Historical buildings still serve community

One of the most diverse areas of downtown New Philadelphia is the quadrant bordered by Allen Lane Southwest and First Drive Southwest. It also is one of the most interesting from a historical perspective because an array of businesses have occupied this area over the years.

Debbie Aubihl-Knisely and her husband Jim developed a New Philadelphia Arts Block in the area.

The Breyer family built and opened a feed and grain store around 1940 known as Breyer’s Equity Exchange at 116 First Drive SW to service the agriculture community in the Tuscarawas Valley and provide access to coal for home and commercial heating. The two-story building covers nearly 5,000 square feet. This business operated for several decades.

Johnson Electric, incorporated first in New Philadelphia by Frank Johnson on Nov. 23, 1960, and later in West Virginia in 1971, operated at the location for many years. In 1998 Jeff Grimm became a director of the company and later owned the building.

The Breyer-Johnson building is slated to become the third property in the Knisely New Philadelphia Arts Block project. The first building they purchased and renovated was the former Rosenberry Auto Sales dealership at 115 Allen Lane SW.

This building also has a storied history. It operated for a number of years selling and servicing Packard automobiles and other lines and later as the warehouse for Williams Furniture, started in 1940 by Attie (AIB) Williams and his two daughters Beatrice Weller and Betty Stutz.

The first Williams showroom on Front Street Southeast later moved in 1967 to East High Avenue — the former home of the Linn-Hert Furniture Company. New owners Jim and Betty Pennington operated at that location for a decade when they sold Williams Furniture to Francis and Dorothy Brogan in 1976.

A fire in downtown New Philadelphia on March 3, 1983, destroyed the Williams Furniture showroom along with Yelverton Bond Shoes, Marlin Shoes, the Dutch Oven Restaurant and Metzger’s Barbershop. It was at this time the 115 Allen Lane SW building became Williams Furniture’s main showroom.

When the Brogans purchased the Wilmar Furniture Company in Dover in 1997, operations moved there, and the Williams warehouse became the Hospice Browse-n-Buy before its move to Heritage Square on Union Avenue in Dover. It was at this time the Kniselys purchased the property and started to develop Alley Cats and their vision for the New Philadelphia Arts Block project.

“Alley Cats Marketplace is a 5,000-square-foot creative marketplace that opened in May 2019 in downtown New Philadelphia. We feature 70 regional artisans from Carrollton to Cleveland, providing an eclectic mix of arts, crafts and other distinctive products,” Aubihl-Knisely said. “My vision for Alley Cats Marketplace is to support the communities by giving artisans an opportunity to sell their creations and products, giving customers the opportunity to be able to find unique products and foods all under one roof.

“The Alley Cats Marketplace has a nostalgic but also contemporary atmosphere, and this is what we want the customers to fall in love with, not just a place to buy gifts. The atmosphere is a happy feeling. We try to make you feel right at home, even if it’s your first time visiting.”

Aubihl-Knisely joined Jim Knisely in expanding the New Philadelphia Arts Block when they opened Fresh the Market at 150 First Drive SW. For many years the location operated as Packer’s Garage with Kelly Price as owner/lead mechanic and the late Rod DeMeo as his assistant. The location also was known for a time as Big D’s Tires.

Fresh the Market is open from March to December. It is a neighborhood market that allows bakers, makers, farmers, growers and more to offer their wares to locals and visitors. Produce, specialty dairy products including goats milk and ice cream, candies, baked good, poultry, meats, and fish products are featured. Sushi Saturdays are becoming popular with patrons, and products at Fresh the Market adapt with the seasons. Some product connections with the Alley Cats Marketplace also are featured.

Aubihl-Knisely is excited about their expansion into the art of dance. “Lacey Performing Arts Center will move into this location tentatively mid-summer 2023.”

Another business will join Lacey’s PAC at the Breyer-Johnson building location. Talks are underway with interested parties whose businesses align with the vision the Kniselys have for the New Philadelphia Arts Block project.