Ray & Co. building
The Ray & Co. building is a two-story, 4,716 square-foot English Tudor-style commercial office building located at 2629–2631 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Village. It was built in 1958 and remodeled in 1976 to become the home of Ray & Co., a real estate firm founded by Henry Ray that year.
When it was constructed on the site of the former O'Connor Shell Service Station, the Ray & Co. building incorporated an existing 1950s brick sign for the Mountain Brook Shopping Center on its north wall, and backed up to the 1-story building housing Treadwell Barber Shop.
In the 1980s a branch of Guaranty Savings & Loan operated from the building. It later housed the RealtySouth Training & Business Center. In 2010 it became the headquarters of Ray & Poynor Properties, a partnership with Ray and Wilmer Poynor.
In 2022–2022 the adjacent shopping center was redeveloped by Evson, Inc. as the second phase of Lane Parke.
In the early morning hours of November 16, 2022 a fire broke out inside the building, causing extensive fire, smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The company's staff worked remotely until another office location was secured.
Ray conveyed a portion of the property adjoining Culver Road to Evson in 2023 to improve traffic flow, receiving a small parking area to the north as part of the exchange.
Tenants
- 2629: Ray & Co. real estate (Henry Ray 1976–1983), RealtySouth Training & Business Center, Ray & Poynor Properties (Henry Ray & Wilmer Poynor 2010–2022)
- 2631: Guaranty Savings & Loan (1980s)
References
- "Heavy damage after fire at Mountain Brook Village" (November 16, 2022) WBRC.com
- Robinson, Carol (November 16, 2022) "Fire sweeps through office building in Mountain Brook Village." The Birmingham News
- O'Leary, A. J. (November 16, 2022) "Fire strikes Ray & Poynor, mars Mountain Brook landmark." Birmingham Business Journal
- Parker, Illyshia (July 18, 2023) "Mountain Brook property sale paves way for Lane Parke enhancements.' Birmingham Business Journal