It’s a full page ad from the Lorain Journal of October 20, 1956 announcing the November 8th opening of the new Ted Jacobs store on Fourth Street.
From what I can tell (perhaps someone who shopped there can confirm this), this was a brand new store, replacing an old one at the same location. A look at vintage aerial photos from 1952 and 1962 reveals that an older building was torn down just to the west of the new store, consequently providing the “free convenient parking next door” referred to in the ad.
I wrote about Ted Jacobs a the time of his passing in 2015 (here).
Today the former store has apparently been absorbed into the Spectrum Consulting Services complex.
Doesn't the building look much better back in 1956 than when Lorains scam queen Theresa Stencil occupied it in the early 2000's?When she was in it she scammed unsuspecting investors out of their hard earned savings.This was her headquarters for her Augur Lane Development and Financial Services business that she ran.She obtained over $300,000 in loans from the city to rehab the place.She scammed over 2.5 million dollars out of her elderly customers.All masterminded out of the old Ted Jacob's building on 4th St.When they were investigating her there was a very convenient "fire" in the basement.As this was were she kept all of her records for all of the various scams she had going on at the time.It was ruled as an arson.This was back when people like Sandy Prudoff and his ilk were in office......Personally,I remember going there in the 70's with my mother and seeing "Teddy" the bird in his cage sitting on top of a cloths rack......Good times with real people before Mrs. Theresa Stencil had to put her slimey hands on the place.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom and I could both shop here. They had great caring people to assist you. Benette Thomas was so good w customers comes to mind. Everything a discerning lady could want. Couldn't just walk past Teddy without speaking! Rae
ReplyDeleteI remember my Mom shopping there while I stood there staring at that bird the whole time fascinated.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents were scammed out of their retirement by the Stencil's and my grandfather was forced to work until he was in his late 70's to try to recover some lost money. They trusted them because they went to church with the Stencil's. I didn't know they ran their business out of this building.
If I remember correctly Theresa Stencil also wanted to turn the little alleyway behind the business into a "produce marketplace".Sort of like a smaller version of the Westside Market in Cleveland.This was actually one of her really very legit ideas.But it all came crashing down on her when she plead guilty to her 41 count indictment.And she was convicted and sentenced to 6 years in the clink.She was also ordered to pay back over 2 million dollars to all the people she had scammed over her life of crime.But I highly doubt that she paid a single penny to anyone.
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