Gottschalk, Fred, Grocery Store
Also known as: Boone's Saloon
Why it's listed
At the northwest corner of College and Edwards Streets in Springfield, this one-story brick building began as Fred Gottschalk's grocery and meat market. Gottschalk started his business in 1887 in a frame building and replaced it in 1898 with a masonry store about 40 by 60 feet, later extended at the rear. Its cast iron front, stamped by the Aetna Foundry and Machine Co., corbelled cornice and unpainted common bond brick reflect the Commercial Style of the late 19th century. The store served leading Springfield families and governors, offered charge accounts and telephone ordering, and carried specialty imported foods under the motto "Everything for the Table." It closed in 1971 after the death of the founder's son. Neighborhood groceries of this kind largely disappeared with the rise of supermarkets, and this building is described as one of the best preserved survivors in the city. It also marks the southwest corner of the State Capitol Complex. The interior now serves as a restaurant and bar, with original flooring, beaded ceiling and central bearing wall retained.
Significance in brief: The building is presented as a modest, masonry commercial building of the late 19th century and one of the few surviving neighborhood grocery store buildings in Springfield. It is considered the best preserved example locally. It also marks the southwest corner of the Capitol Complex, and the store was known for personalized service and a telephone shopping system.
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 85000607, listed March 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 W. Edwards St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | March 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000607 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898-1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; built by Fred Gottschalk in 1898 |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in commercial use; the interior has been converted to a restaurant/bar, and the grocery closed in 1971. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.79654, -89.65788 (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 85000607.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.