Stores

Loomis Hardware Co. occupied a building that was already 60 years old when this 1900 picture was taken. People pushed their lawn mowers in those days, and Loomis has the latest models displayed out front. The store was located in Cuyahoga Falls at Front Street and Portage Trail.   Herrick & Son Store A china and glassware shop, shown in 1895 when it was located on the ground floor of the Academy of Music, at the northeast corner of Market and Main Streets. Completed in 1871, the Academy was greatly damaged by fire in 1897 but was later rebuilt.   This Main Street store was opened in 1889 by Michael O'Neil and Isaac Dyas, Irishmen who began their Akron mercantile careers in 1877. They broke the monopoly that E. Market and Howard merchants had long enjoyed. Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

Farmers of Bath Township brought their hogs to the Whitcraft Store, where they were hung from the porch roof until shipped by wagon to Akron's butchers. The store burned in 1912. Now situated on the same site at the intersection of Ira and Cleveland-Massillon roads is the Garth Andrew Co.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

 

Mustill's Store 1875

Canal boat riders had time to visit Mustill's store when passing through Akron, for Lock 15 was right in front and "locking through" took a few minutes. Mustill's is located on Ferndale Street, just north of North Street.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

Dettling Brothers' Cafe

Pictured in this 1908 photo are John (left) and Jacob Dettling, who operated a cafe at 37 E. Mill Street. John's son, Ted, made a name for himself in another line. He was a florist and seedsman and had his store at 43 E. Market.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

Market and North Howard Streets' merchants sold most of life's necessities - hardware, stoves, seeds, saddles, harnesses, boots and shoes.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

Five Points had a rural look in 1890, when Melvin J. Miller operated this grocery store at Bell and W. Exchange streets. Customers may have been altogether too few, for in time the grocer turned in his apron and went to work for Diamond Rubber Co.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

Robinson Book Store

A well-stocked shop for books, stationery, and newspapers, about 1890. It was on the east side of Howard Street, in the first block south of Market Street. The entire section of Howard from Market to South Main Street was vacated to allow construction of Cascade Plaza. This photo is dated 1900.

 

The Mercantile Center in 1916

O'Neil's and Polsky's roughly competed in the old days. Both fronted on S. Main and had back entrances on Howard Street. Three of the autos in the photo appear to be electrics.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

 

ACME Stores - Fred W. Albrecht opened his original grocery store in 1881 at the corner of Buchtel Avenue and Center Street. Adopting a policy of "cash and carry", he built his grocery business into a chain of stores throughout the city and county. By 1938 Albrecht operated 111 stores. Store No. 51 was located in Clinton and No. 20 at the corner of Adams & Upson Streets in East Akron.

Photographs. Cuyahoga Falls Library Archives, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.