In November of 2022, the facade on the building at 201-205 East Lancaster Avenue (North East Corner of Church Road and Lancaster Avenue) in Ardmore, was torn away to the bare brick, revealing what looked like what was once a logo in the shape of a circle (see arrow below), formed with what appeared to be bricks that were darker than those which covered the front wall of the building.
Soon, this location will be the new home of Piazza Acura, currently located, a few blocks west, on the opposite side of Lancaster Avenue.
On January 13, 1924, an advertisement in the Inquirer announced that a new dealership for the Franklin Automobile Company would be opening at the same location where renovations are currently in the works for Piazza.
Franklin automobiles (see Video) were manufactured in Syracuse between 1902 and 1934.
The earliest evidence of cars being sold along this strip can be seen in this going-out-of-business ad for George H. Evans’ “Lower Merion Motor Co.”
Currently, no businesses are located at 41 or 43 E. Lancaster Ave. Going from east to west, there’s a notary at 39 E. Lancaster. Then there is a township parking lot, and after that is where the Story Coffee Shop is now operating. Their address is 45 E. Lancaster. For years this was the location of the VFW’s “private club.”
Lower Merion Motors was probably located in what is now a township parking lot.
In 1922, Doran Motor Co. was located at 45 E. Lancaster Ave. They were a dealer for the Star Car.
By 1925 there was Dodge Dealer at 125 E. Lancaster. Raymond P. Scott took over the franchise in 1929. In 1936 Scott expanded to the property at 129 E. Lancaster Avenue. By 1949, the Scott dealership had extended its footprint to 265 E. Lancaster Avenue, where they were selling Lincolns and Mercurys. They became an Oldsmobile dealer in 1954. Scott also sold Saabs , beginning in 1991.
Auto Row now extends to Wynnewood Audi, at 311 E. Lancaster Avenue. Before the Audi Dealership was built, the Main Line Times was located here. Their building was constructed in 1948 and demolished in 2014.
Enjoyed this piece!
Okay! A quick memory test for me::
In the Wynnewood there was Fred Ryder Lincoln-Mercury, hnot place the exact locale.
I also remember Claude Marsh Pontiac became Kerry Pacifico Ford, then became part of the massive Nissan store.
Armen Chevrolet was Flohr Chevrolet which then was Frankel Chevrolet.
Martin Honda was Ray McGowen Ford..
The Accura store was Geheris Buick, which became Art Stein Buick later on.
Bryn Mawr had Warrington Volkswagen, Philipenn Imports (Jaguar, MG, Austin Healey) and Bryn Mawr Chrysler-Plymouth.
There was also a Yugo dealer for a short time on the property that is now the water company
I think I may have missed a few others..