The Mailbag: Where was the Giant Tiger store in Sandusky?

Q: I have a stuffed reindeer statue I use each Christmas. I know it's an antique by now, as I purchased him at a Giant Tiger Store. When was this store in Sandusky, and where was it located? –Barbara on Franklin StreetA: Your question gave me an opportunity to look at old newspapers in our archive, so thanks for asking. I'll include the files at the bottom of the page, so check those out. I think this stuff is pretty cool. From what I've found, a Giant Tiger opened on Columbus Avenue Oct. 30, 1960 until a fire destroyed it the evening of March 1, 1964. Many local fire departments responded to the blaze, which was reported to have caused more than $1 million in damage. Another Giant Tiger Store opened later that year on West Washington Street but closed shortly after when Sandusky filed charges that the new building didn't meet several city and fire safety codes. The new location shut down for good Jan. 20, 1965. Oddly enough, another fire occurred at the Columbus Avenue site, this time burning down the wooden warehouse structure that remained on the property. To my knowledge, another Giant Tiger Store did not open in Sandusky. I hope this information helps you, because I definitely had a good time searching for it.The Mailbag is a daily feature on SanduskyRegister.com. Every weekday at noon, we will post one question-and-answer from a resident. To ask a question, send a letter to The Mailbag at 314 W. Market St., or e-mail mailbag@ sanduskyregister.com. Please include your first name and a location in the e-mail, e.g. "John from Decatur Street."