Southern Biscuit Company
Also known as: Interbake Foods, Inc.; Famous Foods of Virginia (FFV):; Dhr #127-6165
Why it's listed
Rising six stories above Terminal Place near Broad Street and the Boulevard in Richmond, this reinforced concrete factory was built in 1927 as the headquarters and central plant of the Southern Biscuit Company. New York industrial architects Francisco & Jacobus designed it with a rusticated base, Doric pilasters, ornamental balustrades and large steel industrial windows. Wings were added in 1940, 1950 and 1951 as the company grew, after it became a licensed baker of Girl Scout cookies and developed the FFV brand. A lighted rooftop sign and a water tower are contributing features and well-known local landmarks. Inside, concrete columns with flared tops and maple floors define open production floors, and two rotating rack ovens remain on the fifth and sixth floors. The building is notable for showing how a local bakery grew into a nationally known producer, and for being the most architecturally ambitious Richmond work of its designers. The bakery closed in 2006 and the building is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the factory reflects the growth of Southern Biscuit from a local bakery into a producer of nationally known products, under Industry and Commerce. It is also significant in Architecture as the most ambitious Richmond work of the New York industrial firm Francisco & Jacobus, combining functional factory design with Colonial Revival detailing. The rooftop FFV sign and water tower are long-standing local landmarks.
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 12000546, listed August 22, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 900 Terminal Pl., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | August 22, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000546 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Francisco & Jacobus, Architect; Wise Granite Co., Builder; Wise Contracting Co., Builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revival - Colonial Revival; Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The factory closed in 2006 when operations moved to Front Royal, Virginia, and the building is described as currently vacant. The two large baking ovens remain inside. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.56280, -77.46780 (Wikidata) |
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 12000546.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900367
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.