About the Amherst Historical Business Database
“I have attempted to research all Amherst businesses as far back as possible, using every possible source available. I have searched through city directories, phone books, ads appearing in newspapers and school year books and all the files at the Amherst Historical Society. I have entered all my information into a database by business name, type, address and dates, as accurately as possible. I realize there is much room for errors and omissions in a project like this, but I will make corrections as they are brought to my attention.”
– Fay Van Nuys Ott
November, 19 1994
During 2011, Amherst’s bicentennial year, the Amherst Public Library has tried to continue the job of updating and preserving the work began by Fay Van Nuys Ott and make her work accessible to everyone using the latest technology available. Fay completed the Amherst Historical Business Database in 1996. We are continually going through and trying to update and maintain this database and welcome, like Fay would, any comments or corrections that are brought to our attention. Questions or comments can be sent to info@amherstpubliclibrary.org
To search the Business Database, chose the field you would like to search from the pull down menu, enter your search term the box, and press the search button. You can sort the list by any field in ascending or descending order.
| Business Name | Street Address | Business Type | Years of Operation | Proprietor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Memorial Studio | 180 Jackson Street | Monuments | 1984-2012 | Ethel Miller |
| Amherst Memorial Studio | 180 Jackson Street | Monuments | 2013- | Debra Miller |
| Amherst Market House #4 | General, Grocery | 1915-1916 | ||
| Amherst Manor | Westlake Drive | Nursing Home | 1959-1995 | Sprenger, William |
| Amherst Lumber | 700 Mill Street | Coal and Building Supply | 1915-1964 | |
| Amherst Inn | 164 Park Avenue | Saloon | 1970-1996 | Flannagan, Tom |
| Amherst Inn | 164 Park Avenue | Saloon | 1950-1970 | Jones, Morrie |
| Amherst Inn | 164 Park Avenue | Saloon | 1930-1950 | Davies, Dave |
| Amherst IGA | Milan Avenue | Grocery | 1967-1996 | |
| Amherst Hotel | 255 South Main Street | Hotel | 1931-1973 | Edwards, Henry and Charles and Richard |
| Amherst Hospital | 254 Cleveland Avenue | Hospital | 1916-1994 | City of Amherst |
| Amherst Home Telephone | 280 Church Street | Telephone | 1900-1926 | Town |
| Amherst Hobby and Crafts | 220 Tenney Avenue | Crafts | 1963-1964 | |
| Amherst Hardware | 102 Park Avenue | Hardware | 1963-1996 | Kosash, Steve |
| Amherst Hardware | 215 South Main Street | Hardware | 1938-1995 | Finnegan; Kosash |
| Amherst Hardware | 209 South Main Street | Hardware | 1912-1996 | Finnegan; Kosash |
| Amherst Hardware | 104 Park Avenue | Hardware | 1912-1996 | Finnegan; Kosash |
| Amherst Grocery | General, Grocery | 1913-1914 | ||
| Amherst German Bank | 200 Park Avenue | Bank | 1907-1916 | Nicholl, E. H., President |
| Amherst Garage | Auto Garage | 1914-? | Michael, John | |
| Amherst Furniture Company | 223 Church Street | Furniture | 1921-1968 | Moebius, |
| Amherst Free Press | 199 Church Street | Newspaper | 1875-1878 | Lewis, F. M and C.H. |
| Amherst Electric Light and Power | 647 Park Avenue | Utilities | 1944-1947 | Town |
| Amherst Electric Light and Power | Gordon Avenue | Utilities | 1943-? | Town |
| Amherst Electric Light and Power | 647 Park Avenue | Utilities | 1901-1996 | Town |
| Amherst Eagles | 103 Milan Avenue | Lodge, Clubs | 1939-1996 | Members |
| Amherst Eagles | 133 Park Avenue | Lodge, Clubs | 1936-1939 | Members |
| Amherst Eagles | 201 Park Avenue | Lodge, Clubs | 1914-1936 | Members |
| Amherst Eagles | 200 Park Avenue | Lodge, Clubs | 1906-1936 | Members |
| Amherst Dry Cleaners | 240 Tenney Avenue | Dry Cleaner, Tailor | 1950-1994 | Lucille Waldecki |
| Amherst Drug Mart | North Leavitt Road | Drug Store | 1970-1994 | |
| Amherst Department Store | 129 Park Avenue | Dry Goods, Clothing | 1928-? | |
| Amherst Dairy | 183 Tenney Avenue | Dairy | 1913-1922 | |
| Amherst Cut Stone Company | Cut Stone Quarry | 1916-? | ||
| Amherst Credit Bureau | 205 South Main | Credit Bureau | 1927-1942 | |
| Amherst Cold Storage | 819 Franklin Avenue | Cold Storage Plant | 1915-1954 | |
| Amherst Cinema | 260 Church Street | Movie Theater | 1995-1996 | Appleman, Tom and Tammy |
| Amherst Cinema | 260 Church Street | Movie Theater | 1959-1993 | Mattey, John; Havanas, R. |
