Cincinnati's Oldest Business Relocates to Historic Mansion After 207 Years

June 15, 2026 - 00:11

Bromwell's Fireplace Specialists, the oldest continuously operating business in Cincinnati, is packing up after more than two centuries downtown. The company, founded in 1819, announced it will move to the historic Hauck summer home in Sharonville.

The business started as a hardware store on Main Street and evolved into a fireplace and hearth specialist over the decades. Now, it will occupy the 19th-century mansion built by John Hauck, a prominent Cincinnati brewer. The three-story brick home, with its wraparound porch and ornate woodwork, sits on several acres in Sharonville.

Company president Tom Bromwell said the move allows the family-owned business to preserve its legacy while gaining more space. The downtown location had become cramped, and the mansion offers room for showrooms and workshops. The building also needs restoration, which Bromwell said fits the company's focus on craftsmanship.

The Hauck summer home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. It has sat mostly empty in recent years. Bromwell's plans to renovate the interior while keeping the original character intact. The move is expected to be complete by late fall.

For a city that has seen countless businesses come and go, Bromwell's relocation marks a rare chapter. It is not closing or selling out. It is simply moving to a bigger, older house.