Built St. Louis: Crumbling Landmarks
Woolworth Building

Above: A vintage photograph, from a marketing publication of builder H.B. Deal, best shows the cool elegance that the building's designers intended.

Circa 1993. I believe the building was already closed at this point, though the Woolworth's sign has not yet been removed. Circa 2002. Circa 2004. The window boardups have been removed as part of the abortive renovation. March 2007. A banner proclaims the coming of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to the building. A closeup that captures some of the streamlined modernist aesthetic. The Woolworth Building is part of a fantastic line-up of buildings, most still awaiting restoration as of 2007.

The Woolworth Building was originally the Grand and Olive Building, named for the Midtown intersection where it sits sandwiched with the Continental Building on one side and the Fox Theater on the other. In spite of such august company, it has been vacant for well over a decade. The building is classic Streamline Deco, with a curving corner and long ribbons of windows. It replaced a 5-story Victorian confection of a building, the Beers Hotel, that burned in 1931. The new building was originally intended to function as the base of a tower; the additional construction never materialized, however. It opened with a Liggett's, and housed a Woolworth's five and dime store for many years. At least two major changes have been wrought over the years: a third story, set back from the lower facade, has been added; and the dark two-story entryway on Olive Street has been removed. The building was slated for redevelopment in 2004, and renovation activity began; however, a lawsuit against the TIF financing that was supporting the development brought it to a halt. The developers pulled out and the building sat empty for another two years. Bidders were solicited October 2006 to attempt the redevelopment again; plans tentatively called for retail on the ground floor, office space on the second floor, and residential on top, possibly connected to the Continental Building. The St. Louis Business Journal reports that a developer has been selected, with plans to convert the building to office and retail. A banner currently hangs outside, announcing the coming of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to the building; the organization has planned for several years to lease part of the space. Next Site > > >