DECEMBER 7 • 2023 | 27
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“I asked everyone for their top
three places and memories
throughout Oak Park and, in
less than three weeks, I filled
the 40 spaces on the board,”
Naftaly says.
And this year, just in time
for Chanukah, he creat-
ed Northland-Opoly: The
Northland Mall Edition.
An extension of his
Northland Mall book,
Northland-Opoly draws on
the history of the world’s
then-largest shopping center,
opened in 1954. The innova-
tive design was the vision of
architect Victor Gruen and
the Webbers, nephews of
Joseph Lowthian Hudson and
executives of the J.L. Hudson
Company, with Hudson’s serv-
ing as its flagship store.
Again, when creating the
board game, Naftaly posted
on social media a “‘call for
names’ of favorite Northland
stores,
” he says, to an over-
whelming response. “There
were people who had their
first jobs there — some who
met their future spouses while
working at Northland. Others
were from families who owned
stores, some went for the peo-
ple-watching. It was a fascinat-
ing place, with much history.
”
Hudson’s Dining Room
(Hudson’s could be a game
in itself), Himelhoch’s, Max
Green’s Mens Wear, the Book
End, Ming Palace, Kresge, Peter
Pan and so much more are
among fans’ favorite reminis-
cences that appear in the game.
So much more than a shopping
destination, Northland Mall
was a total experience, with
colorful outdoor courtyards,
home to the iconic the Boy and
Bear sculpture. The book —
and the game — are steeped in
happy memories.
Working with a company
in Frankenmuth — the same
that helped him produce
Northland-Opoly — Naftaly
set up the game in a fashion
similar to Monopoly, with some
130-140 names listed in the
center of the board, in addi-
tion to the 34 stores in the 40
spaces around the game board.
“There are also cards similar to
‘community chest’ and ‘chance’
cards from the real Monopoly
game – I’ve called them ‘Fate’
and ‘Northland Mall’ cards.
”
(In Northland-Opoly, these
spots were taken by Golden
Bowl, Hoa-Kow and King Lim’s
Garden restaurants, with little
fortune cookies on their spac-
es). He also created the money
denominations to include J.L.
Hudson, the Webber Bros. (his
nephews) and others.
Naftaly donated a portion
of the proceeds from the
Northland-Opoly game to
Buddy Bags for the Oakland
County Sheriff’s K9 Unit; sim-
ilarly, an initial donation from
the sales of Northland Opoly
benefited the Friends of the
Southfield Police.
To purchase Northland-Opoly ($36 plus
postage) or any of Naftaly’s books and
games, visit his website (jerrynaftaly.
com) or email him at gnaftaly@att.net.
TOP: A sam-
pling of the
game’s Fate and
Northland Mall
cards.
LEFT: Jerry
Naftaly’s
Northland Mall
book that the
game is based
on.
Jerry Naftaly holds the
game he created.