Edward N. Brown

Edward N. Brown owns and operates Brown’s Stocking Avenue Theatre, which is the largest and most modern moving picture theatre in Grand Rapids outside the downtown business district, and the high-grade productions here presented have gained to the theatre a substantial and appreciative patronage that is drawn from far outside the immediate district in which it is located. Mr. Brown was born at Goshen, Indiana, and his youthful education was obtained in the public schools of that attractive little city. There he found employment as shipping clerk at the establishment of the Goshen Carpet Sweeper Company, and when this corporation removed its manufacturing headquarters to Grand Rapids in 1890 Mr. Brown was one of the six employees who came with the concern to this city, he having continued his connection with the business for several years after the Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company absorbed, by purchase, the business of the Goshen company. For a number of years Mr. Brown was engaged in the retail shoe business on Bridge street, and finally he became associated with George Budde in equipping and opening the Alcazar Theatre, on that street. Eight months later Mr. Brown sold his interest in the enterprise to his partner and then proceeded to erect the Fulton theatre, at the corner of Fulton and Straight streets. This place of entertainment was successfully conducted by him four years, and since selling the same he has concentrated his activities in the conducting of his fine theatre on Stocking avenue, near Fourth street, this having been erected by him in 1916 and being one of the specially attractive and popular moving picture houses of the city. Mr. Brown naturally takes lively interest in all that concerns the welfare and progress of his home city, and is a successful ad popular business man whose circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. Mr. Brown wedded Miss Emma Hartman, of Goshen, his native city, and they have two children, Walter W. and Lillian, the son being his father’s valued assistant in the conducting of the theatre business.