The Style Center

Recently, a reader named Ann-Marie contacted me, as she was searching for information about the women’s clothing store on Broadway in Lorain called the Style Center.

Why was she interested in the Style Center? As she explained, "My dad worked there as a stock boy in the mid-late 1950s. 

"I recently took a stroll down Broadway and saw the beautiful terrazzo "Style Center" lettering still on the sidewalk at the entryway of the building where the store once was. I was surprised how well-preserved the sidewalk design still was! It was cool to see that little remnant of the past, but it made me wonder when the store actually shuttered for good. Do you happen to know?”

I stopped at the library to get the information I needed to answer her question. But before I get into when the Style Center closed, here’s an article that appeared in the Lorain Journal on June 21, 1955 that talks about the store's beginnings.

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Grandsons Run Business

Style Center Founded 1905

When Abraham Goldstein organized the Style Center on March 11, 1905, little did he realize that his ladies ready-to-wear store would still be growing 50 years later at the original location, 412-418 Broadway.

One of the oldest firms in Lorain, the Style Center occupied only 800 square feet of space when opened. Now the store occupies 8,000 square feet and additional space is being contemplated for the near future.

Four Sons

Abraham Goldstein sold his store in Zanesville to come here and start his four sons in business. Three of them, Max, Samuel and Joseph, helped found the original store. The other son, Louis, entered the business in 1914.

The Style Center immediately became popular as a center for styles and in 1907 the business was expanded. In 1909 another store of the same name was opened in Elyria with Max going there to assume charge.

Rebuilt in 1925

The entire store was rebuilt in 1925 and since that time periodic changes have taken place inside and out to keep up with the trend in merchandising and shopping convenience.

Death took two sons, Louis in 1940 and Joseph in 1949. Meanwhile three grandsons of the organizer of the store entered the business. Arthur Goldstein, son of Samuel; Robert, son of the late Joseph, and Norman, son of Max, are all vice presidents of Goldstein Sons, Inc.

Arthur and Robert are managing the Lorain store and Norman is in charge of Elyria.

Other Officers

Other officers of the corporation are two of the founders, Max and Samuel, who are president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, and Mrs. Stella Goldstein, widow of Joseph, a Vice President.

Max and Samuel are devoting most of their time in advisory capacities.

The Goldsteins have a policy that what is good for Lorain is good for the Style Center. Several trade magazines have referred to the Style Center as being one of the finest women’s specialty shops in the state.

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The Style Center disappeared from the Lorain City Directories beginning in the 1973 directory, with its longtime Broadway address as part of the Allen Block listed as ‘vacant.’

Other tenants occupied the building over the years.

A July 2013 view

Happily, the building will soon see new life as the home of the new Lorain Arts Academy. Here’s the link to an article with the details from the April 1, 2021 Chronicle-Telegram.

If you look closely, you can see the name STYLE CENTER
above the windows