Larkin-Belber Building
Also known as: Larkin Building; Belber Trunk & Bag Company Building
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1912-1913 at the western edge of Philadelphia's original city limits, this twelve-story reinforced concrete building was erected by the Larkin Company of Buffalo as a factory, warehouse, and showroom. Its frame uses mushroom columns and concrete slabs, and the building is regarded as one of the earliest in Philadelphia to use this method. Larkin operated the facility until 1920, when the Belber Trunk and Bag Company bought it and ran it in much the same way, renting lower floors to the Philadelphia Daily News and garment makers. The building illustrates how Larkin's soap and premium-gift marketing, which relied on national catalogs, door-to-door clubs, and rail-connected distribution, was supported by integrated urban facilities. Belber left in 1947, and the building has been vacant since about 1980. It was listed for its association with national consumer industry and for its early concrete construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant at the local level for its role in national consumer manufacturing, warehousing, and merchandising, associated with the Larkin and Belber companies. It also argues the building is a fine and early example of exposed reinforced concrete construction and one of the earliest in Philadelphia to use mushroom column and slab construction.
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 03000077, listed February 27, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2200-2218 Arch St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | February 27, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000077 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1947 |
| Architect / builder | C.J. Heckman (architect), Larkin Company of Buffalo (builder) |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since c. 1980; ground floor openings filled and windows broken, though the concrete structure and facades are described as in good condition. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.95585, -75.17640 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 03000077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6489630
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.