La Madrilena
Also known as: Adrian Ortiz Grocery
Why it's listed
La Madrileña is a one-story, L-plan brick commercial building on a corner lot at East Madison and Tenth streets in Brownsville, Texas. Built in 1892 for Spanish-born merchant Adrian Ortiz, it housed a store selling groceries, hardware, sundries and clothing, and served as a neighborhood gathering place until his death in 1957. Local builders Santiago McCoy and Modesto Estevan Adams constructed it of handmade brick in 13-inch-thick walls. Its most distinctive feature is the set of tall brick parapets with nine ornamental pinnacles, framed by pilasters and corbelled cornices. The building reflects the vernacular commercial architecture of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, shaped by Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American influences. After roughly 30 years of vacancy, the roof had failed and the interior was lost, though the walls survived. A 1987 rehabilitation rebuilt the interior as law offices, replicated original doors and added a new stucco ell. It is considered one of the city's finest 19th-century commercial buildings.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be one of the finest examples of 19th-century commercial architecture in Brownsville, representing the vernacular commercial style of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Its tall ornamental brick parapets with nine pinnacles are called exceptional. It is also associated with Spanish-born merchant Adrian Ortiz (1860-1957).
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 88002384, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1002 E. Madison, Brownsville |
|---|---|
| County | Cameron County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002384 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892 (1987) |
| Architect / builder | Santiago McCoy and Modesto Estevan Adams (builders) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-century vernacular commercial architecture of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (L-plan brick) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied for about 30 years after 1957, then rehabilitated in 1987 and converted to law offices. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 25.90577, -97.49637 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 88002384.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107319034
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.