Clark Building: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:46, 1 April 2016

Warren, Knight & Davis rendering of the remodeled Clark Building in 1962

The Clark Building is a 2-story commercial building located on the northwest corner of 20th Street and 4th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. It was designed by Harry Wheelock and constructed in 1908 by T. C. Thompson for General Louis Clark. He expected the building to house Drennen's Department Store, but no agreement was reached and the space was subdivided for smaller shops. The property remained in his family for generations.

The Commercial Realty Company, owners of the building in 1962, commissioned a full remodeling and modernization of the structure from Warren, Knight & Davis and Brice Building Company.

The building housed the Birmingham Press Club, and later a ballet school, on the second floor. The ground floor space housed Smith & Hardwick book store, while the basement was home to Cafe Italiano and its Piccolino Lounge. The structure became vacant in 1986.

The building was slated for demolition in the mid 1990s, but was saved by the efforts of Richard Arrington, Jr, John Lauriello and Bob Moody, along with Operation New Birmingham. They recruited the law firm of Lightfoot, Franklin & White to purchase the building and renovate it as their headquarters offices. The renovations, aimed at restoring the building's historic appearance, were completed in 1998 by the Charles & Vinzant Construction Company.

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400-410 20th Street North
- 400: former location of Industrial Savings Bank (c. 1929), Schwobilt Clothes (1964), Central Bank
- 400½: former location of Mary Beard's Tea Room, Café Italiano (1966-1974), TC's Restaurant, Piccolino Lounge
- 402: former location of 20th Street Fruit Store, Delight Barber Shop (c. 1929), vacant (1964), Charles Arndt clothiers
- 404: former location of A. C. Keily's photo studio, the Stork Shoppe, and Mehr's Music Store & Novelty Shop (c. 1929-1930s)
- 406: former location Faulkner's Stationery (c. 1929), Smith & Hardwick booksellers (1934-1990), Birmingham Press Club
- 408: former location of Peerless Laundry, Studio Book Store (c. 1929), Lampland Novelties (1964)
- 410: former location of Claradon Hat Shop, Statesman Barber Shop (1964)
- 410A: former location of Harris Florist (1964)
1922-1926 4th Avenue North
- 1922: Spivy & Johnson Portrait Co. (c. 1929)
- 1924: National Shoe (c. 1929), The Angus (1956), The Cane Break (1960s-70s)
- 1926: Gregory & Blake insurance agents (c. 1929)
- Birmingham Club
Room 222-223: Gerhard-Mols Tailoring Co. (1925)
Room 236: Retta Dawson, dressmaker and designer (1925)

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * 1922-1926 4th Avenue North
 ** 1922: [[Spivy & Johnson Portrait Co.]] (c. 1929)
-** 1924: [[National Shoe]] (c. 1929)
+** 1924: [[National Shoe]] (c. 1929), [[The Angus]] (1956), [[The Cane Break]] (1960s-70s)
-** 1926: [[Gregory & Blake]] insurance agents (c. 1929), [[The Cane Break]] (1960s-70s)
+** 1926: [[Gregory & Blake]] insurance agents (c. 1929)
 ** [[Birmingham Club]]
 * Room 222-223: [[Gerhard-Mols Tailoring Co.]] (1925)