Car Dealership Celebrates Corner’s History With Electronic Chimes
The corner of Northeast 223rd Street and Stark in Gresham, OR is now home to Weston Kia. But for locals it calls to mind a much different business. Zimmerman’s 12 Mile Store, or “Zim’s” for short, was Gresham landmark for 70 years. It was called a 12-mile store because it was located twelve miles from downtown Portland.
Zim’s started out as a simple convenience store, selling gasoline, produce, and groceries. Over time, Zim’s expanded into a 30,000 square foot superstore that included a modern-day supermarket, pharmacy, and post office. In its heyday, Zim’s 12 Mile Store was open 24 hours a day, and sold everything from bikes to appliances. The store also had a butcher shop where hunters could have game and other meats butchered and frozen. By the time the store closed in 1993, it had become a local fixture — and not just by land. The store’s gyroscope-inspired sign was also visible from the air, serving as a beacon for pilots flying into Portland.
Locals Fondly Recall Zimmerman’s Antics and Chimes
Zim’s owed much of its success to its owner, Carl Zimmerman. After purchasing the store in 1943, he and his wife Ada hired architect Pietro Belluschi to design a new building.
Carillon chimes and tall, spinning globe ensured the store could be seen and heard.
The new design included a large tower that would be visible for miles. In 1956, they added a giant spinning gyroscope to the tower, boosting visibility even further. Soon after, a set of chimes was added to the tower, allowing the store to be heard as well. The chimes were said to be a gift for Carl’s wife Ada, who loved bells.
The carillon chimes could play a variety of tunes via four loudspeakers. They also performed the public service of telling the time. One local resident recalls hearing the chimes at noon each day while working in her berry field, which was four miles away! The chimes were programmed to play every hour, on the hour.
Hourly Chimes weren’t the only thing drawing attention to the store.
Mr. Zimmerman had a flair for advertising in unexpected ways. He opened a pony farm next to the store and offered pony rides to local children. Customers also recall seeing exotic animals such as buffalo and chimpanzees. At one point the Zim’s parking lot even boasted a caged lion.
One Christmas, Santa arrived at the store by helicopter. Another wintertime draw was a large snowdrift named “Mt. Zim” — customers could enter a contest to guess when the drift would melt.
Carl Zimmerman even managed to steal the thunder from a competitor’s grand opening. He hired a plane to fly a welcome banner from Zim’s Shopping Center over the new store.
Beyond the noise, Zim’s was a store that served its community.
Zimmerman’s was a true hometown store. Friendly clerks greeted you at the register. Frugal housewives could cash in S&H stamps for merchandise like a clothes hamper, or Coleman camping equipment. Children got a small taste of independence walking to the store to buy candy. Families purchased their favorite cuts at the meat counter.
Zim’s was a place where kids looked forward to riding the penny pony, and parents could cash their weekly paychecks. It was also a place where you could find help when times were tough. During the Columbus Day Storm of 1962, hurricane-force winds wreaked havoc on the area. Zimmerman’s stayed open all night to aid those who could not get home. The store also offered credit and accepted goods in trade from those who lacked cash.
Now, Weston Kia Is Bringing Back the Carillon Bells
The Zimmerman’s much-loved store closed its doors in 1992. For many, the store’s closing marked the end of an era. A few years later, Weston Kia tore down the existing structure and built a new showroom and dealership in its place.
But those who loved Ada Zimmerman’s hourly chimes will soon be in for a treat.
Weston Kia is bringing back the hourly chimes. The new chimes are from Lumichron of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They are part of a special clock controller made by Belgian manufacturer Clock-O-Matic (CAMPA). The controller comes with 58 digital carillon recordings, including the popular Westminster melody.
Lumichron installed a bell with similar chimes at the East Riverfront Playground in South Jordan, Utah. As with the playground chimes, the Kia dealership’s carillon bells will serve as an audible clock.
Lumichron made the Kia Dealership’s clock, too
Weston Kia previously commissioned Lumichron to make the clock over the dealership’s entrance. The SE-facing clock is the perfect size for the location. The exterior 66” diameter clock is surface-mounted on the building. It features a design that is bold, clean, and legible up close and far away.
The clock case, or cabinet, is completely enclosed on all sides. Features include screened drains for water egress, which prevents condensation. The Arabic number dial design with straight tapered hands is bold and easy to read. The clock is made of aluminum with a durable, fired-on powdercoat finish. Illumination for the clock comes from long-life LED’s. The LED’s provide an even, consistent glow with no dark or bright spots.
An impulse-drive clock movement powers the hands. The remote controller automatically corrects for daylight saving time changes. It also resets for power interruptions, and has a lithium battery for backup memory.
Want Your Business To Be Seen – and Heard? Add Your Own Hourly Chimes!
There are many reasons to choose a clock with chimes. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Tell Time from Further Away: You can hear a clock’s chimes even when you can’t see the clock. The time-telling capabilities of a typical clock extend only as far as you can see it. But a clock with chimes allows you to tell time as far as you can hear it.
- Give People Two Ways to Engage: People like to interact with things. It’s part of our nature. A clock that chimes captivates two of your senses – it can be both seen and heard.
- Provide a Relaxing Environment: Hearing a clock ring out a familiar melody can be soothing. Studies show that music can be effective in getting people to relax. Of course, a few chimes are not going to have the same effect as a calming lullaby. But they can contribute a tranquil soundtrack to an otherwise busy space.
Looking to add a clock or hourly chimes to your commercial space? We’re here to help. Send us a note at info@lumichron.com. We’d love to make time for you.
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