Title

	History of the Building at 1328 Robbins Avenue Perched at the top of Robbins Avenue hill is a site that has a long history. Built in 1920, this modest one-story building has been a mom & pop grocery store, a home to barbeque, a local dairy store, sold pizza, a cake shoppe and was a well-known stop for penny candy. Al Rosenberger, is the present-day owner of Albie’s Floral of 1328 Robbins Avenue with the store on the left side and living quarters on the right side of the building.

Building History of 1328 Robbins Avenue. MaryAnn McMahon, “my great grandfather, George H. Barker, ran a Butcher shop out of there before the Depression. He lost it during the Depression. He came from England, and lived in the big yellow home at the top of North Rhodes Avenue hill and Taft.” Editor: many neighborhood stores carried their customers on a tab expecting to be paid back, when they couldn’t find work they couldn’t pay their bills. Then when the stores couldn’t pay their suppliers, they lost not only their store but also their home. All of these businesses had one thing in common — they were all family run and served the local neighborhood for dry goods, fresh meats and bread and for the children sweet treats.	Barker's Barbeque 1934-1940	Woodruff's Dairy 1941-1945

Henderson's Barbecue 1930-1933	W.J. Vincent & Son 1940-1941	Marte' Deluxe Market 1974-1986

United States Census, 1930, lists George and Mary Barker owners of building worth $8,000.	George H. Barker's grocery store was a member of Edward's Food Stores.	Compare the food prices at Barker's grocery store (1934-40) to the food prices at Nick's Deluxe Market (1964-1974).

Nicholas Family History, Nicholas Market (1949-1952)
William Martin Nicholas, owner of Nicholas’ Market from 1949-1952 is the grandfather of Funeral Home Director William (Bill) Martin Nicholas, Jr. His great-uncle was Charles Nicholas who appears in the Niles police photograph. Bill Nicholas’ mother is Mary Kay Durig whose grandfather owned Durig’s Market on 422 which was bought by the Cafaro Company prior to the building of Eastwood Mall. Dick’s Sporting Goods is now located on the site of the Durig’s farm market.	The Nicholas family home at 118 Lincoln Avenue with Ann Richards Nicholas (1838-1914) with son William Nicholas (1879-1926). Man on left is unknown. ca 1910. L-R: Charlotte Martin Nicholas (1883-1965), Samual Nicholas (1888-1965), Ann Richards Nicholas (1838-1914) at 118 Lincoln Avenue.	Adult Men l-r: John Nicholas (1877-1953), Arthur Nicholas (1881-1960), Samuel Nicholas (1888-1965), William Nicholas (1879-1926), child o left is William Martin Nicholas (1913-1984), child on far right is Robert Nicholas (1918-1944). Three children in center are unknown. Home at 118 Lincoln Avenue is owned by Ann Richards Nicholas (1838-1914) who is the mother of all adult men in photograph/ Charlotte Martin Nicholas (1883-1965) and William Richards Nicholas (1879-1926).

L-R:Faye Williams, Carl Williams, and Audrey Nicholas.	Faye and Carl Williams operated a Niles delivery service transporting grocery orders from the many food markets to people's homes.	William and Audrey Nicholas in front of the Nicholas Market at 1328 Robbins Avenue.

Arthur Nicholas (1881-1960).	William Richards Nicholas (1879-1926) with bulldog at 118 Lincoln Avenue.	William Martin Nicholas

The W. R. Whitney Grocery and Dry Goods store located at 614 Warren Ave. in Niles in 1925. This store went bankrupt during the Great Depression. PO1.1539 Pictured are William R. Whitney, Mary Rounds Tonk, Helen Sanford and Russ Whitney. Bill Nicholas, Jr. later would occupy this same building as William Nicholas Funeral Home in the early 2000's.	Bill Nicholas, Jr. is the son of Mary K. Durig, whose family owned Durig's Market on Route 422. The open area behind Durig's Market was the location of the Eastwood golf course which became the Eastwood Mall Complex opening in 1968.	Durig's Market, woman unknown. Durig Family Members Kate Minnick, unknown child, Joe Durig, Adelbert Durig, Chuck Durig

Macali Market at 1328 Robbins, 1953-1964. Gil worked as a delivery boy for Williams Grocery and then for the Frech brothers until he entered the armed forces in 1942. Gil served for over four years during WWII in varying-sized small craft of the Army Air Corps Air-Sea Rescue Service. He ended the war as a tactical sergeant assigned to a PT boat in the Panama Canal Zone. Barney began his working life at the age of ten, delivering groceries after school. The store was located on Robbins Avenue and was owned by Roy Williams. He started working in the Frech Brothers Meat Market and Grocery Store in 1940. From 1943 through 1945 he served in the United States Air Force, was stationed in England, came home in 1945. After WW II, Barney and Gil again worked for the Frech brothers but wanted to branch out on their own.	After the deal for store on Belmont fell through, they purchased their first store 503 Robbins (formerly Anderson’s Deluxe Market) on the left side of Woodcock’s Drug Store (which is now Troutman’s Drug store at 501 Robbins Ave) in 1948. They named this store Macali’s Deluxe Market and as Woodcock’s sold candy, the Macali Deluxe Market was not allowed to sell candy. Mrs.Isabelle Coates had a candy store on the east side of Macali’s grocery store. PO11.388	On January 27, 1953, Barney and Gil Macali opened their second market store at 1328 Robbins, having purchased the building from Bill Nicholas. PO11.185 Gil Macali and his wife and family lived in the right side of the building while operating the market on the left side of the building. Read the complete Macali Story: Here

Gil Macali in the Valu-King Store on Vienna Avenue. He married the former Dolores Lapolla. They have three children: Virginia, Gilbert Jr. and Robert.	Robert Macali in the Giant Eagle Store, holding a collapsable delivery box from the Macali Market at 503 Robbins Avenue.	Gil Macali, Jr.

Marte' Deluxe Market 1974-1986	Daffey's Place	Firehouse Pizza