The business on the corner of Main & Fifth Streets, was known as one of the finest ladies’ stores for over 60 years. A hotel during the mid-1800’s, the building was restored as a large department store in 1935. Archie Bernstein came to Columbus as a young man and in 1940 opened Ruth’s a few doors down at 115 Fifth Street South. In the 1950’s, Mr. Bernstein purchased the brick-front, corner building and moved Ruth’s into it. The modern façade was added in the 1960’s along with a second building to enlarge the space. In 2003, Ruth’s Department Store closed but now has upstairs apartments and retail/restaurant space at street level.
