Charles Tiedtke co-founded Toledo’s legendary department store—Tiedtke’s—along with his brother Ernest. When they opened their shop in 1893, it wasn’t just a place to buy things; it was an experience. Shoppers could browse unique novelty items, catch a pipe organ concert in the middle of the day, and even have their purchases delivered by yellow horse-drawn “Tiedtke wagons”—the store owned about 130 horses at one point.

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Charles lived on Parkwood Avenue in the Old West End, and the store’s most popular coffee blend, “Parkwood,” was named in honor of his street. Tiedtke’s was ahead of its time, a true forerunner of the modern supermarket and a beloved part of Toledo’s story.

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