Brookline Boulevard - 1956 Store Listing

In 1956, Brookline Boulevard was a thriving commercial district, with a wide variety of businesses that served the needs of the bustling community. The Boulevard more closely resembled a modern outdoor shopping mall. It was a long lane of shops offering many different retail and professional services. With Brookline's population nearing 20,000 and still growing, the boulevard was a one-stop shopping center with almost everything a consumer could need. The streetcar line, which ran the entire length of the boulevard, was always available to carry shoppers from one end to the other.

Below is a listing of the businesses and institutions that were present at that time along Brookline Boulevard, from Pioneer Avenue to the East Brookline Shopping Center at Breining Street. It is an interesting look back at the boulevard that our parents and grandparents visited back in the day to do their shopping. The information was extracted from the 1956 R.L. Polk Directory for the City of Pittsburgh.

Street Number

500
502-504
 
 
 
506
515
516
517
519
520
526
530
531
 
532
533
534
534 1/2
536
540
542
546
600
601-609
602
613
614
616
618
 
 
620
630
700
 
 
 
702
704
706
710
712
 
714
717
718
722
724
728-730
732
 
734
738
 
740
744
748
750
754
 
758
800
804
 
806
808
 
812
813
814
815
816
817
824
 
826
 
900
903
902-904
 
906
907
908
909
914
918
919
920
 
922
924
926
928
930
932
933
934
936
938
940
942
944
946
950
954
956
 
962
964
966
968
 
 
970
972
1001
1011
1017
1019
1033
1036-1038
1039
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1049
1057
1065
1101
1149
1160
1162
1200
1201
1222
1250
 
1254
1256
1300
1302
1304
1310
1320
1462

 

Occupants Name

Meyers Gas Station
Brookline Pharmacy
Bisi's Dairy
*Harry Benz, physician
*Alfred Frazier, dentist
The Grille Restaurant
John Fitch, dentist
Nolan's Hardware
Ellen Swift Day Nursery
Kirby Appliance Company
American Legion Post #540
Giordano Food Market
Joe's Tavern
William Kluber, doctor
J. Hoover, dentist
Brookline distributing Company
John Conneen, dentist
Captaingeorge Flower Shop
Ann's Beauty Shop
VACANT
Howard Barber Shop
Rudt's Tavern
Kribel's Bakery
Sunny Farms Poultry
Brookline Methodist Church
Metropolitan Cleaners
Brookline Plumber
Brookline Garage
Mitchell's Barber Shop
Albert Paslow, lawyer
Pgh Real Estate Management and Sales
Ebbitt Studio, photography
Kroger's
PBOF Truck Company No.57
Brookline Building and Loan Company
Nelson Hunter, real estate
Edgar Maucher, dentist
Nat Christiano, engineer
Klos Meat Market
Brookline Half Hour Cleaner
Harold's Bakery
Premier Photo Company
Sal's Barber Shop
Garofalo's Star Shoe Service
Harleysville Mutual Gas Company
South Hills Plumbing Company
Anderson Radio & Appliances
VACANT
Regal Gifts
Carnegie Library
Champion Hunting & Fishing Club
Joseph Sergi, tailor
Stanley Company of America, warehouse
Ritz Bowling Alley
Residential Apartments
U.S. Post Office
Warrington's 5 & 10 Cent Store
Johnson's Shoe Store
Ritz Beauty Salon
Peter Pan Cleaners
Brookline Apartments
Vecchio's Lamps and Shades
Charlson's Drug Store
Pennsylvania Liquor Store
Kelly & Cohen Inc., appliances
Boulevard Men's Shop
Cedars of Lebanon Hall
Bowling Alley
Ella Bernhardt's Style Shop
Pioneer Finance Company
Klein S.S. Agency, real estate/insurance
Eugene Martin Real Estate
Brookline Savings & Trust
McBride, McGuiness & Associates
The Brookline Journal
Paul N. Smith Agency, real estate
Stebbrook Pharmacy
Edwin Meyer, optometrist
Bryant's Hardware
Maurice Black, dentist
Town & Country, women's clothing
Admiral Heating and Improvement Company
Blue Bonnet Bakery
Yee Laundry
Bard's Dairy
Modern Beauty Shoppe
The Hobby Shop
Al Sesto's Barber Shop
VACANT
Boulevard Gardens
Tryson's Shoes
Brookline News Agency
Melman's Meat and Grocery Store
Eugene Buccieri's Barber Shop
Brent Stores Inc.
Isaly's Dairy
Colleen's Beauty Salon
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
Demma's Market
VACANT
The Kiddie Shop
Quaill's Cleaners
Boulevard Interiors, linoleum floors
Patterson's Pharmacy
Ruby's Dry Cleaners
Sam's Hardware
Brookline Meat Market
Angie's Barber Shop
Brookline Shoe Repair
South Hills Sports Center
Brookline Jewelry
Residential Apartments
Kiefner Beer Distributor
Pool Hall
Brookline Young Men's Club
VACANT
Kunst's First Class Bakery
Verona's Service Station
Robert's Cafe
Parkside Grille
Edward Conneen's Beer Distributor
J.J. McGaffin Construction
United Presbyterian Church
Professional Building
*Albert Corcoran, physician
*Olympic Industries Inc., contractors
*Unafrax Construction Co., contractors
*Stanley McClelland, physician
*Edward Provost, physician
*James Barry, physician
*Robert DeBor, chiropractor
*James Desetti, dentist
*Ralph Stalter, physician
Neuser's Market
Peg's Dairy Bar
Frank F. DeBor Funeral Home
Brookline Gulf Service Station
Residential Apartments
Grummet's Market
Denmark's Cafe
Fitch Beer Distributing Company
Andrew Downey, chiropractor
Thomas Cuddeback, physician
Victory Vending Company
General Display Inc.
Boulevard Cafe
Jay's Hardware
Liepack's Pharmacy
East Brookline Cleaners
VACANT
Brookline Super Market
VACANT
McMany's Grocer

Note: McMany's Grocer was further down the boulevard, at the intersection
with Witt Street, where the church building stands today.


The 1959 Independence Day Parade procession moves along the 800 block of Brookline Boulevard.

* Thanks to Brian Fornear for providing the listing *

<Brookline Boulevard> <> <Brookline History>