There were several livery stables, blacksmith shops and wagon builders in Grove City’s past. One such business was H. Barthold’s Blacksmith Shop located on the southwest corner of Arbutus and Park Street where a park is located today. Another was located on Grove City Road (pictured) where Fred Hensel was blacksmith.

When Robert D. Grant, a brother of A. G. Grant, turned 17, he joined the 182nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E as a private. He fought along side with the soldiers through the end of the war. The men in blue had no other option to clean themselves than to use lye soap, when available. During the war, a Cincinnati company won a contract to provide a new type of soap to the soldiers. That soap today is known as Ivory. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Civil War veterans drill team sponsored a parade in Grove City in 1888. This was a contingent from the largest convention held in Columbus up to that time.

Gay Weber was probably one of the most engaging merchants in Grove City history. Her store on Broadway, a pizza shop today, carried major brands including Arrow shirts and Levi jeans. Who can forget the gigantic pair of jeans and the huge bra that hung on her wall? Gay also carried a special line of leather gloves preferred by police officers. Once when sales were slow, she plastered her windows with signs that read: Going Out For Business. Sales were brisk because many didn’t read the sign correctly. She was going out FOR and not going OUT of business.

The first Kroger store in southwest Franklin County was located at Jackson Alley and Broadway in the downtown. This is the only known photo of the business. When plans were announced to build a new Kroger store at Stringtown Road at Hoover a large crowd of local residents attended a council meeting to protest the site selection. The site, once part of the Pfeil’s homestead, is now a destination grocery for many weekly shoppers.

The first Methodist congregation was at Concord Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849 located at SR 665 and Hoover Road. This was prior to the Highland Road Meeting House in Grove City. The town’s three major religions, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodist all trace their origin to the old meeting house.