Roden Block
The Roden Block, also called the Roden Building or, now, the Ingram Building is a commercial structure developed by Benjamin Roden before 1884 at the northwest corner of 2nd Avenue North and 20th Street North.
The three-story commercial block was designed by Charles Wheelock and constructed of pressed-brick with stone trim. Roden's grocery occupied the lower floor with offices above and sleeping rooms on the top floor.
According to an 1887 business directory, the Birmingham Board of Aldermen held their meetings in the Roden Building.
Birmingham National Bank replaced Roden's grocery in the early 20th century.
In 1937 the Roden Block and adjacent Caheen Building at 1924 2nd Avenue North were combined and completely renovated by Miller, Martin & Lewis Architects for Parisian stores. The cornices were removed, window openings enlarged, and a new white stone cladding was installed with simplified geometric details. Parisian's storefront was completely updated again in a 1950 renovation that also included excavation of a storage basement and a mezzanine-level men's store. The new entrance, clad in glass and Alabama marble, featured the nation's first installation of touch-action hydraulically-operated doors, as well as backlit plexi-glass and neon signage.
A 2011 renovation for owners Kent and Angie Ingram was designed by architect Jeremy Erdreich.
Tenants
- Benjamin Roden's grocery
- M. W. Steele, architect (1884-)
- Thomson & Berry, real estate & insurance brokers (1884–)
- offices of the Avondale Stove & Foundry Co. (1887–)
- Birmingham National Bank (1887-)
- Liggett's drug store and soda fountain (1920s)
- Paramount Candies (1930s)
- Parisian (1937–)
- Corner Soda (1940s-50s)
- Butler's Shoes
- Ingram Law Offices
- Subway Sandwiches
- Paramount yogurt shop (2011–2013)
- Paramount bar (2013–)
References
- Pocket Business Directory and Guide to Birmingham, Ala. (1887) - accessed January 16, 2007
- White, Marjorie Longenecker (1977) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.
- Fazio, Michael W. (2010) Landscape of Transformations: Architecture and Birmingham, Alabama. Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press ISBN 9781572336872
- Tomberlin, Michael (January 15, 2011) "Sweet dream project in downtown Birmingham remembers Paramount, Parisian's heyday." Birmingham News