225 Market Street, Johnstown PA
There are buildings you pass without noticing, and then there are buildings that quietly insist on being seen.
The structure at 225 Market Street falls into the latter category. Sitting firmly on a street corner in downtown Johnstown, it’s a red brick building capped with a gray mansard roof, the kind of architectural choice that immediately sets it apart from the flatter, more utilitarian forms that dominate much of modern commercial construction. Next to the bulk of a large parking garage, it holds its own—not by scale, but by presence.
This is a building that understands corners matter.
Architecture that Signals Intent
The mansard roof is doing more than providing shelter. Historically, mansard roofs signaled adaptability: usable upper space, visual distinction, and a hint of urban ambition. They were popular in periods when cities wanted density without monotony—when form and function were allowed to cooperate.
Paired with the red brick façade, the building reads as purpose-built, not improvised. Brick construction speaks to durability and permanence, a material choice meant to last decades rather than lease cycles. The proportions are human-scaled, the windows straightforward, the overall form confident without being flashy.
It’s not ornate, but it’s not anonymous either. And that balance matters.
A Quiet History of Mixed Use
Buildings like this one were once common: ground-floor commerce with upper floors that could serve offices, storage, or even residences. They supported daily life without separating it into rigid zones. Work happened here. Services happened here. People passed through on foot, not just by car.
While specific archival details of 225 Market Street’s earliest occupants may be sparse, its form tells a familiar story—one of practical urban design, where a single structure could serve multiple roles across generations. These buildings adapt because they were designed to.
That adaptability is why so many of them are still standing.
The Case for Flavor in the Built Environment
It would be easy to look at this building and feel nostalgia, but that’s not the point.
The point is that places with flavor invite participation. They encourage people to linger, to return, to feel some sense of attachment to their surroundings. Mixed-use construction—done thoughtfully—creates streets that feel alive rather than transactional.
Not every building needs a mansard roof. Not every structure needs brick. But variety matters. Texture matters. When every new build looks the same, communities lose something subtle but important: visual memory.
Cambria County, to its credit, still has a lot to taste. Walkable blocks, older commercial buildings, small storefronts with personality. The challenge—and opportunity—is to build forward without sanding all of that down.
A Living Building
Today, 225 Market Street is home to Shear Magic Barber Shop, a family-oriented business known for its welcoming atmosphere. In many ways, that’s a fitting occupant. Barbershops have long been neighborhood anchors—places of routine, conversation, and familiarity.
As we continue settling into Johnstown, there’s something appealing about the idea of making this our local spot. Not just because of the service, but because the building itself feels like it belongs to the city in a way newer construction often doesn’t try to.
Buildings like this remind us that good architecture doesn’t shout.
It stays.
