by Christine Lorraine Morgan, May 8, 2026

The souvenir stand at the foot of State Street was a bustling, busy spot in the 1960s and into the 1990s. It stood beneath the north end of the double decker dock.

It had a pyramidal roof and wooden shutters that opened and closed so that the proprietor could easily secure the structure at the end of the day, and readily open back up the next morning.

Frozen chocolate-covered bananas, popcorn, cotton candy, unusual gifts and soft drinks were among the things this popular shop provided to Dock visitors.

This memorable waterfront structure played a major role in the memories of those who visited Erie’s Public Dock back in the day.

The souvenir stand was turned into a bigger building around the time the Bicentennial Tower went up in the mid 1990s