Historic Name: |
Big Bear Stores |
Common Name: |
East West Books |
Style: |
Spanish - Mission |
Neighborhood: |
Roosevelt |
Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1924 |
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Significance |
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This building is significant as a keystone building at the prominent corner of Roosevelt Way NE and NE 65th Street, at the heart of the Roosevelt business district. It was built in the early 1920s, as the district began a period of intense growth. When the school board announced plans to build a high school near 65th and Roosevelt (then 10th Avenue NE), people protested that it was too far out and no one would attend. Hoever, within five years of the school's opening in 1922, it had to be expanded. During this same period the business district developed, and this was one of the first large structures.
In the 1930s this was a Big Bear grocery store. For most of the time from the 1950s to the 1990s it was a pharmacy, known variously as Cahalan Brothers (1950s), Craigen's (1960s) and Bartell Drugs (1970s-90s). It is now a bookstore, since Bartell moved to a larger space nearby.
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Appearance |
This large brick-clad building has been altered, but the changes appear got be reversible. It shows a Mission Revival influence in the red tile roofs between the stepped parapets at each corner. The large transom windows are covered with signs and board; one section at the southeast corner is visible. Many of the original display windows are also covered. The main entry is recessed at the corner, with newer doors; a large square column supports the corner structure above. |
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