Peerless Saloon

Peerless Saloon in early 1900s. Photo by O. V. Hunt.

Peerless Saloon in 1939. Photo by W. B. Phillips.

The Peerless Saloon was a 3-story, turn of the century Victoria-styled saloon built in 1889 at 1900 2nd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. It was built by the Gilbreath Construction Company and featured decorative brickwork.

In 1904 the proprietors were Thomas W. O'Byrne, J. J. Odom, F. M. Edwards, and W. R. Wilkerson. From 1908 until at least 1929 the Vaudette Theater operated from the building. The building was remodeled in 1920.

Demolition of the former saloon building was opposed by many preservationist groups including Operation New Birmingham as it was at the time one of the oldest surviving structures downtown. By May 2001, it was added to the Places in Peril list of the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation.

In summer 2003 it was demolished after its owner, George Ladd of Ladd Property Management, determined it would be too costly to both renovate the structure and bring it up to current building codes. In 2004, Ladd began construction of a new building on the site. Known as the "1900 Building", it was completed in 2005, but remained vacant until software firm Fleetio leased the upper floor in 2017.

References

• "An Industrial Review of the General Business Interests of Birmingham and the cities and towns comprising the great state of Alabama" (1904) Birmingham: Post B, Alabama Division, Travelers Protective Association
• Niolet, Benjamin (December 18, 2002) "Owner to raze Peerless Saloon." The Birmingham News