Downey Building
Also known as: Palm Grill Cafe
Why it's listed
Built in 1867 on Arch Street in Atlanta, Illinois, this two-story brick building was designed for two separate businesses at street level, divided by a central arched doorway leading to shared upstairs rooms. Alexander Downey, a local merchant and carpenter, built it after a series of fires pushed the town's merchants to rebuild downtown in brick. The south side first housed the Exchange Bank of Atlanta, later succeeded by a national bank, and later served as a law office. The north side held a millinery shop, a hardware store, and a grocery before the Palms Grill opened in 1934. The grill served meals to travelers on US Route 66, hosted dancing and club parties, and acted as a Greyhound bus stop. Ground-floor arches were replaced with rectangular storefronts between about 1907 and the 1930s, while the upper facade keeps its corbelled arches and brick cornice. The south side was donated to the city in 1981 as a library museum annex.
Significance in brief: The building is locally significant under Criterion A for Commerce in Atlanta's downtown development between 1867 and 1953. It housed the town's primary early bank (Exchange Bank, later Atlanta National Bank) and the Palms Grill Cafe, a social gathering place and stop for travelers on US Route 66. Its changing storefronts reflect how downtown buildings adapted to shifting business needs.
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 04000069, listed February 25, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 110-112 Southwest Arch St., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Logan County |
| Listed | February 25, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000069 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Downey, Alexander, Builder |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The south side is used as a museum annex of the Atlanta Public Library and Museum; the form lists current function as museum and vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.26028, -89.23147 (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 04000069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687484
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.