The Story Behind the Buildings – Part 3

While the Honecker Building is going to be renovated for use as a candy store, gift shop and 22-unit residence, the building next door at 436-440 Broadway (above) is not so lucky.

It's going to be torn down “to create parking and green space for 444 Broadway,” according to an article in the Morning Journal on April 17, 2018 that explained developer Jon Veard’s plans.

It’s unfortunate that the building has to be sacrificed, as it will create yet another major gap in the Broadway streetscape.

History-wise, it is difficult to determine how old the building is. It has no ‘name’ to be found in the city directories, and often it’s impossible to tell by the addresses which building they are associated with.

Nevertheless, the location next to the Honecker Building has been the home to many businesses through the decades, both in the street level storefronts and upstairs offices. Shoe stores seemed to be a popular use for the building.

The 436 Broadway storefront housed a variety of businesses, including  New York Waist Store (1921), Diamond Brothers (1931) a ladies wear store, and Cannon Shoe Store (1940-1960),

Beginning in the early 1920s, the 438 Broadway address was shared by several businesses, including Dr. Charles Isaac, a dentist. Another dentist, Dr. Irvin Glucksman, would become one of the building’s longest tenants (lasting from the early 1930s into the early 1970s).

The 440 Broadway storefront was home to several shoe companies, including Wiegand & Klingbeil (1921), Miller-Jones Co. Shoes (1940), Januzzi’s Downtown (late 1970s).

The 1960s brought new tenants to the building, including Faroh Candy (436 Broadway) and Public Finance (440 Broadway).

1960 Lorain Phone Book ad

Here’s a view of the building that I believe is from the 1970s, showing Faroh’s, Januzzi’s and the Svete Travel Bureau next door.

The 1970s brought a tenant that was well-known in the local music community: Alex Visci. Mr. Visci moved his music studio/repair shop there to the upstairs 438 Broadway address.

(In the early 1980s, yours truly applied white vinyl sign letters to the outside of two of his windows to promote his instrument repair shop. The letters are still there, but in sad shape.)

By 1985, Faroh Candy Shoppe was the only tenant in the building listed in the city directory. Both the 438 upstairs and 440 street address were vacant, coinciding with the decline of Downtown Lorain.

There have been other tenants in the building since then, but none with the iconic status of past businesses from Lorain’s glory days.

Today the building at 436-440 Broadway is vacant and awaiting demolition.