BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—132 South Sandusky Avenue has been home to some of Bucyrus’s most recognizable and enduring businesses for well over a century. From dry‑goods merchants of the late 1800s to jewelers, clothing stores, and modern staffing agencies, the building has continually evolved to meet the needs of the community. Its story reflects the shifting rhythm of downtown commerce and the families who helped shape the city’s retail identity.

The 1800s: Early Retail Roots

The earliest documented occupant from your materials is Rowe Brothers, a prominent dry‑goods business that operated in the late 19th century.

A clipping from The Bucyrus Evening Telegraph (April 3, 1897) describes a major spring opening in their “elegant new location,” complete with potted plants, flowers, and a wide selection of spring fashions. Crowds filled the store, marking it as a bustling retail destination in Bucyrus.

Another advertisement from 1897 announces a grand opening of the “most modern and lightest dry goods store in the county,” again credited to Rowe Brothers, at 132 S. Sandusky Ave.

By 1914, the Bucyrus City Directory also lists Rowe Bros. Co. at this same address, demonstrating that the business remained a long-standing fixture there into the early 20th century.

Early-to-Mid 1900s: 5¢ & 10¢ Stores and Retail Expansion

During the first half of the 20th century, the building was home to the F.W. Woolworth Company, one of America’s best-known five‑and‑dime retailers.

A feature article by Mary Fox explains that Woolworth’s Bucyrus location—at 132 S. Sandusky Ave.—was active through several decades. The piece describes its layout, merchandise, clerks, and even its candy and notions departments, painting a vivid picture of mid-century retail life downtown.

By the 1950s, the building housed Flox’s, a clothing and household goods store.

Advertisements from 1955 and 1959 promote women’s coats, blankets, layaway plans, and large clearance events. Flox’s appears to have been a major budget-friendly retailer and even offered “Holdens Red Stamps,” popular in that era.

A full-page announcement titled “FLOX’S — Lost Our Lease” (1959) reveals their departure from the building, setting the stage for the next chapter.

1960s: Transition to Romanoff’s

After Lords Department Store relocated, advertisements show that they moved to 132 S. Sandusky Ave. and reopened under a new name: Romanoff’s.

A 1960 advertisement announces:

“Tomorrow we will be OPEN for business in our new location at 132 South Sandusky Ave., under the new name of Romanoff’s—‘The Diamond Center of Bucyrus.’”

Romanoff’s grew into one of the city’s best-known family-owned jewelry businesses, ultimately operating here for more than 60 years, according to several clippings. The building became strongly associated with the Romanoff family across generations.

2010s: The End of an Era & New Commercial Uses

Romanoff Jewelers closed in late 2013, ending a remarkable six-decade presence at the address.

In the years that followed, the building hosted Arbet Staffing (documented in a ribbon-cutting notice), reflecting the shift from retail to service-oriented businesses.

2020s: New Ownership & Continued Renewal

A 2022 article explains that the sisters behind Castle Auction & Appraisals and Castle Coin Shop moved their businesses to 132 S. Sandusky Ave., describing it as their “forever location.” This same article again notes the building’s Romanoff’s heritage.

Another article titled “It feels like a real honor” describes how new owners investigated the empty building, eventually contacting the previous owner and purchasing it. Their account underscores how important the space remains in the community’s memory.

In 2025, Mandy Paez of Key Realty joined her sister in the building, expanding their family’s professional footprint and deepening their connection to the property.

A Building That Reflects Bucyrus History

Across more than 130 years, 132 S. Sandusky Avenue has been:

  • A bustling dry goods store (Rowe Brothers, late 1800s–early 1900s)
  • A major five‑and‑dime retailer (F.W. Woolworth, mid‑1900s)
  • A community clothing and household goods store (Flox’s, 1950s)
  • The iconic Romanoff’s Jewelry, one of Bucyrus’s most enduring businesses (1960s–2013)
  • A home to modern businesses, including staffing services, auction and appraisal firms, and other local enterprises.

Through every era, the building has remained a landmark of downtown Bucyrus—an address layered with memories, commerce, and community pride.