of pressure from his mother. Operated restaurant for fourteen years from 1947-1961 that served classic American fare.
3,Highest rated restaurant in Cleveland. Name of establishment was Gruber's and was frequented by celebrities. Women were not allowed in the bar alone.
4,Men had to wear a tie. Bill Veeck was the only man who didn't. Remembers restaurant as a kid particularly for birthday parties.
5,The restaurant was a place people would go for a special occasion. People often tell him that they went there for Prom or on a first big date.
6,"Shaker had Mom and Pop stores for shopping. J. Angle for clothing, Lescher Shoes, haircuts, Chandler and Rudds for groceries. Miller Drugstore had a soda stand."
7,Shopping continued. Vogue Theatre was a big source of entertainment.
8,Shopping continued. Father owning restaurant caused the family to know everyone.
9,Beachwood was small and did not have the shopping options. House caught fire in the 70s and Beachwood still had volunteer fire department. Shaker Fire Department could not assist unless Beachwood asked. 
10,Went downtown all the time. Father's law offices were downtown in Terminal Tower on the 10th floor. Father was also a member of the Cleveland Athletic Club.
11,"Indians and Browns games. Talks about department stores. ""Center of the world was between Shaker and downtown."" Downtown was more special."
12,Different reasons for going to Shaker and going downtown.
13,Higbee windows and downtown Christmas decor. Terminal Tower was utilitarian.
14,Looking at windows as a kid.
15,Ice skating downtown was not common. Outdoor skating was don in the heights.
16,Going downtown during middle school for Indians games. Father had season tickets to Browns games.
17,Old arena on 40th and Euclid hosted Barons hockey games and Circus.
18,Circus at the arena and public auditorium.
19,Parade of elephants when circus arrives in town. Circus still comes to Cleveland annually or semi-annually
20,Friend worked for the Circus and would get tickets.
21,Dangers of letting children go out on their own. Fear of letting children out.
22,"Racial division and ""racial tinge"""
23,Red Cross training. Exposure to kids from outer suburbs who were afraid to be in the city.
24,These are signs of the times. Areas of Cleveland are scary even for the people that live in them.
25,Attended St. Dominic's School during integration.
26,1st black child at St. Dominic's and how nuns pressured students to treat him.
27,Nuns were pretty liberal by the time of middle school. Nuns were arrested at anti-war mass.
28,Description of nuns and talks prevelance of them.
29,Nuns were progressive. Taught evolution and other modern sciences.
30,Use of public money in private schools for non-religous teaching.
31,Attended Gilmore Academy in Gates Mills. Had to pick up children from inner-city which made for an hour and half bus ride each day.
32,The housing and schools in Shaker is still the same really it is the shopping that has changed. Remebers the Three Stooges performing at Van Aken.
33,"Talks about effects of shopping centers on Chagrin Boulevard, Legacy Village,and Beachwood Place in regards to Shaker shopping."
34,"""                   "" - Loss of family businesses in the community."
35,Prevelance of movie theatres whih are now gone. Mentions that this is a reflection of the economy.
36,Loss of small businesses is a reflection of economy.
37,Describes need for Shaker to reinvent itself.
38,Shaker's efforts to reinvent self.
39,""" """
40,Discussion of CVS and Walgreens. Do not want to gain reputation of discouraging business but still want to uphold standards.
41,Meaning of centenial. Reinforces community feeling.
42,Weighing of employment options following college graduation.
43,Recorded addresses of vacant properties. Senior thesis was on Cleveland Model Cities Program. Worked on Ed Feighan mayoral campaign against Dennis Kucinich.
44,Experience of volunteering on Feighan campaign.
45,"Worked with neighborhood organizing where he ""helped them help themselves"""
46,Live near E. 71st and Superior during the late 70s early 80s. Went to law school at CWRU and lived on E. 124th St near Shaker Square during that time.
47,"Married and moved in with wife who owned a house in University Hts. Wanted to live in Cleveland so they moved to a residence where the house was located in Cleveland and the garage was in Shaker. ""Best of both worlds."""
48,"CHALK neighborhood. Carl Stokes, judges, and city officials all lived there. Residency requirements for city employment made the area even more attractive to city employees."
49,"Ideal location of residence on Layton Rd. in Shaker. ""Suburban living fifteen minutes by rapid or car from downtown."""
50,Children's experience with schools in Shaker.
51,"""     "" -Shaker vs. Private schools"
52,"""     "" ""     """
54,""" "" "" ""- Whole family ended up in Shaker. "
55,Interest at one point of Shaker annexing portion of Beachwood where previously mentioned house fire occured- Area felt more like Shaker.
56,Shaker of the past described as smaller and more like a village compared to today. End of Interview.