| Amherst Church of Christ | 591 Washington Avenue | Church | Congregation | |
| Amherst Candy Kitchen | 175 Park Avenue | Candy, Ice Cream | 1916-1926 | Samaha, |
| Amherst Bowling | 162 Park Avenue | Bowling Alley | 1916-1937 | Cheeseman, Charles |
| Amherst Bookstore | 183 Park Avenue | Bookstore | 1876-1880 | Parker, J. B. |
| Amherst Barbrshop | 175 Park Avenue | Barber | 1960-1963 | |
| Amherst Bakery | 136 Park Avenue | Bakery | 1933-1945 | Thomas, Ludwig |
| Amherst Bakery | 242 Church Street | Bakery | 1912-1933 | Thomas, Ludwig |
| Amherst Auto Service | 249 Park Avenue | Auto Garage | 1917-1942 | Michael, John |
| Amherst Auto Body | 46245 Middle Ridge Road | Auto Garage | 1970-1996 | |
| American Specialty | 251 Park Avenue | Factory, Foundry | 1942-1960 | Nord, Walter G. |
| American Legion #118 | Middle Ridge Road | Lodge, Clubs | 1954-1996 | Members |
| American Legion #118 | 619 Cleveland Avenue | Lodge, Clubs | 1945-1954 | Members |
| Alpha Athletic Apparel | 187 Park Avenue | Clothing | 1989-1996 | Adams, Shelly; Karpinski, David |
| Allsop, John | 255 South Main | Dentist | 1985-1996 | Allsop, John |
| Allsop, John | 132 Park Avenue | Dentist | 1967-1985 | Allsop, John |
| Allsop, John | 238 Church Street | Dentist | 1964-1967 | Allsop, John |
| Allied Building and Bath | 133 Park Avenue | Contractor, Builder | 1992-1993 | Fraley, Jim; Fox, Dave |
| Allied Building and Bath | 109 Park Avenue | Contractor, Builder | 1990-1992 | Fraley, Fox and Grimes |
| Allied Building and Bath | 101 Park Avenue | Contractor, Builder | 1990-1992 | Fraley, Fox and Grimes |
| All Nations Club | 193 Park Avenue | Saloon | 1982-1983 | |
| Alices Art Shop | 221 Park Avenue | Photography, Art | 1978-1990 | |
| Alices Art Shop | 165 Park Avenue | Photography, Art | 1975-1978 | |
| Alices Art Shop | 165 Park Avenue | Crafts | 1975-1976 | |
| Alderman, Warhola, Lougham | 238 Church Street | Attorney | 1989-1993 | Alderman; Warhola; Lougham |
| Albright Terrace Apartments | 129 Milan Avenue | Apartments | 1971-1996 | Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority |
| Albert Robinson | 200 Park Avenue | Contractor, Builder | 1961-? | Robinson, Albert |
| Al's Park Tavern | 125 Park Avenue | Saloon | 1987-1996 | Burgdorf, Al |
| Agudath Achim Jewish Cemetery | State Route 113 | Cemetery | 1942-? | |
| Adonis Style Salon | 105 Park Avenue | Beautician | 1992-1995 | |
| Adonis Style Salon | 105 Park Avenue | Beautician | 1992-1995 | Sabo, Shelma |
| Adonis Style Salon | 105 Park Avenue | Beautician | 1978-1992 | Mick, Rita |
| Adam Holl | Contractor, Builder | 1874-1919 | Holl, Adam | |
| Ackermans Ford Service | 494 Tenney Avenue | Auto Garage | 1924-? | Ackerman |
| Ace Interiors | 301 Church Street | Wallpaper, Paint | 1964-1965 | |
| Abraham Gulf Station | Corner of State Route 58 and State Route 113 | Auto Garage | 1954-? | Abraham, Nick |
| About Face Salon | 278 Church Street | Beautician | 1987-? | |
| About Face Salon | Beautician | 1984-1987 | Moore, Jan | |
| About Face Salon | 201 Park Avenue | Beautician | 1982-1983 | Moore, Jan |
| A. W. Schnaak | Dry Cleaner, Tailor | 1916-? | Schnaak, A. W. | |
| A. W. Rahl | 156 Pearl Street | Contractor, Builder | 1928- | Rahl, A. W. |
| A. W. Rahl | Axtel Street; 156 Pearl Street | Real Estate | 1918-1928 | Rahl, A. W. |
| A. W. Rahl | Axtel Street | Contractor, Builder | 1918-1928 | Rahl, A. W. |
| A. W. Haas Floor Covering | 298 Church Street | Floor Covering | 1950-1954 | Haas, A.W. |
| A. R. Tolhurst | 125 Cleveland Avenue | Auto Garage | 1914-1928 | Tolhurst, A. R. |
| A. M. Friday | Park Avenue | Barber | 1884 | Friday, A. M. |
| A. J. Wolcott | 183 Park Avenue | Bookstore | 1880-1900 | Wolcott, A. J. |
| A. E. Stiwald | Park Avenue | Cigar Store | 1870-1880 | Stiwald, A. E. |
| A. E. Nicholl Radio Service | 109 Cleveland Street | Radio | 1929-1930 | Nicholl, A. E. |
| A. E. Nicholl | Cigar Store | 1928-? | Nicholl, A. E. | |
| A. Baker Company | 176 Park Avenue | Clothing | 1880-1898 | Baker, A. |
| A. A. Reising | 125 Park Avenue | Shoes, Boots | 1920-? | Reising, A. A. |
| A-Z Corporation; Hobby Shop | 294 Church Street | Crafts | 1961-1962 | |
| A and P Tea Company | 193 Park Avenue | Grocery | 1928-1939 | Yentzer, Manager |
| A and P Tea Company | 201 Park Avenue | Grocery | 1939-1963 | Yentzer, Manager |
| A and B Cookie Jar | 215 Park Avenue | Bakery | 1970-1975 |