Sheffield Lake's Lake Road Businesses – 1942

While preparing Monday's post about the old Sheffield Lake Fire Station on Lake Road, I poked around in the vintage Lorain City Directories a bit. The 1942 edition provides a nice snapshot of the Sheffield Lake businesses located on Lake Road at that time.

It's interesting seeing the various Mom and Pop places – some long-gone – that preceded the current businesses at roughly the same location.

I've highlighted the businesses on the scan of the directory listing above so it's easier to pick them out. (Although I'm merely providing a roll call of them here, a few of them will eventually receive the full-blown blog treatment.)

Vintage Vian's postcard

Heading east into Sheffield Lake from Lorain, the first business is Nicholas Vian's restaurant. Today the site is occupied by The Residence.

Up near where the Shoreway Shopping Center would celebrate its Grand Opening in 1958, we find the only business listed is Heavyweight Boxer Johnny Risko's restaurant and Mary Risko's beauty shop next door. Today, Risko's still does a great business, judging by the number of cars outside.

The building at 4282 Lake Road
in 1955

Just a stone's throw way on the south side of the road is the restaurant at 4282 Lake Road run by Gladys Palmer, with a filling station in front run by Paul Gehrke. (I did a post on this place back here.) Today the location is the home of Uncle Ray's Trains.

Up near where Grantwood Avenue intersects Lake Road was a restaurant on the lake side run by Kurt Schmelzer at 4337 Lake Road. Today two lakefront residences occupy the spot.

Still further east is where Dotzlaf's Food Store was located at 4540 E. Lake Road. You know the building today – it houses Dock's Tavern.

Up at 4628 Lake Road was Harry W. Gang's grocery store. Make It Happen Studios recently relocated their martial arts and dance school business there.

Elmer and Dorothy Bartel's restaurant was at 4790 Lake Road, roughly where the Bi-Rite Express is today.

Erma Sidway's restaurant (at left) was at 5128 Lake Road. You might remember the vintage postcard of the place from this blog post. Today there is nothing left on the wooded site across from the Erie Shore Landing apartments to indicate it was ever there.

Back in 1942, Carl Maurer's restaurant was located at 5348 Lake Road. Later it was Bill and Don's; today you know that location as the home of Gus' Restaurant and Lounge.

And right next door to the east was Ervin Brow's gas station and Mrs. Clara Brow's grocery store at 5384 Lake Road, where Cove Beach intersects with Lake Road. Today that address is home to Hair-Ways Beauty Salon.