Abandoned Businesses

Commercial / Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia

A gallery of abandoned businesses in the United States.

Kentucky

A view of an abandoned general store in Kentucky.
A view of an abandoned general store in Kentucky.
A view of an abandoned general store in Kentucky.
A view of an abandoned general store in Kentucky.
An abandoned general store in Arvel, Kentucky.
An abandoned general store in Arvel, Kentucky.
Hudgin’s Mill along the Salt River in Mercer County, Ky. was constructed in 1831 on the Salt River. It became Bond’s Mill in 1850 and operated well into the 20th century.
A view of an abandoned general store in Davis, Kentucky.
A view of an abandoned general store in Davis, Kentucky.
A view of the Glass Grocery Store in Glass, Kentucky.
A view of the Gravel Switch General Store in Gravel Switch, Kentucky.
Inside an abandoned grocery store in Hazel Green, Kentucky.
Inside an abandoned grocery store in Hazel Green, Kentucky.
Inside an abandoned grocery store in Hazel Green, Kentucky.
Inside an abandoned grocery store in Hazel Green, Kentucky.
Inside an abandoned grocery store in Hazel Green, Kentucky.
An old general store near Heidelberg, Kentucky.
An old general store near Heidelberg, Kentucky.
An abandoned gasoline station in Lawton, Kentucky.
An abandoned hardware store in Lawton, Kentucky.
An abandoned residence / business in Lawton, Kentucky.
An abandoned residence / business in Lawton, Kentucky.
An abandoned general store in Lawton, Kentucky.
An abandoned general store in Lawton, Kentucky.
A collapsing general store in Manse, Kentucky.
A collapsing general store in Manse, Kentucky.
A view of an abandoned post office in Marshallville, Kentucky.
An abandoned general store in McBrayer, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the long abandoned Palisades Adventures near Lexington, Kentucky.
A view of the former Parson’s department store parking garage in downtown Ashland.
A view of the former Parson’s department store parking garage in downtown Ashland.
A view of the former Parson’s department store parking garage in downtown Ashland.
A view of the former Parson’s department store parking garage in downtown Ashland.
An old general store in Valley View, Kentucky.
An old general store in Valley View, Kentucky.
An old general store near Wesleyville, Kentucky.
An old general store near Wesleyville, Kentucky.
A view of an old general store along Elliston-Mt. Zion Road near Zion Station, Kentucky.
A view of an old general store along Elliston-Mt. Zion Road near Zion Station, Kentucky.
Ruth

Farmers Bank

The Farmers Bank of Clintonville, Kentucky was established by William F. Heathman in 1903. 3 The modest one-story building featured a pretentious parapet across the top with the name of the bank displayed in Art Nouveau lettering. The bank was robbed in a violent attempted robbery that left the teller, Mr. Buchanan, dead in 1924. Farmers Bank closed shortly after and the building was reused as a grocery.

New York

The Ambassador Hotel is an abandoned resort near Fallsburg, New York. It was opened by Charles and Lillian Brown and was where Jerry Lewis first performed as a comedian in 1942.
The Ambassador Hotel is an abandoned resort near Fallsburg, New York. It was opened by Charles and Lillian Brown and was where Jerry Lewis first performed as a comedian in 1942.
The Cold Springs Hotel in Tannersville, New York was constructed in the 1890’s and abandoned decades ago. It collapsed in 2017.
The Cold Springs Hotel in Tannersville, New York was constructed in the 1890’s and abandoned decades ago. It collapsed in 2017.
A long abandoned shopping center anchors the east end of Monticello, New York.
A long abandoned shopping center anchors the east end of Monticello, New York.
A long abandoned shopping center anchors the east end of Monticello, New York.

Ohio

A view of an abandoned business in Cincinnati, Ohio.
A view of an old general store in rural Ohio.
A view of an old general store in rural Ohio.
98 North Main Street, in downtown Mansfield, Ohio, is a historic commercial structure that was home to the Coney Island Restaurant. Other tenants included the Mansfield Restaurant and offices on the upper floors.
98 North Main Street, in downtown Mansfield, Ohio, is a historic commercial structure that was home to the Coney Island Restaurant. Other tenants included the Mansfield Restaurant and offices on the upper floors.
98 North Main Street, in downtown Mansfield, Ohio, is a historic commercial structure that was home to the Coney Island Restaurant. Other tenants included the Mansfield Restaurant and offices on the upper floors.
98 North Main Street, in downtown Mansfield, Ohio, is a historic commercial structure that was home to the Coney Island Restaurant. Other tenants included the Mansfield Restaurant and offices on the upper floors.
98 North Main Street, in downtown Mansfield, Ohio, is a historic commercial structure that was home to the Coney Island Restaurant. Other tenants included the Mansfield Restaurant and offices on the upper floors.
Abandoned automobile dealership in eastern Ohio.
Abandoned automobile dealership in eastern Ohio.
A view of the abandoned Circle Motel in Ruggles, Ohio.
A view of the now-demolished Republic Iron & Steel Company offices in Massillon, Ohio.
A view of the now-demolished Republic Iron & Steel Company offices in Massillon, Ohio.
A view of the now-demolished Republic Iron & Steel Company offices in Massillon, Ohio.
A view of a long closed general store in Sand Run, Ohio.
A view of a long closed general store in Sand Run, Ohio.
A view of a long closed general store in Sand Run, Ohio.
A view of a long closed general store in Sand Run, Ohio.
A view of a long closed general store in Sand Run, Ohio.
The Ward Bakery is a defunct bakery in Youngstown, Ohio. Ward Baking Company was founded in New York City in 1849 and was renamed Continental Baking in 1925. It sold under two widely advertised tradenames: “Wonder” for its bread products and “Hostess” for its cake products. The Ward Bakery building is today used as an artist collective.
The Ward Bakery is a defunct bakery in Youngstown, Ohio. Ward Baking Company was founded in New York City in 1849 and was renamed Continental Baking in 1925. It sold under two widely advertised tradenames: “Wonder” for its bread products and “Hostess” for its cake products. The Ward Bakery building is today used as an artist collective.
The Ward Bakery is a defunct bakery in Youngstown, Ohio. Ward Baking Company was founded in New York City in 1849 and was renamed Continental Baking in 1925. It sold under two widely advertised tradenames: “Wonder” for its bread products and “Hostess” for its cake products. The Ward Bakery building is today used as an artist collective.

