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.