Downtown Columbia City History Tour Stop 3
110, 112, 114 W Van Buren Street
A Century of Style: West Van Buren’s Retail Roots
From shoes and boots to women’s wear, this section of town has long held a rich history of retail. You see, one hundred years ago there were no Wal-Marts, Targets, or Kohl’s. And no shopping centers or malls. When it came to attire, most stores specialized. We see clear evidence of that in the West Van Buren addresses of 110 through 116.
Today, the 110 West Van Buren address is part of Star Financial Bank. But before then, this location was home to two iconic Columbia City businesses: Weick’s and Murphy Jewelry Store. Before relocating to South Main Street, Murphy Jewelry operated at 110 West Van Buren for about twenty years. Even earlier, in the 1800s, the first generations of Weick’s & Sons—Boots and Shoes—ran their business from this same location. Eventually, they built a new store next door at 112 West Van Buren. It’s worth noting that Weick Brothers Boots & Shoes only sold boots and shoes—no sneakers in the early 1900s!
Walker & Associates has called 112 West Van Buren home for nearly thirty-five years. Before that, Weick Brothers Boots & Shoes served Columbia City residents at this location for over eighty years. In fact, the business operated from 1865 to 1988—an impressive run of 123 years.
Further west, the storefront now known as Lane & Lavender has supported a wide variety of businesses over the years, including saloons, grocery stores, and a meat market. But for the last forty years of the 20th century, it was home to Roma’s Smart Shop, which later became Betty’s Smart Shop. Roma’s was the place to shop for women’s clothing—not jeans, but stylish dresses or skirt-and-blouse combinations. It wasn’t until the mid to late 1960s that women began wearing slacks or pantsuits in public.
116 West Van Buren: From Cigar Factory to Sushi Spot
One of the oldest buildings on the street, 116 West Van Buren, has been beautifully restored in the last five years. Today, its upper floors house attractive apartments, and the ground floor is home to the recently opened Tokyo Restaurant. But like its neighbors, 116 has a fascinating past. Over the last one hundred and twenty-five years, it has hosted everything from a cigar factory to a bakery. In the early 1900s, the building’s first floor was split into two business spaces: one facing the street at 116 West Van Buren, and another opening to the alley along the west side. The Rhoads family operated a pool room here for over fifty years. Known initially as “Rhoads Brothers Pool Room & Soft Drink Parlor,” it later became “Jesse Rhoads Pool Room.” Today, we might play pool at home or on a phone app—but a century ago, men gathered at the pool hall for a real game.
Then and Now: A Living History
As you listen to the history and look at the photos, take note of how much the world—and Downtown Columbia City—has changed. The past 125 years have brought incredible transformation. This history tour is your chance to experience it firsthand.
Thank you to Pam Koch and Doug Clark for their outstanding research and writing of the article and the Whitley County Historical Museum for generously sharing photographs from their collection. Thank you to Columbia City High School’s WJHS 91.5 The Eagle for producing the audio recording.
