Those Among Us- Fridrich Moving and Storage
I would suspect there are few Lakewood businesses with the longevity, not to mention the utterly fascinating heritage, of Fridrich Moving and Storage.
The Fridrich family has been well-known in Cleveland business circles for well over a hundred years. According to Mike Fridrich, president of Fridrich Moving and Storage, one branch of the family (George) started the Fridrich bicycle business over on Lorain Avenue, while another (William) went into the moving and storage business.
Mike also says that the family is related to Lakewood's Kundtz family. Theodor Kundtz was a well-known Lakewood businessman and owner of a famous castle-type home on Edgewater Drive in Lakewood (razed in 1961). The great Kundtz lumberyard in Lakewood extended from Clifton south to the tracks and from Manor Park to Giel, but it burned in a spectacular fire in May of 1921, according to that great book, Lakewood Lore, by Lakewood author Dan Chabek. After that devastating fire, new Lakewood streets were developed between Giel and Manor Park, including Bunts, Hathaway, Merl, and Chase.
Mike also indicates there were ties with the White Sewing Machine Company, both with family and with product. According to Mike, the Kundtz group supplied cabinetry for the sewing machines and wooden wheel materials for White trucks (which were ALSO used by Fridrich moving!) and later was absorbed into the White company. What an intricate and historical Lakewood web!
As far back as 1895, the G & W Fridrich business delivered flour and feed and bailed hay, straw, and coal to the homes and businesses on Cleveland's near West Side with their horse-drawn wagon. Their horse, also named George, knew the established delivery route so well that one day when the driver came outside after making a delivery, both George and the wagon were gone! After some anxious searching, both George and the wagon were discovered patiently waiting at the next stop along the way!
Before long, it was decided to incorporate as a moving business. This was done 93 years ago, in 1915. They established a facility located at 14221 Madison Ave. Although the business headquarters later moved up to 14800 Brookpark Road, the Madison facility remains an important part of the operation.
It was, in fact, at the Madison facility 75 years ago that the first organizational meetings of North American Van Lines were held. Fridrich Moving and Storage remains as the oldest operating agent for North American Van Lines.
The Fridrich moving legacy continues today under the direction of Mike and Bea Fridrich, of Lakewood. As mentioned previously, Mike is the president of the company. Bea is the company's warehouse manager.
Mike and Bea live near me, and they have done so much to make their Lakewood street a great place to live. On Halloween, they can always be counted on to provide an incredible display of pumpkins and other attractions around their home. They have also provided luminaries for much of the street on special holidays, and they are always willing to lend a hand to their friends and neighbors. They also have great people working with them. Having used their company several times over the years, I can personally attest to their professional staff and careful handling of our family items. In fact, one of their more challenging jobs was probably the moving of our player-grand piano! That was one heavy puppy to deal with, and they handled it with ease!
Other interesting jobs that the Fridrichs have been called upon to do were to return a crashed plane to the airport in the 1920's, and to serve as last-minute pallbearers for a funeral at a nearby cemetery. During the company's early years, one of the Fridrich moving vehicles had convertible sides that could turn into seats so that the van could do double-duty as a sightseeing ride for the public! With hard solid rubber tires on that truck, those rides were no doubt memorable experiences for those involved.
The Fridrich company continues to move and store just about anything and everything for just about anybody. They have a regular relationship with a number of Cleveland's business and cultural institutions.
I am honored to be able to call Mike and Bea my good friends. They carry the torch for a fascinating company with a historic Cleveland-Lakewood legacy, and they continue to provide a necessary and valuable service to the pulse of our city.
