The Lazarus Building is a commercial building in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was the flagship store of the F&R Lazarus & Company, a department store founded nearby in 1851. The building, completed in 1909, housed the Lazarus department store until 2004, one year before its brand was retired. The building currently houses numerous state and county offices, the Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, and restaurants and a bank branch in its storefronts on High Street.
The present-day building has had many expansions and renovations, and today occupies much of a city block. It has five stories facing High Street, increasing to seven stories on Front Street. The West Town Street facade of the building is largely as originally built.[1]
Historyedit
Building formerly on the corner of Town and High Streets, c. 1898-1909
F&R Lazarus & Company was founded nearby in 1851, possibly between Rich and Mound Streets. By 1858 it moved to the Parsons Building, at the southwest corner of Town and High streets.[2] In 1909, the company moved to the current Lazarus Building, and moved from being predominantly a men's clothing store to a general department store. It was the first building in the city to feature an escalator, in 1909. The model was soon removed, but modern electric escalators were installed in 1947, another first for the city.[3]
Prior home of the Lazarus store, one block south, 1901
One of the building's first additions was constructed in 1925; a new seven-story building west of the original structure, and originally joined to the main structure through pedestrian bridges over Wall Street. The new building was announced to be built in June 1925.[4]
In 1989 the City Center Mall was opened across from the Lazarus Building (at the current site of the Columbus Commons). The mall duplicated many of the Lazarus store's items, though it helped support the already-foundering store. A pedestrian walkway was installed over High Street between the mall and the Lazarus store, forming it as one of the anchors of the mall. The department store closed in 2004.[5] Its last decade had seen sales decline 60 percent. Its iconic sign was removed August 28, 2004. The store building was converted into a mixed-use space. A rooftop garden was installed to harvest water to cool the building. The building earned a LEED Gold rating following the renovations.[2]
Every Christmastime from 1963 to 1990, the store's 50,000-gallon water tower on its roof was lit with string lights to resemble a Christmas tree. The tradition was postponed for two years during the 1970s energy crisis, and was discontinued in 1990 due to decreased visibility around modern high-rises.[2]
The store was known for its window displays, especially during the holidays. Its highlight was the "big window" at Town and High streets.[2]
^ abcdeDavid Meyers; Beverly Meyers; Elise Meyers Walker (2011). Look to Lazarus: The Big Store. History Press. ISBN9781614233985. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
^"Photos: Lazarus in its heyday". The Columbus Dispatch.
^"D.A.R. To Mark Grave Of Mrs. Mary Sprague". Columbus Dispatch. June 11, 1925. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
^"Final Countdown - Downtown Lazarus-Macy's prepares for last days". The Columbus Dispatch. May 30, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
^Navera, Tristan (February 6, 2018). "Want to work in the downtown Lazarus building? Now is your chance to lease a space". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
Further readingedit
David Meyers; Beverly Meyers; Elise Meyers Walker (2011). Look to Lazarus: The Big Store. History Press. ISBN9781614233985. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lazarus Building.
lazarus, building, commercial, building, downtown, columbus, ohio, flagship, store, lazarus, company, department, store, founded, nearby, 1851, building, completed, 1909, housed, lazarus, department, store, until, 2004, year, before, brand, retired, building, . The Lazarus Building is a commercial building in Downtown Columbus Ohio It was the flagship store of the F amp R Lazarus amp Company a department store founded nearby in 1851 The building completed in 1909 housed the Lazarus department store until 2004 one year before its brand was retired The building currently houses numerous state and county offices the Ohio State University Urban Arts Space and restaurants and a bank branch in its storefronts on High Street Lazarus BuildingView northwest from High StreetGeneral informationAddress141 S High Street Columbus OhioCoordinates39 57 33 N 83 00 02 W 39 95922 N 83 00063 W 39 95922 83 00063OpeningAugust 9 1909Technical detailsFloor area700 000 sq ft 65 000 m2 Design and constructionArchitect s Richards McCarty amp Bulford Contents 1 Attributes 2 History 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksAttributes editThe present day building has had many expansions and renovations and today occupies much of a city block It has five stories facing High Street increasing to seven stories on Front Street The West Town Street facade of the building is largely as originally built 1 History edit nbsp Building formerly on the corner of Town and High Streets c 1898 1909 F amp R Lazarus amp Company was founded nearby in 1851 possibly between Rich and Mound Streets By 1858 it moved to the Parsons Building at the southwest corner of Town and High streets 2 In 1909 the company moved to the current Lazarus Building and moved from being predominantly a men s clothing store to a general department store It was the first building in the city to feature an escalator in 1909 The model was soon removed but modern electric escalators were installed in 1947 another first for the city 3 nbsp Prior home of the Lazarus store one block south 1901 One of the building s first additions was constructed in 1925 a new seven story building west of the original structure and originally joined to the main structure through pedestrian bridges over Wall Street The new building was announced to be built in June 1925 4 In 1989 the City Center Mall was opened across from the Lazarus Building at the current site of the Columbus Commons The mall duplicated many of the Lazarus store s items though it helped support the already foundering store A pedestrian walkway was installed over High Street between the mall and the Lazarus store forming it as one of the anchors of the mall The department store closed in 2004 5 Its last decade had seen sales decline 60 percent Its iconic sign was removed August 28 2004 The store building was converted into a mixed use space A rooftop garden was installed to harvest water to cool the building The building earned a LEED Gold rating following the renovations 2 Much of the 700 000 sq ft 65 000 m2 building is currently used for government offices including the county economic development offices and the Ohio Department of Medicaid Ohio Department of Insurance and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 6 The Columbus Chamber of Commerce Ohio State University Urban Arts Space and AIA Columbus are located here as well 2 The city department of development was also located here until the completion of the Michael B Coleman Government Center Every Christmastime from 1963 to 1990 the store s 50 000 gallon water tower on its roof was lit with string lights to resemble a Christmas tree The tradition was postponed for two years during the 1970s energy crisis and was discontinued in 1990 due to decreased visibility around modern high rises 2 The store was known for its window displays especially during the holidays Its highlight was the big window at Town and High streets 2 Gallery edit nbsp Aerial view 1984 nbsp The building in 2007 nbsp High Street facade 2011See also edit109 111 South High Street 171 191 South High Street Lazarus Annex Lazarus HouseReferences edit Samuelson Robert E et al Pasquale C Grado Judith L Kitchen Jeffrey T Darbee 1976 Architecture Columbus The Foundation of The Columbus Chapter of The American Institute of Architects p 213 OCLC 2697928 a b c d e David Meyers Beverly Meyers Elise Meyers Walker 2011 Look to Lazarus The Big Store History Press ISBN 9781614233985 Retrieved July 29 2020 Photos Lazarus in its heyday The Columbus Dispatch D A R To Mark Grave Of Mrs Mary Sprague Columbus Dispatch June 11 1925 Retrieved 2023 09 04 Final Countdown Downtown Lazarus Macy s prepares for last days The Columbus Dispatch May 30 2004 Retrieved April 6 2023 Navera Tristan February 6 2018 Want to work in the downtown Lazarus building Now is your chance to lease a space www bizjournals com Retrieved 2023 03 01 Further reading editDavid Meyers Beverly Meyers Elise Meyers Walker 2011 Look to Lazarus The Big Store History Press ISBN 9781614233985 Retrieved July 29 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lazarus Building Official website Emporis dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lazarus Building amp oldid 1173817799, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
