Business in Ellwood City
11 September 2008
Before malls and Mega-Marts, all the shopping whether for groceries, clothes, or even furniture, was done downtown at locally owned shops or at neighborhood grocery stores.
If you needed a new wardrobe you could go downtown to JC Penney’s department store, Cecelias Shop, Margeret’s Dress Shop, Doutts, or Helen Herberts. For mens clothing you could go over to Jake Oswalds and Belloffs before heading to Kellers or Edelmans for shoes. Mazers and Garsons shop offered clothing for the children too. Most citizens purchased their groceries from the local “mom and pop” stores within walking distance of their home or head to the A&P supermarket with a stop at Wehr’s Meat Market on Lawrence Ave. If you didn’t feel like cooking, Ellwood City had a number of small, locally owned restaurants as well.
Some of the local teen hangouts consisted of Nick’s Snack Bar in Ewing Park, Willy’s Dairy on Bell Ave, or the Wolverine Restaurant. If you wanted to take out a date, the Son’s of Italy hosted weekend dances, the Jaycees also sponsored dances for young people, as did the Shuffle Shop after the game. If dancing wasn’t your thing, you could head to one of the movie theaters, Majestic, Manos, (the Liberty) or even Barnes Theater.
Pictures and comments of the Business of Ellwood City
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What nostalgia! For us living in tiny Portersville, going to Ellwood was big time! And of course with Dad painting there all those years we have many memories. I used to hop a bus in P-ville and head for Ellwood to do my Christmas shopping. I thought this was really big time. I was so impressed with Blocher’s Jewelry Store and that black marble front. I even bought some wedding gifts there.I bought Kathie’s engagement and wedding rings in Ellwood. I loved going to Isaly’s, Young’s Drug store, and the drug store diagonally across the main intersection where my future sister in law Joanne worked for awhile and made great Lemon Blennd drinks. I always thought Lincoln High was so elegant looking. I will keep checking this site and see what you are up to!
Bruce
Hi Ben
The confectionary store pictured was owned by the Demas Family and was located on Lawrence Avenue where Oliver’s Pub and Restaraunt are now. Tom Demas was the last owner of it and it closed when he passed away sometime in the late 70′s or early 80′s
Bob Stevenson
PS. The drug store that Mr. Brennaman is talking about was “Albert your Duggist” and he’s right, they did have good lemon blend along with milkshakes and sandwiches.
My Mom and I used to buy a lot of clothes from Edmin’s next door to GC Murphy (very tiny and narrow store) and continued after that when it moved closer to 5th street. I think near Oswalds(?). We also shopped at Shapiros Dress Shop and the dress shop next Wykoskys Drug Store diagonal from Youngs. For shoes we went to Jackson’s between 7th and 8th Streets. They had narrow widths for us plus Buster Brown shoes. Ban-Lon sweaters and white bucks. WOW
I forgot to mention we did our grocery shopping at Minnocci’s owned by John and Rose Minnocci(?)next to the Manos movie theater. They just kept a tab for us and my Mom would pay it and a new tab would start. They were so nice. John took care of the “meat dept.”. I remember when they go “TV Dinners” big, big deal.
Thank you so much Linda you racked my brain and helped me remember 2 stores I almost forgot Wykosky ay 5yh and Lawarnce ave and Minnoccis I used togo into both for my Mom almost everyday , the drug store still had the old soda fountian Awasome
I used to get vanilla cokes and cherry cokes at the wonderful old soda fountain. There is one drugstore not far from where I live and they still have an old soda fountain with the stools and everything. It is decorated in the 50′s style. We take our 3 grandchildren there just for fun.
I remember in the early ’80′s Demas Grill on Lawrence Avenue. The store front, as I recall, had a unique ceramic-tiled “Demas” sign. Is it still there?
Regarding other Ellwood City businesses not in the photo gallary, does anybody remember Montgomery Wards? We affectionately called it “Monkey Wards.” It was located on a street perpendicular to Lawrence Avenue. It was a catalog company as well as a retail store, a competitor to Sears & Roebucks.
Lew Beatrice’s men’s store, on Lawrence Avenue, up by the Ledger, was my sponsor in the 1957 Soap Box Derby. In addition to suits, shirts and trousers, my dad bought hats there as well. Hats were no longer in fashion after JFK’s inauguration. The only time I remember shopping outside of Ellwood City was going to downtown Pittsburgh at Christmas time. Like the lead in to this article says, all you needed you could get from local businesses. Nice.
I remember Wards Iworked there for about 6 mo. the store was acatalog store but had all the major appliances for sale it was a busy store in the early 60s
I vaguely remember a hat shop in E.C. – my Aunt Maude Turner had something to do with it but I don’t recall what. Can anybody fill me in?
Jo Ann, The name of the hat store was “Asher’s”. I got all my Easter hats there. I remember Kimpels, Asher’s (I think Lew Beatrice took that space over/Lois L. would know better about that since Lew was her Uncle), Edmins, Murphy’s 5/10, GC Murphy, Demas Grill, Shapiros, Isaly’s, Gerson’s, and Young’s all along Lawrence Ave. How did I do?
We ordered from M. Ward and Sears.
Does anyone remember when JCP used “tubes to send money up to the office”? and they would send something back down. I loved watching that tube!
I can remember the numatic tubes they was awasime to watch
speking of JC Penneys I live close to Mcallen Texas and right in the old part of Downtown is an orginal JCPenneys store it is still set up just like the one in Ellwood when I went into the store It was just like going back in time the product is updated but the placement is just like it was no tubes though wish the prices was like it was in the 50′s
In my above comment, it was supposed to be GC Grants not Murhpy’s.