Kahn's Department Store
Also known as: The Rotunda; Liberty House Department Store
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Why it's listed
Kahn's Department Store occupies an irregular, L-shaped lot at 1501-39 Broadway in downtown Oakland. Designed by Charles W. Dickey and opened in 1912, it was originally a Y-shaped steel-frame building topped by a thirty-six-foot elliptical glass dome. In 1923 a six-story concrete addition by architect E. W. Cannon filled the northeast corner of the site. Inside, a ninety-five-by-seventy-five-foot rotunda rose through the building, ringed by classical columns and balustrades. The brick exterior is trimmed with terra cotta and marble. At completion it was the third largest department store in California and the largest in Oakland, serving the city's growing middle class after the 1906 earthquake. Later alterations covered the storefronts and filled in parts of the rotunda, but a 1984-1988 rehabilitation restored the 1912 storefront and rebuilt the rotunda from photographs and drawings. The building now serves as offices, and its dome remains a distinctive feature of the downtown skyline.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a fine example of early twentieth century Beaux Arts commercial architecture. Its interior rotunda is a rare local example of a large, publicly accessible Beaux Arts space. The exterior and dome also contribute to the historic fabric of downtown Oakland. When built, it was the third largest department store in California and the largest in Oakland.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000194, listed March 30, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1501--39 Broadway, Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | March 30, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1923 |
| Architect / builder | Dickey, Charles W.; Cannon, E. W. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated 1984-1988 and converted from a department store to an office building with ground-floor retail; the 1930s-40s storefront alterations were largely reversed and the rotunda was reconstructed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Oakland Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.80595, -122.27088 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q123055077
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.