While many may have fond memories of Borghi’s store on Richmond Road, there was another store near there and before Borghi’s. The store I am referring to was operated by Lassen County’s best-known Syrian, Abraham Farris.
In September 1912, Farris, who was operating a store in Clio, Plumas County, paid Susanville a visit to relocate. He liked what he saw and made arrangements to move. The Lassen Advocate duly noted, “Mr. Farris impresses us as a man of enterprise and business ability, and as one who will do his share in the up building of Susanville.”
Farris, set up shop on the southeast corner of Main and Roop Streets. All went well in the beginning until the owner of the property, O.M. Doyle evicted him. Doyle made arrangements to have a two-story brick building on the lot, that seasoned Susanville residents will know as the Del Mar.
The business district was booming with the advent of the railroad, and Farris could not find a suitable location. He opted to purchase property in the Lassen Townsite on Richmond Road. Yet, this was problematic. Lassen Townsite was owned by several influential Susanville businessmen. They limited commercial development near the depot and it would be kept to a minimum, mainly for businesses affiliated with rail services. To get around this predicament, Farris hired contractor Louis Dimon to build him a house large enough for his family, but with enough space to carry a large stock of merchandise. The store operated until his death in April 1940. In 1942, the store front was remodeled. The building it should be noted burned down in 2013.
