Salisbury ~ The Downtown Series #3 ~ The c. 1902 Washington Building

One of the more significant and most imposing buildings in downtown Salisbury NC ~ the historic Washington Building is for sale.

The Washington Building on North Main Street was built in 1902 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style with rusticated ashlar facings, which are roughly finished cut granite stones, and rounded arched windows. The building also has an element of Spanish Mission style with the shaped gable at the roof line. It was erected on the site of the old Yarborough House, where George Washington visited during his tour of the Southern states in 1791. The building was commissioned by Lee S. Overman and designed by C. C. Hook of Charlotte. Overman sold the building to D. L. Arey in 1906.


When this photo was taken, it housed Rowan Hardware and Rogers Clothing Company. Between the Washington Building and the meat store next door, was Hogan’s Alley. At one point is was the home of the Saturday Evening Post. The Washington Building is now an impressive example of historic rehabilitation in a downtown commercial area.

This absolutely beautiful building at 118 MAIN STREET NORTH in Salisbury, North Carolina is a 3-story structure. The building features original architectural pieces such as a grand staircase, original doors with transom windows, original light fixtures, and plenty more. The first floor contains two retail spaces, one currently leased to Ethos Restaurant, the second one vacant.

The second floor is fully renovated, with HVAC, and set up for office space with separate access from the 1st floor retail on Main Street via an imposing wood staircase. The amount of stained and finished, intact original woodwork on this floor is astounding. There are original tile floors in the restrooms in this over 20,000 square foot building.

The two large meeting rooms facing Main Street with their 15-foot ceilings are naturally lit by the pair of large double-hung windows with broad decorative transoms and deep wood sills and casings. Each room’s wood baseboard molding set off the space to a ”T”. The large meeting room to the southeast is carpeted, while the large room on to the left of the staircase to the northeast has wood floors and its original fireplace. This space would make an impressive office for the CEO of the Washington Building’s future owners.

This floor further houses at least 8 more office spaces off to the sides of its center hallway, each with pebble glass transomed windows and intact woodwork. This high-functioning floor also houses the men’s and women’s restrooms, and a kitchen. There is a defunct elevator reaching this floor that could be refurbished to make this building accessible by modern standards.

The third floor is another place the “WOW~factor” will hit you head on! The two large front rooms, again facing Main Street, feature the two immense arched windows that are part of the Washington Building’s impressive façade characteristics. The large northeast room has gorgeous brick walls and fireplace, sharing the original chimney with the second floor fireplace. The southeast room has only one brick wall exposed, but surely could be transformed to another impressive brick-walled room, or covered as the new owners best see fit.

The Washington Building is like no other in downtown Salisbury. In 2003, Miller-Davis Agency purchased The Washington Building and commissioned StoutStudio Architecture (http://www.stoutstudio.com/intro.htm), a firm noted for experience with historical renovation projects, to begin renovations 2005. When Miller-Davis purchased The Washington Building in downtown Salisbury, they needed office space that would feature a progressive look and functionality without displacing its charm and character.  The StoutStudio Design Program included restoring the façade, restoring and reuse of the existing 2nd floor office space, the removal of non-contributing interior walls on all levels, and the restoration of the grand center staircase to the 2nd floor.

Renovations were complete in 2005, and The Washington Building’s accolades started rolling in! It was awarded the Best Historic Rehabilitation and was the 2005 NC Main Street Award Winner (http://www.nccommerce.com/cd/urban-development/main-street-program).

While most of the renovations are complete, extra space on the 3rd floor is still available for renovation. An immense ballroom-esque room sits to the back of the third floor that is crying out to be a party room or film studio. The room is huge! You will have to see it for yourself.

The Washington Building on 118 N. Main St. is a beautiful piece of historic Downtown Salisbury. This over 20,000 square foot property is for sale for just $650,000, the top two floors of the building are handsomely restored office space, and the building can be converted to a live-work situation if desired. This building, built in 1902, is now beautifully renovated and is one of the most impressive buildings along Main Street. This truly historic building has been wonderfully restored back to its former 100-year-old glory while still enjoying all the modern comforts of today, and awaits its new owner to create a vibrant downtown culture within its walls.

The interior of Ethos Restaurant ~ 1st floor retail space in The Washington Building

The listing agent for The Washington Building is Victor Wallace at Wallace Realty. Contact Salisbury Realtor Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 as your buyers agent to help you make this fabulous building your own.

The Washington Building ~ circa 1902 ~ historic rehabilitation award winner ~ $650,000

Be a Fan