116 N Cate - 1960


Imperial Shoe Store
Imperial Shoe Store first opened on East Thomas as a grocery store that also carried used shoes. That small building no longer exists. Sam Locascio and his brother Joseph (who bought into the business for $750) moved the store to N Cate St (Northeast Railroad Ave) in 1919. Albert Tolle built identical buildings for the brothers, for $5000 apiece. Joseph, who had previously worked as an interpreter for White's Sewing Machines, added new shoes to the store's stock. This was so successful that they closed the grocery and carried only new shoes.
The shoe store is on the ground floor, and the families have lived upstairs. Joseph's grandaughter Kathy remembers the residences as having hardwood floors, skylights, a walk-in cedar closet, a carved archway from the living room to the dining room and even an elevator for her grandparents. The buildings had covered balconies on front and back.
This year Joseph Locascio and his wife have built a house and moved out of their residence above the store. Joseph's son Sal Locascio bought his uncle Sam's share of the business in the 1950's, then bought one of the buildings.

Courtesy of Sal Locascio, Kathy L Pittman

114 N Cate Today, The Back of 114 N Cate Today

Page last updated 23 Nov 2002

Comments/suggestions to Janet Davis