Haunted History - CC Cohen Restaurant

Known to most Paducah residents as the Cohen building, this important structure was built around 1865, probably for M. Livingston & Company. Afterward, it became a clothing store, a dry goods store and in 1914, a Paducah City Directory identified the occupants as the R.L. Peacher Liquor Dealers and the Rehkopf Distilling Company

The Cohen Family owned the distinctive corner from around 1921 until 1980, when the last member of the Cohen family, Stella Cohen Peine, died upstairs in her apartment.

Alan Raidt now owns the building and business know as CC Cohen Restaurant and Bar which now occupies the entire building. It is a favorite stop for both locals and tourists in the city.

The Ghost of Cohen's Past

Ask the employees a CC Cohen about Stella. They'll say she's the ghost who lives upstairs and wanders the restaurant at odd hours. Almost everyone has a story about coming in to open the restaurant and finding chairs moved or salt and pepper shakers dumped. Others will tell you about lights and signs coming on after they've been unplugged.

They may be talking about Stella Cohen Peine, who lived upstairs after her husband was killed in an alley nearby until her death in 1980. The upstairs "parlor" is a reproduction of the Cohen sisters' living room. The Cohen sisters' picture still hangs in the Parlor.

Written to Stella Cohen by Alan Raidt in 1996

About 1850, this building was constructed to house a distillery, a grocery distributor, and a host of other businesses.

Around 1900, the Cohen family bought it to house three of their passions....a dry goods store, with the finest turn-of-the century clothing, shoes and hats...a pawn shop, where the Cohen family could turn an honest (or perhaps dishonest) dollar, and their home on the 2nd floor.

Stella was a Cohen sister. The A. Cohen Loan office did a booming business on the Market House Square. (his checks are framed around the building) the dry goods store did well also, and all was well.

The Cohens started dying. Stella's husband was murdered in an alley behind Cohen's and she and her sister closed up shop and lived with her nine cats and two Dobermans until Stella's sister died around 1950. Stella lived upstairs (now renovated, but was meticulously rebuilt her parlor) until the 1970's.

In the Early 1980's the building sold and things started happening. Workmen on the renovation lost tools. Men's equipment didn't work, the tester aunt opened and things kept happening.

CC Cohen restaurant is my business now, has been for eight years, and Stella keeps making herself known. I hope she is happy, I am.

Stella we mean you only the greatest respect. I've left some of my favorite antiques, antique guitars, etc., in your building. Keep them safe please.

Alan Raidt CC Cohen Restaurant and Bar April 1996

Our Visit

Take it from me; the story definitely gets to you! I was allowed upstairs to take pictures and was left alone. Talk about spooky! The entire time I was looking through the camera, I had one eye looking around to make sure I was really alone. There is something about the renovated parlor that just seems eerie.

For those who like a little sense of adventure with their meal, CC Cohen caters parties upstairs. Folks can actually sit in the parlor that Stella Cohen Peine once called home! On a final note, I have to say the only thing better than the history of this old building has to be the food. :-)