Client: Historic Erie Restorations
Location: 514–516 Cherry St., Erie, Pennsylvania
Dates: Original building — 1901; Renovation complete — 2024
Size: 3,024 SF
This vernacular commercial building with second floor residence was built c. 1901 as an expansion of a neighboring grocery store.
The building was commissioned by Jacob M. Strick (1861–1933) and his wife, Mary Strick (1861–1936), to expand the grocery business they started next door at 518 Cherry St. in the 1880s. Following their retirement in 1920s, Scarlett’s Community Stores operated here for several years.
In 1934, Mary Strick sold the property to tailor Frank H. Suhanek (1876–1941) and his wife Corinne Buerrer Suhanek (1887–1976). Born in Austria, Frank Suhanek sang in several local choirs and was considered “one of the city’s leading tenors.” About 1940, the property was leased by Lederle’s Artistic Portraiture Gallery.
Ludwig Michael Zehe (1902–1964) and his wife Marion St. George Zehe (1913–1990), bought the property in 1943 for their growing Zehe’s Bakeries (1938–1968). A native of Sandberg, Germany, Ludwig was active in the community and served as president of Erie Bakers Association.
In 1952, the Zehes sold the property to Sophia Sliwinski Kotoski (1906–1999) and her husband John Kotoski (1893–1993). Sophia’s Tavern was originally established at 343 West 3rd St. in 1941 and operated for another 66 years after opening at this location on April 28, 1953.
After the Kotoski family, the tavern was run by Lester A. Holowienko (1945–2018) and his wife Christine Smith Holowienko. The Holowienkos bought the property in 1994. Lester, who was born in Rygroyd, Poland, was a graduate of Gannon University, served as a U.S. Army medic during the Vietnam War, and was with Governor’s Veterans Outreach Program for 25 years. Between this location and West 3rd Street, Sophia’s Tavern operated for a total of 78 years, until it closed in 2019.
The property was acquired by Historic Erie Restoration in 2022 with the purpose of restoring and preserving it as a place of historic and architectural interest for the benefit of the community.
