Simon Cantor

"There aren't too many people in Lancaster who have contributed as much to the welfare of this city as Simon A. Cantor. Successful businessman and tireless promoter of downtown Lancaster, he was also as active in civic affairs as anyone." - January 27, 1982 Lancaster New Era 

Last week, a good friend and I were talking about all that is great about Lancaster's downtown. He mentioned how his grandfather (like me) had a big heart for Lancaster City and how much he would have loved for me to meet him. After a few hours exploring the archives of our local newspaper, I couldn't agree more!

Although Simon Cantor did not reside in the Sixth Ward, his influence was certainly felt throughout much of Lancaster -- with hundreds of newspaper clippings mentioning his name, there is certainly a wealth of information readily available. 

Cantor was a businessman known for the successful shoe empire he founded in 1921, as well as a portfolio of downtown businesses and properties. Perhaps a few of our readers remember the Arrow Shoe Company on 14 East King Street (and a chain of stores throughout Central Pennsylvania). When he retired in 1967, he sold the chain, but came out of retirement a decade later to open two new stores: Walkover Shoe Store (14 North Queen Street) and his namesake Cantor Shoe Store (also 14 East King Street). With competition first from the Golden Triangle and later Park City marking an unfortunate shift away from the downtown, he wanted reverse the trend and be a part of what would hopefully bring people back.

It seems that Cantor saw the writing on the wall in the 1950s, as the automobile was beginning to change the way people shopped. In a letter to the editor on September 21, 1956, he lamented how although the post war economy was booming, the city was not seeing its fair share of business. He estimated that $10 million was already being lost annually to suburban stores, while close to $30 million could be regained by remedying the parking problems experienced downtown. It seems that half a century later, we are still talking about this! While I respect his out of the box thinking, I am very grateful that his solution to demolish the historic Southern Market to make room for a surface parking lot or add a rooftop parking garage to Central Market never happened.

His contribution to the civic life of our city and beyond are exemplified in his membership of the Lancaster General Hospital board, various city organizations, boards and commissions, and most importantly with the Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, where he raised awareness and funds for causes including the United Jewish Appeal. 

​"Simon Cantor's legacy is a better Lancaster for all residents."

Contributed by Andrew Wesley Whalen. Andrew, a resident of the Sixth Ward since 2007, is a founding member of Lancaster's 6th Ward HistoryMakers. ​