Holzwasser-Walker Scoot Building and Owl Drug Building
Also known as: 073766; 37-0153
Why it's listed
At the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue in downtown San Diego, two joined buildings once formed a single department store. The eight-story Holzwasser building, designed by John Terrel Vawter and opened in 1920, has Spanish Colonial Revival upper floors. Its lower two floors received an Art Deco facade in 1935 when Walker Scott took over. Next door at Broadway and Fourth Avenue, the four-story Owl Drug Building, designed in 1913 by the Quayle Brothers and Cressey, is Neo-Classical Revival with pilasters topped by Ionic-style volutes. Its upper floors served as extra department store space from 1926 to 1934 and again from 1945 until the store closed in the mid-1980s. The buildings are recognized for their role in San Diego's retail history, serving shoppers through the Depression and World War II on what was called the city's best corner. A recent rehabilitation created retail, restaurant, residential and parking uses.
Significance in brief: The two buildings worked together as one department store and are nominated under Criterion A for their role in San Diego's commerce. Holzwasser's and later Walker Scott's served shoppers from the 1920s through the mid-1980s on a prime downtown corner. The Owl Drug Building's upper floors served as an extension of the store.
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 05000072, listed February 27, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1014 Fifth ave. and 402-416 Broadway, San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | February 27, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000072 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Holzwasser/Walker Scott 1935-1955; Owl Drug 1945-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Holzwasser/Walker Scott: John Terrel Vawter; Owl Drug: Quayle Brothers (and Cressey) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival and Early 20th Century Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently rehabilitated through a certified project: retail and residential use, with parking on the upper floors of the Holzwasser/Walker Scott Building; restaurant and residential use in the Owl Drug Building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.71799, -117.16157 (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 05000072.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q5818132
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.