The passing scene in Akron

Many–if not most–of our viewers are former or retired BJ types from out of town in distant places like Atlanta, Washington, L.A., Colorado, New York, Paris or New Zealand. They read the blog because they don’t see the Beacon daily and may yearn to hear about friends they once met daily while in Akron.

Often our posts are obituaries of BJ types they knew. Lately, it has been much grousing about the passing of Knight Ridder. A column by David Giffels today in the BJ prompts this post about the passing of three business firms you may recall. Do you remember Albrecht’s Lighting, Ahern’s Florist and Varca’s Hardware? Their obits all appeared this month.

Ahern’s, once the largest retail florist in Akron, closed abruptly March 23. First Internet sales, toll-free floral sales and big box stores cut into business at Ahern's Florist. Then, a venture to start a second location in Hudson sustained flood damage, which helped deliver the devastating blows to the 92-year-old, family-run business, Mary Ellen Ahern said.

Albright’s, an 84-year-old Akron business went dark for the last time March 17. Albright's, an accessories and lighting store in West Akron, was a victim of Internet shopping, big-box competition and a lackluster economy, the owner said. Albright's was founded in 1922 by Harry Albright.

Varca’s Hardware will close in May. Four generations of Varcas have worked at the hardware store since Frank and Teresa Varca started the business in 1948. Because of competition from chain hardware stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot, Varca Hardware has been losing money since about 2000, its owners said. It will be replaced by a McDonald’s.

The stories are told in headlines Click on the links in the headlines to read them:

We've lost that sense of identity by David Lee Giffels
[BJ March 30, 2006]

Burdens swamp Aherns by Betty Lin-Fisher
[BJ March 30, 2006]

Varca Hardware will close in May by Mike Rasor
[BJ March 26, 2006]

It's Lights Out for Albright by Mary Ethridge
[BJ March 18, 2006]

Unfortunately, the Albright story, published on Saturday, March 18, 2006, already has passed on to the Ohio.com archives so you will have to pay to read it. Send a request to hliggett@ald.net if you really want to read about it and I will attach it to an e-mail.