What’s going on: The former Variety Beverage building, 1118 W. Washington St., is undergoing a radical renovation. Carrie Haskins, a Texas resident with family ties to Sandusky, has spent many summers on the shores of Lake Erie, purchased the property in September 2022.
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The building at West Washington and Shelby streets was the home of Wichman's Food Market. (Photo/Sandusky Landmark Commission)History of the building: The building, which dates back to 1890, was the last remaining grocery store established before the 20th century up until the 1980s, according to a report from the
City of Sandusky Landmark Commission. The Wichman family owned and operated the grocery store, Wichman’s Food Market, and maintained a residence on the top floor. The building was purchased by the Maschari family in the 1980s, when Variety Beverage was established at the location. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Why it’s important: When Haskins purchased the building, it was completely gutted. The building is now undergoing the cleaning up of the brick, the molding of the building, the porch and being given a fresh coat of exterior paint.
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An old sign guides customers to Variety Beverage. (Photo/The Helm)What will it be: The inside will feature two residences and an office space.
There will be a two-bedroom, two-bath residence downstairs, then a three-bedroom, two-bath residence upstairs. The office is slated for Haskins’ good friend, Alley Patterson, owner of Fast Track Merchant Solutions. The building will showcase the brick on the interior as well as the original structural pillars.
What’s next: Once completed, Haskins will utilize the residences as short-term rentals. The first floor will be a tribute to her mother, Donna Mainzer, who was born and raised in Sandusky. The renovated entity will be called Nonna’s House. Mainzer’s grandchildren affectionately refer to Donna as Nonna.
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The exterior brick of the former Variety Beverage gets cleaned and painted. (Photo/Courtesy of Carrie Haskins)“As a girl, my mother, sister and I would go to Sandusky for a few weeks to a month every summer,” Haskins said. “Sandusky has a special place in my heart. Now, as an adult, my husband and our children come to Sandusky on a yearly basis. My mother also comes up on a regular basis as well. It has been a dream of mine to own a place that all of us can come to when in town.”
Keep up with the renovations in a future issue of The Helm.