156-160 N. Winooski Avenue

This two-story, flat-iron, Italianate building occupies the northeast corner of North Winooski Avenue and North Street.  The brick building features cornice brackets, an elaborate, bracketed door hood and decorative lintels.  The smaller windows are one-over-one, double hung sashes, while larger, storefront windows with multiple panes of glass and large lintels flank the front entrance.  The door hood acts as a tiny balcony for a second story door.  There is a single-story addition along the street front off the westerly facade.

The addition appears already on the 1885 Sanborn map.  The 1894 Sanborn map indicatea a second addition along North Street, on the southerly facade.  The addition still appears on the 1978 map but has since been removed.

In 1871, Louis Germain, of 39 N. Winooski Avenue, opens up Germain L. and Son Grocers, where he and his son, Charles E. Germain work together.¹  Louis eventually becomes a shoemaker and a gas fitter around 1877, but his son keeps running the store through about 1903.²  Members of the Germain family resided in the space as well throughout their ownership.³ 

156-160 North Winooski Avenue is currently part of the North Street Historic District, recognized for its mix of residential and commercial structures, catering to an important 19^th Century immigrant population.  The idea of neighborhood store was extremely important to the development of the Old North End.  These neighborhood stores reflect small family enterprises or partnerships with multiple families in the area.  They were a successful way for the immigrant population to establish themselves both socially and economically in the community.  Many stores were mixed, dwelling and commercial structures.⁴

The building currently maintains its mixed use, with a ground floor restaurant and apartments above. 

Show house on 1877 Birds-Eye Map