9-11-13 West Main Street

Now & Then: 9–13 West Main Street, Webster, NY

Now
Today, this connected structure is divided into three storefronts: 9, 11, and 13 West Main Street. The primary business at #9 is the Kirby Sales and Support Center, continuing the building’s legacy as a hub for local commerce. Last renovated in 2013, then president of the Webster Village Historical Preservation Commission, Karl Laurer, praised the building’s restoration, noting the use of “hand-cut style clapboard” that closely matches the original wood siding. The commission expressed strong approval of the work, highlighting its commitment to historical accuracy.

No vinyl siding here—every detail stays true to the building’s original era. Features like decorative corbels, a classic 19th-century bracket design, were carefully sourced from a restoration wholesaler to preserve the structure’s historic character.

Mid-20th Century
From 1923 to 1964, the space was home to Herbst Spa, opened by Henry and Grace Herbst. It was a beloved spot for Webster High School students, who gathered during lunch to enjoy candy, ice cream, sodas, and music from the jukebox. The store also sold tobacco supplies, newspapers, and magazines, making it a lively social and retail center for over four decades. In the early 1950s, the shop got a full modern update with new counters, booths, and a switch to Sealtest ice cream. After 41 years on Main Street, Hank retired as one of Webster’s longest-running business owners, second only to hardware dealer Roy Hawley. Herbst Spa is remembered in a permanent display in the Webster Museum. The museum has the original soda fountain equipment from Herbst’s Spa in its display.

Early 20th Century
Before Herbst Spa, the storefront was occupied by N.P. Whiting’s Home Bakery and Luncheon, a cozy eatery and bakery serving the community in the early 1900s. A vintage postcard from the Divided Back Era (1907–1915) shows the bakery alongside an electric trolley on West Main Street, offering a rare glimpse into Webster’s streetscape at the time.