Loop Restaurant Grand Opening – Feb. 1958

Back in 1958 – 60 years ago this month – the Loop Restaurant (not to be confused with the Hoop) was celebrating its Grand Opening. Its ad above appeared in the Lorain Journal on Feb. 18, 1958.

The Loop Restaurant was located at 278 Broadway. Its location is gone today, absorbed into the Lorain City Hall complex thanks to urban renewal.

The restaurant’s 1959 phone book listing

There was a long history of businesses at that address going back to the 1930s when it first appeared in the city directories. MacClean’s Cigars called it home back around 1939-40; Alvie Miller had his billiards hall there from around 1947-1950.

Beginning in the city directories of the 1950s, restaurants appeared at that address, including Ken’s Restaurant (1952), Jack’s Restaurant (1954), Vi’s Restaurant (1957) and finally the Loop Restaurant (1958).

Some of the names associated with the Loop Restaurant: Ernest Yiangov (1958); Dominic Buci (1959); Olimpio Giannini (1961); Mrs. Violet Hummel (1963).

In 1964, the restaurant’s name was changed to Roma Restaurant. By 1965, the restaurant had been renamed Marge’s Inn and was run by Mrs. Marjorie Rivera.

Marge’s Inn continued to appear in the city directory listings until the address disappeared in the 1968 edition.

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Using the addresses in the city directory listings, I'm pretty sure that the Loop/Marge's Inn was located in the building with RESTAURANT painted on the side of it in the late 60s photo below. The two bus garages (at far right) were at 248 and 250 Broadway; the Shore Bar was at 258 Broadway; and the Greyhound station was at 288 Broadway. So it seems likely that the Loop/Marge's (at 278 Broadway) was on the first floor of the three-story building that also was home to the Herbert Hotel (at 280 Broadway). Steve's Variety (at 298 Broadway) is at the corner.