Kerber's Marine Grocery
Also known as: Kerber,LA.,%GROCERY
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This two-story frame building at 1006 Tiffin Avenue in Sandusky was erected in 1888 by Lorenz Kerber and has housed a marine grocery ever since. It originally held a grocery, saloon and apartments, and it is still used as a grocery, bar and apartments. The weatherboard structure has a hip roof with shed dormers and corbelled brick chimneys. An ornamental fascia board with sawn cutwork, brackets and finials carries the original family name. One of the two storefronts has been altered, but the grocery front keeps its recessed entry and large plate glass windows. The Kerber family ran the business until 1974, when Lorenz's great-grandson sold it. It was the only marine grocery operating between Cleveland and Toledo, and a bum boat delivered groceries, oil and laundry to coal boats at Sandusky, ore boats at Huron and stone boats at Marblehead. The building stands on a busy corner beside a school, in a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The building has housed a marine grocery continuously since Lorenz Kerber built it. It is described as the only marine grocery in operation between Cleveland and Toledo. The business uses a bum boat to deliver groceries, oil and laundry to lake freighters. The reviewer's comments note Criterion A.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001414, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1006 Tiffin Ave., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001414 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Lorenz Kerber (builder, per the history statement) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in good condition; still used as a grocery, bar and apartments. One of the two storefronts has been altered, and an aluminum awning replaced a canvas one. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44609, -82.72671 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001414.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137777902
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.