Strouss-Hirschberg Company
Also known as: Strouss' Department Store
Why it's listed
This seven-story department store at 14-28 Federal Plaza West in downtown Youngstown was built in 1926 for the Strouss-Hirshberg Company. The firm began in 1875, when Isaac Strouss and Bernard Hirshberg bought a pioneer dry goods business, and it grew alongside the city. By the 1920s it had 50 departments, 400 employees and annual receipts of $4 million, which led it to commission the architects Starrett & Van Vleck. The steel-frame building has a white glazed terra cotta front with elaborate pier and spandrel detail, rounded pilasters in the second and sixth bays, and dentilled cornices. The rear facade on Commerce Street is plainer but compatible. A nine-story addition was made on the Phelps Street side in 1947. Standing between the First National Bank Building and the Wick Building, it is described as an architectural link in the streetscape and as a reminder of Youngstown's prosperity in the 1920s. It was listed for its commercial history and its well-preserved terra cotta design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building reflects the commercial growth of Youngstown since 1875 and housed the city's oldest locally owned department store. It also has one of the most distinctive white glazed terra cotta facades downtown, which contributes to the Federal Plaza West streetscape.
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 86001944, listed July 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14--28 Federal Plaza W, Youngstown |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | July 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001944 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Starrett & Van Vleck (architects); S. Phelps listed as builder on the inventory form |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inventory form lists the building as in good condition and still in use as a department store; the statement of significance calls it the city's oldest department store still in operation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10033, -80.63541 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 86001944.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138569020
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.