Purvin-Hexter Building
Why it's listed
Located at 2038 Commerce Street on the eastern edge of downtown Dallas, this two-story brick commercial building dates from about 1899, with a rear addition around 1910 and new brick on the north and east facades in 1923. Its walls are load-bearing brick, with wood floors and roof framing, and original features include pressed metal ceilings, wood windows and storefront transoms. A faded "INDIA TIRES" sign on the rear recalls the era when Commerce Street was Dallas's automobile row. The property was listed for its role in the commercial growth that replaced homes with businesses east of downtown, and for its tenants, who moved from auto-related firms to office and kitchen equipment suppliers. Jacob Purvin, a German Jewish dry goods merchant, owned it, with help from lawyer Victor Hexter, and the two men reflect Jewish contributions to Dallas commerce. The building stayed in one family for 98 years and keeps much of its original character as an example of early twentieth-century Commercial Style architecture.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion A for its link to the early commercial growth of eastern downtown Dallas and, in Social History, for the contributions of Dallas's Jewish merchant and business community, represented by owner Jacob Purvin and attorney Victor Hexter. It is also nominated under Criterion C as a good local example of an early 20th-century Commercial Style building. The same family owned it for 98 years, which helped preserve its integrity.
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 05001541, listed January 18, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2038 Commerce St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | January 18, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001541 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is a restaurant/nightclub; the building was rehabilitated in 2001-2003 with federal tax credits. The second floor front is used as storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Dallas Downtown Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 32.78284, -96.79347 (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 05001541.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002750
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.