Old Town Lafayette storefront from bygone era revealed on South Public Road
Dec. 16—A glimpse into Lafayette life in another era was recently revealed by renovations to the building that most recently housed the defunct Cannon Mine Coffee shop.
Building Manager Karen Van Dehy and Little Herbal Apothecary owner Faith Rodgers had no idea they would find the old Hi-Way Food Store stucco facade, harkening back to the early 1900s, when renovating the building's exterior at 210 S. Public Road.
Van Dehy was amazed when she saw what came to light after the stucco came down, as the Hi-Way Food Store signage and old building siding was exposed to her, and to everyone passing by on South Public Road.
Rodgers, owner of Little Herbal Apothecary currently at 100 E. Cleveland St., saw the facade for the first time when she was walking home from work. She, too, was in awe.
"We had no idea what was going to be underneath there," Rodgers said.
The Hi-Way Food Store front being revealed was purely incidental. Rodgers and Van Dehy said the previous facade contained asbestos, so it had to be removed before any other alterations to the structure could safely be made. Just before Thanksgiving, a tent went up over the building to remove the stucco.
When the tent came down, a glimpse into historical Lafayette was there for all to see.
Van Dehy plans to remove the Hi-Way Food Store signage and relocate it to either the north or south side of the building. Van Dehy wants it to be clear that the building will now house the Little Herbal Apothecary — but also intends to honor the history of the building. She also hopes a plaque or other signage is put on the building, explaining the history of the space.
Rodgers and Van Dehy said the wooden siding for the building is damaged, but the sign could be preserved and displayed on another side of the building.
The building has been through a handful of owners and has been known by many names.
The store and facade were originally owned by Ernest Johnson and was built in 1908 in Irvington, now the southeast corner of Flagg Drive and Baseline Road, according to Lafayette History Museum Director Chelsea Pennington Hahn. The building was then sold to John Gordon, who moved the building to its better-known location on South Public Road.
According to a June 5, 1959, The Louisville Times article, the Hi-Way Food Market and Lockers had "a hundred and one food articles of every description can be had for your eating enjoyment." The market had frozen food lockers so that people could enjoy fruits and vegetables all year round.
Pennington Hahn is unsure how many people owned the building, but knows the market had at least six more owners before being converted into an electronics store by Charles Bransford in the early '70s. Most recently, the building held the Cannon Mine Coffee shop, which closed earlier this year.
Rodgers anticipates moving to the South Public Road location this spring. But she knows that historical buildings have their quirks and she is prepared for any delays.
Despite the Apothecary currently located a minute's walk away from the Hi-Way Food Store building, Rodgers has outgrown that space. She currently has two buildings for the store, which sells a variety of herbs and essential oils, and also houses a space where people can create their own skincare products and herbal teas. Many classes are offered there, as well. She said the South Public Road location is the perfect place for her business to continue to grow.
She values operating in Old Town Lafayette — and being in a building with an interesting history.
"It's really important to me to stay in Old Town," Rodgers said, adding that she loves the idea of keeping the sign as a "nod back to the old historic look of the building."
