The eastern ground floor commercial space of the Pomeroy building was originally numbered 411 1st.
The eastern ground floor commercial space of the Pomeroy building was originally numbered 411 1st. The first tenant we find referenced is O.B. Royce’s meat market which was here at least by 1897.
After Mr. Royce moved across the street, the space was used as storage for Garberg’s store in the other half of the building.
By 1904 the space had become a private dining room for the Normal school faculty “hotel” upstairs. The term hotel was used for boarding, rooming, or lodging facilities that weren’t houses. More on the upstairs lodging in another article.
The Free Press announced in 1907 that Albert Madsen of Farmington had bought a half interest in Dr. Pomeroy’s drug store, and they would soon move into the brick building adjoining Garberg’s store.
The Cheney Drug Company held its grand opening in September 1907.
April 17, 1908, the Free Press reported,
“A.C. Madsen, manager of the Cheney Drug Company, has recently put in another one of those modern show cases. Mr. Madsen believes in being up-to-date in all respects.”
March 1910, the local prohibition against alcohol went into effect. Drug stores and doctors needed a special liquor license and had to pay a tax.
Madsen opened his own drug store in 1909 on College Avenue, but the Cheney Drug Company continued with pharmacist, R.E. Kelly in charge. That summer, Dr. Pomeroy invested in extensive remodeling of the store which was described by the Free Press in their September 10, 1909 edition:
“Cheney Drug Co. Makes Notable Improvement. Now Has One of the Most Modern Buildings Found Anywhere. One of the most notable improvements that has ever been made on business property in Cheney is that of the Cheney Drug Company, owned by Dr. F.A. Pomeroy. The work has been in progress for a couple of months and is now practically completed.
A cement walk 75 feet long and 12 feet wide has been laid in front, including adjoining property owned by Dr. Pomeroy. The walk was laid by Mr. Monning of Spokane, who is one of the most highly skilled men in the west in laying cement walk. The material used was the best that could be obtained and as a result the walk is superior in every way. From the walk leading into the store is a vestibule laid with tile, with the words “Cheney Drug Co.” laid in colored tile to distinguish the words from the white.
The interior of the building has been improved in such a manner that it is hard to realize that it is the same room. The partition between the hall and the stairway has been moved over five feet, giving that much additional room, and permitting an entrance to the store to be made directly in front. The old front of the building has been removed and a modern glass plate one has taken its place. The lights are joined by metal corners, which gives the whole a very attractive appearance. The vestibule extends back considerably, thus allowing for plenty of room in the windows for the display of goods. The entrance door is of heavy glass and is three and one-half feet in width.
The show windows will be backed with mirrors, making one of the most handsome display windows that can be found even in large cities.
A metal ceiling, with cut-out borders on the walls sets off the interior in a very pretty and striking manner. The walls have been calcimined in an attractive color. All the show cases in the building are of the latest improved heavy glass kind and are designed to show the goods to the best advantage. The floor will be covered with linoleum.
Dr. Pomeroy deserves great commendation for undertaking and accomplishing this work, which meant an outlay of over $1,200. It gives that part of the city a highly modern and thrifty appearance and cannot help but to make a favorable impression on visitors who come here. If all the business buildings on First street were altered in this manner, especially the fronts, it could be said with truth that Cheney is a model town as far as the appearance of its main business thoroughfare is concerned. “
The Cheney Drug Company continued until about 1926 at this location. They were followed by Addington and Davis Barber Shop. It is around this time that the address changed from 411 to 409 1st Street.
Lee’s Food Shop, owned by William Lee appears to have been a tenant for a few years before he bought the Pastime Tavern at 405 1st.
Charles Campbell moved Jimmie’s Café into these larger quarters from 406 1st in the summer of 1944. In 1949, the front of the café and its interior were refurbished and remodeled. Jimmie’s served plenty of malts, sodas, milkshakes, burgers, fries, and sandwiches during its fourteen-year run.
Maddux Dry Cleaner & Tailor shop moved from College Avenue to this location in March 1959. Reese and Mary Maddux operated the dry-cleaning business through 1977.
Fire and smoke damage during remodeling of the space in January 1979, delayed the opening of Ted and Karen Larsen’s Country Life Natural Foods Grocery. The health food shop was replaced by Soup Plantation Restaurant & Natural Foods in 1983 and a year later by The Good Earth Restaurant. The Country Store Restaurant followed in 1987.
A shift back to retail businesses came in 1989 with Manthe’s Trailtown Saddlery. First Street Books operated here from 1992 through 1997. It was followed by The Lemon Tree in 1999 and Rose Peddlers in 2000.
Allan and Trish Gainer’s Tree of Knowledge Bookstore packed the ground floor and basement with books, text books, stationery, school, and art supplies from 2003 to 2012.
Debbie Anderson and her daughter, Aly opened Against the Grain gift shop March 15, 2013. They operated for five years before a new owner re-imagined the business.
Debra Neilson opened Ree Creations in 2017, providing Cheney with a vintage, home décor, gift, and fabric shop at 409 1st.
Joan Mamanakis
