Pomeroy’s Proposed Expansion – On this Day 1957

Pomeroy's expansion 1957

An architect’s drawing of the proposed $1,500,000 expansion and modernization project at Pomeroy’s, Inc., is shown in the top photo, while below inside the outlined area, are the five buildings which will be razed and the diner, at 6th and Cherry streets, which will be moved to make way for the new construction. (Eagle Staff Photo)

Pomeroy's expansion 1957

Pomeroy’s expansion planning and acquisition of the adjacent structures south of it on Sixth Street took roughly three years.… Read Full Article

C.K. Whitner’s Department Store

After 103 years in business on Penn Square, the C.K. Whitner’s department store will close in January 1981. The board of directors issued a brief statement today saying the closing was “due to declining customer traffic in downtown Reading,” but would not affect the operation of the Whitner store in the Berkshire Mall, or its Fifth and Cherry Streets store. – Eagle Photo by James R.
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Zeswitz – 812 Penn Street

Zeswitz
812 Penn Street pictured in 1953

Zeswitz is a music store that most Berks Countians recognize, but some of you may remember when one of the locations was in downtown Reading on the 800 block of Penn Street.

Zeswitz was founded in 1923 by Philadelphia native William “Bill” Zeswitz Sr. According to Zeswitz’s website he was, “master luthier and maker of world-class violins, and founded the company to serve the Reading Symphony Orchestra and musicians in the area.Read Full Article

Haunted Fairgrounds Square Mall

The Fairgrounds Square Mall has itself become a ghost. It was just demolished over what will inevitably go down as the infamous Summer of 2020. The mall was on its last leg for years, and it only seemed fitting that it would meet its end in such a year as this one has been. However, if you spent any time working there over the course of its 40 year existence, you may have heard or seen things you couldn’t explain.… Read Full Article

Berks Nostalgia