Looks like a great starter for a cab company , shoe repair , and a gazillion other businesses . You could even use the front 1/3rd of those small buildings to add to the front of a house , as a converted house to combined store front home . Similar homes next to it without the addition , all set back from the sidewalk the same , but the one with the addition places the front wall at the sidewalks edge . That setup shows what evolved over time , and is seen nationwide .