City asked to rename street after late chip truck owner
Portion of St. Clair Avenue would be tribute to Jake Hiebert
He was an icon, and that blue Chevy truck was on that street all the time. RICH MERLINO NIAGARA FALLS RESIDENT
A Niagara Falls resident is calling on city council to rename a portion of St. Clair Avenue after Jake Hiebert, a longtime and well-known downtown chip wagon owner who died April 11 at age 86.
Hiebert, with his wife Amy, ran Jake’s Chip Wagon for decades from a blue 1951 truck on St. Clair Avenue, between Queen and Park streets.
Hiebert and the chip wagon became a Niagara Falls institution over the years, with generations of families stopping by to enjoy the fries, and the always smiling faces of Jake and Amy as they cut potatoes by hand.
“When I learned of Jake’s passing, obviously my condolences went out to the family and then I immediately was flooded with all these memories of Jake’s Chip Wagon,” said Rich Merlino.
“I like to post positive things on Facebook, so I went on Facebook and I posted a couple pictures of Jake’s Chip Wagon, and then I just thought, they should rename that street. He was an icon, and that blue Chevy truck was on that street all the time.”
Merlino said within 12 hours, his post received more than 500 likes and “very positive comments.”
“People were sharing it, people were like, ‘Where do I sign the petition,’ even though there wasn’t a petition out there, so it kind of just got legs on its own.”
One of Hiebert’s daughters commented on the post saying it would be a “wonderful” tribute to her father, said Merlino.
“Jake and his wife, Amy, with the chip wagon, touched so many people’s lives,” he said.
“There are so many things about people’s childhood that chip wagon brings up very positive memories, and I heard that, and I’m hearing it out on the street — I’m getting phone calls, and I think it’s just a positive impact (that should be recognized).”
Merlino said he believes renaming that portion of St. Clair Avenue Jake Hiebert Way would complement downtown revitalization efforts, including plans for the former farmers market property.
He said he emailed the idea to council and senior staff, and “very quickly” received responses from five councillors.
“They certainly didn’t commit, which I understand, but they were very positive, thought it was a great idea,” said Merlino.