Simon Building
Also known as: The Bakery
Why it's listed
Located at 124-126 West Hopkins Street on the west side of the San Marcos downtown square, this two-story commercial building was erected in 1923 by Alex Simon for his family bakery. Its white-plaster front carries reddish-brown brick detail at the cornice and parapet, with the name "Simon" and the date 1923 set in a brick frame. The building grew in stages: the eastern half came first, a second floor was added to the western half shortly after 1930, and a garage for the bakery's delivery trucks followed in the 1940s. Some trucks served nearby Camp Gary during World War II. Four upstairs apartments housed the Simon family and have finely finished interiors echoing the Arts and Crafts movement. Downstairs, the bakery retains a 1916 dough divider, a large oven and many old tools. Simon Bakery operated independently until 1980. The building was recognized for its 1920s architecture and its place in local commerce.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for its architecture and its role in local commerce. Its low parapet and brick detailing are typical of 1920s commercial design. It housed the Simon Bakery, one of the town's longest-lived and most successful businesses, and still holds early bakery equipment.
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 83004510, listed August 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 124-126 W. Hopkins St., San Marcos |
|---|---|
| County | Hays County |
| Listed | August 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004510 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Alex Simon (builder/owner) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; the first floor is still used as a bakery, shared with a toy store and an interior decorator's shop, and the building has been altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hays County Courthouse Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.88329, -97.94131 (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 83004510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002236
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.