Camayo Arcade

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Camayo Arcade | nrhp_type = cp | nocat = yes | partof = Ashland Commercial Historic District | image = Camayo Arcade.jpg | caption = The Camayo Arcade prior to renovations | location = 1530 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky | coordinates = {{coord|38|28|43.6|N|82|38|25|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Kentucky#USA | area = | built = 1925-26 | architect = | architecture = | added = July 8, 1994 | refnum = }}

The '''Camayo Arcade''' is a historic shopping arcade located along Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland, Kentucky. It opened in July 1926 and was the first indoor shopping mall built in the state of Kentucky.<ref name="independent">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/x1192744900/Not-just-for-games/print|title=Not just for games: Camayo Arcade celebrates 80 years in the city|last=Lynch|first=Sarah|date=July 15, 2006|work=The Daily Independent (Ashland, Kentucky)|accessdate=2014-06-29}}</ref> The building is part of the Ashland Commercial Historic District.<ref name=nrhp/>

==History==

On September 22, 1925, a construction contract was awarded to C. Harrison Smith, a general contractor from Huntington, West Virginia. Demolition of the Josselson Brothers Furniture Store began the following week on the site where the arcade would be constructed.<ref name="brochure"/> By this time, 60% of the retail space on the second and third floors of the building had been leased.<ref name="brochure"/> The storefronts were constructed out of rosetta marble and each interior store featured a depth of 17.5 feet, with a width of 15, 30 or 45 feet, with or without partitions.<ref name=nrhp>Powell, Helen C., Lynn, {{NRHP url|id=94000838|title=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for Ashland Commercial Historic District}} 5 August 1994. Retrieved on 2014-06-30.</ref> 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 in July 1926.<ref name=urbanup>[http://urbanup.net/2012/01/02/the-camayo-arcade/ The Camayo Arcade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301215055/http://urbanup.net/2012/01/02/the-camayo-arcade/ |date=2015-03-01 }} Urbanup. Retrieved 2014-06-29.</ref>

On October 9, 1926, the {{Convert|15000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} Camayo Arcade Recreation Center opened in basement of the building. The recreation center featured billiards tables and a bowling alley. Once completed, the Camayo Arcade had {{Convert|68190|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} of total floor space.<ref name="brochure">{{cite news|url=http://urbanup.net/cities/kentucky/ashland-kentucky/downtown/camayo-arcade/|title=Camayo Arcade (Brochure)|work=Urbanup|accessdate=2014-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025654/http://urbanup.net/cities/kentucky/ashland-kentucky/downtown/camayo-arcade/|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The building underwent significant renovations in 2012 after being purchased by resident Perry Madden.<ref name="news">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/x1585736098/Investing-in-downtown|title=Investing in downtown: Perry Madden brings old buildings into modern days|last= Preston|first= Tim|date=April 29, 2012|work=The Independent (Ashland, Kentucky)|accessdate=2014-06-29}}</ref>

==References==

Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1926 Category:Shopping malls established in 1926 Category:Shopping malls in Kentucky Category:Shopping arcades in the United States Category:Ashland, Kentucky Category:National Register of Historic Places in Boyd County, Kentucky Category:Historic district contributing properties in Kentucky Category:1926 establishments in Kentucky