Oldest business in Lakewood

[Amy Martin]

Yes, Mr. Kenny, please identify your source of that statement so that your assertion can be substantiated . .

[Matthew Lee]

Please say who told you that Mr Kenny. That is not what a restaurant owner told me.

Yes, Mr. Kenny, please identify your source of that statement so that your assertion can be substantiated . .

If Jim has to tell who told him that, then isn't it only fair that Bridget should name who told her the information she has stated? Shouldn't everyone be held to the same accountability?

[Bridget Conant]

Jim Kenny spoke in vague generalities. I asked him where he heard it. Was it from speaking to an owner of an actual business? From the mayor? From a friend?

That's what I asked for - some identification of his "sources," not necessarily the personal identity of the individual.

And yes, I heard directly from the owner of a nearby restaurant that I frequent. Since I did not ask him if it was OK for me to repeat what he told me in confidence, I won't. I will, however, ask when I stop in if I may use his name.

So yes, I'm saying I spoke DIRECTLY with abusibess owner and heard business was down. I'd like Mr Kenny to be more specific WHERE he heard what he posted.

Frankly, I find his statement laughable. As if the hospital cafeteria were some sort of hot place to eat in town.

[Stan Austin]

This is a great thread. I don't know if there are standards such as continuous ownership? But let me put out a couple.The Lark Ridge Tavern. Currently under remodeling. (Certain Lakewood guys used to drink there, maybe prematurely.)
Malley's Candies.

Dollar Bank has been in its location for about 35 years.

Sapells has been in business since the early 70s. First at Carabel and Madison and now at W.117.

And, how about First Federal Savings and Loan--1930s.

[Stan Austin]

Woops-- Did someone forget to mention Geigers' ?

[Kate McCarthy]

Despite popular opinion, I just learned that reputable downtown restaurants are reporting a rise in business with the hospital's closure. Apparently, the hospital's cafeteria was quite popular with not only employees but citizens too. It had a reputation of serving citizens who were not patients of the hospital, so its closure stops the cannibalization of business to private, small employers. Furthermore, these restaurants are benefiting from walk-in business from swing shift and night time employees who visit in advance or post shift because they had always relied on the cafeteria and now have to plan their meals. The sky isn't falling after all.

Wow. Close a cafeteria and the small number of employees left start having all their meals in town. Awesome!! Perhaps we should also close the schools so all those kids getting food in cafeterias can start heading out to support the local businesses. I had not thought of how the hospital cafeteria cannibalized so much business. So I will no longer worry about the loss of tax revenue from 1500 well paid employees. Phew. All is well.

[mjkuhns]

Thanks Stan & others for suggestions so far. I find all of this interesting.

We obviously aren't New England, with vague but plausible claims to businesses established in the 1600s. (Or old England, either.) But we do have history here.

If some of these old walls could talk…

[Amy Dilzell]

Lori: Forgive me, I didn't know think the topic of this thread was replacing jobs lost to the hospital closure.

Despite popular opinion, I just learned that reputable downtown restaurants are reporting a rise in business with the hospital's closure. Apparently, the hospital's cafeteria was quite popular with not only employees but citizens too. It had a reputation of serving citizens who were not patients of the hospital, so its closure stops the cannibalization of business to private, small employers. Furthermore, these restaurants are benefiting from walk-in business from swing shift and night time employees who visit in advance or post shift because they had always relied on the cafeteria and now have to plan their meals. The sky isn't falling after all.

......that is the funniest thing I have ever heard!! Being a 24 year employee of Lakewood Hospital, swing and night shifts, I can say we NEVER visited the cafeteria. First of all, it closed at 6:30 pm (wasn't even open for breakfast!) so no reliance on the cafeteria for meals because we were BUSY with patients. Second of all, the only businesses that get off shift employee businesses are places that deliver and it has been that way for years. The ER will send someone out to get meal orders every now and then if the place does not deliver. But now, in my department, we only have 1 person per shift so we don't even get to have 30 minutes away and get a meal somewhere. And most places that serve food close up before 2nd shift leaves/3rd shift starts.....we have always relied on bringing meals from home for that reason.

[Patrick Wadden]

Oldest storefront business has got to be one of the funeral homes. McGorray's or Zeis McGrevey (sp)?
I think the funeral homes pre-date the businesses previously mentioned like Geigers or Bobson's (1949-2000). Oh wait, Bobson's is no longer around because folks decided to not support a Lakewood institution and buy their hardware and lawn mowers at Home Depot. Thanks Brian Essi! Lol Whaaaaaat?

Thanks for posting a fun question. Sorry it had to devolve in exactly 2 posts to the "the current administration is currupt and the sky is falling" type of post that is a daily occurrence on the deck. What a toxic environment. Don't be discouraged mjkuhns. Better days are ahead. Just surprised that Bridget didn't use all CAPS! Lol.

[Brian Essi]

Lori: Forgive me, I didn't know think the topic of this thread was replacing jobs lost to the hospital closure.

Despite popular opinion, I just learned that reputable downtown restaurants are reporting a rise in business with the hospital's closure. Apparently, the hospital's cafeteria was quite popular with not only employees but citizens too. It had a reputation of serving citizens who were not patients of the hospital, so its closure stops the cannibalization of business to private, small employers. Furthermore, these restaurants are benefiting from walk-in business from swing shift and night time employees who visit in advance or post shift because they had always relied on the cafeteria and now have to plan their meals. The sky isn't falling after all.

"This is Good News" Michael P. Summers

Back to the thread topic. Is it the oldest business still operating or the oldest profession?

[Michael Deneen]

Thanks for posting a fun question. Sorry it had to devolve in exactly 2 posts to the "the current administration is currupt and the sky is falling" type of post that is a daily occurrence on the deck. What a toxic environment. Don't be discouraged mjkuhns. Better days are ahead. Just surprised that Bridget didn't use all CAPS! Lol.

"Team Summers" member Patrick Wadden jumps in to regurgitate City Hall's "Deck is toxic" narrative.

[Patrick Wadden]

Mike, mjkuhns comes on the deck and posts a question about the oldest business in Lakewood. It then immediately becomes a thread about the current administration. Then Dan tries to get it back on track. Nope. Posts keep rolling in from Lori, Amy, and Amy, all about something other than the topic of the thread.

Pretty sure that's a fact. Re-read the thread.

BTW, McGorreys Funeral Home has been in business since 1873.

[Bridget Conant]

McGorray's started in Cleveland and moved to Lakewood in 1922.

http://www.wrhs.org/research/library/ge ... eral-home/

[Dan OMalley]

This would have to depend on how you define a business or its continuous operation. McGorray's was founded in 1873, but I don't believe they opened in Lakewood until the 1920s (?) I would think the oldest business to be GrafTech, which, as was mentioned, opened in early 1890s as National Carbon Company (I thought 1891, but maybe it is 1892). Merry Arts is often cited as the oldest bar (1934) although worth noting the Five O'Clock Lounge opened that same year.

If you're interested in Cleveland history, I recommend the ClevelandHistorical app for your smartphone. Includes a map with thousands of pin-points of historical sites throughout Cleveland, Lakewood, and northeast Ohio, complete with photos and written history. It's managed by Cleveland State.

[Bridget Conant]

Cleveland State is also a repository for an enormous collection of photos that can be accessed at

http://www.clevelandmemory.org

You can search by a name, a street, a landmark name, and more. Lots of Lakewood pictures!