Pennsylvania

An abandoned business in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
An abandoned business in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
The Penn Hills Resort sign in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

West Virginia

An abandoned business / apartment building in Lester, West Virginia.
A view of an abandoned business near Man, West Virginia.
A view of a nearly empty Midway Plaza near Man, West Virginia.
A view of a nearly empty Midway Plaza near Man, West Virginia.
A view of a nearly empty Midway Plaza near Man, West Virginia.
A view of a nearly empty Midway Plaza near Man, West Virginia.
A view of a former Wendy’s at a nearly empty Midway Plaza near Man, West Virginia.
A view of a former Ponderosa at a nearly empty Midway Plaza near Man, West Virginia.
A view of the neon tubing on the exterior of the long closed Rogers Hotel in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia.
A view of the long closed String Shop, which sold cold beer, groceries, macrame and RC Cola.
A view of a former bar and residential building at Wood & 17th Street in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Best Western Gateway Hotel

The Best Western Gateway Hotel, a now-demolished hotel in Barboursville, West Virginia, was constructed in 1954 with 18 rooms 5 and expanded into a Holiday Inn with a new 250-room wing in 1964. 7 A conference center was added in the mid-1980s. Despite $200,000 in renovations during the year, the Holiday Inn franchise was pulled on April 1, 1997. 4 The property became affiliated with Best Western on October 1.

The 208-room Best Western Gateway Inn closed on June 28, 2001. 4 Mark Davis, a Barboursville chiropractor, purchased the closed hotel with plans to transform the property into a residential and retirement community, eventually settling on the demolition of much of the complex. 6 Two buildings would be retained for 66 residential condominiums.

An auction of the hotel’s contents was held on August 24 and 25, 2001. 5 The shopping center was opened in August 2002 and the remainder of the property was redeveloped by 2004.

2004

Hotel West Virginian

The Hotel West Virginian is a former hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia that was constructed in 1930 by Constantine Thymius, a Greek contractor, for Theodore Soure. 1 The hotel featured an “Old World” design inspired by Edward Simpson’s antique shop at The Greenbrier and featured 22 guest rooms and the White Sulphur Restaurant, the latter operated by Theodore and John and Nick Argyrakis, both Greek immigrants.

The hotel closed in the 1980s and was subsequently owned by John Bell, a Lewisburg contractor. 2 It was then sold to The Greenbrier in 2003 for $160,000 under the assumption that the structure would be preserved and renovated. The Simpson-Taylor Building adjacent to the hotel was also purchased for $250,000. After discovering significant structural problems with the hotel, it was demolished.

A view of the Hotel West Virginian in October 2004.
A view of the Hotel West Virginian in October 2004.
A view of the Hotel West Virginian in October 2004.
A view of the Hotel West Virginian in October 2004.

Other

A view of the long closed Ewing Theatre in Ewing, Virginia. It closed circa 1983.
A view of the long closed Ewing Theatre in Ewing, Virginia. It closed circa 1983.
A view of the former Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan.
An old general store in Rocky Gap, Virginia.
An old general store in Rocky Gap, Virginia.
An old general store in Rocky Gap, Virginia.
The Sang Run Election House in Sang Run, Maryland was constructed in 1872. The two-bay gabled structure features traditional board and batten siding.
The Sang Run Election House in Sang Run, Maryland was constructed in 1872. The two-bay gabled structure features traditional board and batten siding.
Sources

  1. Simpson, Debbie Schwarz. “The Greenbrier Razes Buildings, Considers Use of Vacant Lots.” State Journal, 26 Jan. 2006.
  2. Simpson, Debbie Schwarz. “The Greenbrier Razes Buildings, Considers Use of Vacant Lots.” WVNS-TV, 26 Jan. 2006.
  3. Langsan, Walter E., and William Gus Johnson. Historic Architecture of Bourbon County, Kentucky. N.p.: Historic Paris-Bourbon County, Inc., 1985. 166.
  4. Ross, Jim. “Hotel to close after years in bankruptcy, will reopen as another type of business.” Herald-Dispatch (Huntington) 31 May 2001.
  5. Chambers, Bryan. “Everything from cups to shrubs to be sold at Best Western Gateway Inn on U.S. 60.” Herald-Dispatch (Huntington) 23 Aug. 2001.
  6. Chambers, Bryan. “New owner says Barboursville facility should be ready in the next two years.” Herald-Dispatch (Huntington) 23 Aug. 2001.
  7. Chambers, Bryan. “Fond memories, sense of urgency add to intensity of auction at former hotel.” Herald-Dispatch (Huntington) 25 Aug. 2001.