There have been various Home Cafe’s in Lucas County over the years. One at 518 Adams (1903) and one at 811 Jefferson (1925) in downtown Toledo, and another very near this one at 4421 Alexis (1954).
Our Home Cafe appeared on the first floor of the two-story building on the right in 1961. As a kid I passed by this building on occasion and I appreciated it’s rough and always old-timey appearance. Some “enhancements” were attempted in later years.
Original owners of this property were Walter and Doris Bird who owned and operated Bird’s Grocery, c1941.
In 1957 a business called Proven Products moved in. In 1958 it became Proven Sign Co.(Harry Baum – Manager), and soon thereafter, Bryant Electric Service (c1958)…
…and then Home Cafe (1961).
Thelma Stewart, Dorothy Smith, John Spinner and Robert and William Frankhouser are some of the names noted as doing-business-as (DBA) Home Cafe in the following decades.
