Fossati's
Why it's listed
Located at 302 South Main in downtown Victoria, Texas, this one-story commercial building dates to about 1900. It is a rectangular wood-frame structure with weatherboard siding, a gabled metal roof and a raised, stepped wood parapet on its west front. The front has three entrances, and metal awnings shade the west and north sides. The north side has two-over-two wood sash windows and double-door entrances with transoms. The rear rises to two stories. The building is tied to Italian immigrant Frank Fossati, who opened a saloon with Herman Krehmeier at the northeast corner of South Main and East Juan Linn streets in 1882. He moved into this building around 1900, and local sources say it became a popular gathering place for local politicians. That role in the town's commercial and social life supports its listing under the commerce theme. The building stood vacant from 1978 to 1987, was rehabilitated in 1986, and reopened as Fossati's in 1987. It remains in commercial use and good condition.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A for its role in local commerce. Italian immigrant Frank Fossati opened a saloon with Herman Krehmeier nearby in 1882 and moved into this building around 1900. Local sources say it became a popular gathering place for local politicians.
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 91000578, listed May 20, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 302 S. Main, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | May 20, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000578 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant from 1978 to 1987, rehabilitated in 1986, reopened as Fossati's in 1987; described as in good condition and recently rehabilitated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79716, -97.00646 (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 91000578.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5473416
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.