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432 South Lafayette Historical Context This property is located on the northeast corner of South Lafayette and Monroe Streets, in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as being lots 52,53 and 54 of Martins Addition to South Bend. Lots 52, 53 and 54 of Martins Addition to South Bend were owned by Grace Zigler, an heiress of the John S. Norris estate. Mrs. Zigler was married to Charles Zigler, an employee of the First National Bank. Mrs. Zigler took out a $37,000.00 mortgage on this property in 1925 to build a four story commercial structure. The building was designed and built to house the Lafayette Furniture Company, however, it was mostly used for warehouse space. The building was sold to the Ries Furniture Company in 1934. The Ries Furniture Company was formed in 1913 by Herman E. Ries, Louis Oettinger, Fred Gumberts and I. Rosenthal, and opened for business in a four-story steel and concrete building located at 300-310 South Michigan Street. The business took off, pulling in ten times the first years profit by the end of its tenth year in business. This success caused the business to expand into the two adjoining buildings on South Michigan, the Star Building to the north and the Dolphin Building to the south. In 1923 the company expanded into the new four-story building located at 432 S. Lafayette. They used this structure mostly for warehouse purposes, and eventually purchased the building in 1934. In 1932 Mr. Ries purchased controlling stock in the Furniture Company eventually becoming sole owner. Shortly after his acquisition of the company Mr. Ries decided to down scale the operation and move the entire business into the building at 432 S. Lafayette. Mr. Ries made this decision based on the fact that the depression was not improving and that the building on Lafayette was completely paid for where as much of the space used along Michigan Street was rented. The store flourished at its new location which Mr. Ries attributed to passing good values to customers, having a resident cabinet maker and outside service man and owning their own building. Herman Ries' son, Milton, joined the team in 1934 as a salesman and became the companys president in 19 4 1. Under his leadership the business continued to grow leading to the addition of a warehouse and lighted parking lot in 1948. Ries Furniture remained in business until 1998 when it was closed in conjunction with Milton Ries' retirement. The building at 432 S. Lafayette is stilled owned by the Ries Furniture Company and is currently for sale.