M. Rich Building

Rich's 1907 building at 52-54-56 Whitehall, now 82 Peachtree St. SW, as seen in 2013
M. Rich Building on opening in 1907 - illustration from Atlanta Constitution April 28, 1907

The M. Rich Building, also known as the M. Rich and Brothers and Company Building and the W. T. Grant Building at 82 Peachtree Street SW (formerly 52-54-56 Whitehall), Atlanta, is a landmark building significant for both architectural and commercial reasons. It housed Rich's department store from the time it was completed in 1907 until it moved into its much larger premises at Broad and Alabama streets in 1924.[1]

In September 1882 Rich's moved to 54-56 Whitehall[2] and in 1906, the adjacent M. Kutz & Co. building at 52 Whitehall was acquired. Both it and the Rich store at 54-56 Whitehall were torn down. Rich's closed its furniture annex and moved its dry goods to that building temporarily, while a new building was built on the site of 52-54-56 Whitehall designed by noted local architectural firm Bruce & Morgan.[3] In April 1907 the new emporium opened for business.[4]

In 1924, Rich's moved to new, much larger Palazzo-style quarters at Broad and Alabama streets. From 1925 to 1974 the W. T. Grant discount department store operated here. Later owners and occupants of the building were:[1]

Today, most of the building operates as the M. Rich Center for Creative Arts, Media and Technology.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "M. Rich and Brothers and Company Building", City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission
  2. ↑ Rich's: A Southern Institution, Jeff Clemmons, pp. 26, 30-31
  3. ↑ "Rebuilding sale of furniture, advertisement by M. Rich & Bros. Co., Atlanta Constitution, April 6, 1906, p.4
  4. ↑ "M. Rich Brothers and Company complete great department store", '"Atlanta Constitution, April 28, 1907
  5. ↑ M. Rich Center official website

Further reading

Coordinates: 33°45′08″N 84°23′30″W / 33.7522°N 84.3916°W / 33.7522; -84.3916

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.