West Broad Street Industrial and Commercial Historic District
Also known as: Dhr# 127-6570
Why it's listed
Located in central Richmond, this district covers about 40 acres of factories, warehouses and storefronts along West Broad and West Marshall Streets. Most buildings were put up between 1902 and the 1930s, when Richmond's industrial activity shifted here from Manchester south of the James River to take advantage of rail lines and undeveloped land. Large plants such as the Putney Shoe Factory, the Virginia School Supply Building and the C.F. Sauer headquarters, home to the well-known bulb-lit Sauer's Vanilla sign, were served by rail spurs. As Broad Street became the main east-west artery, auto dealerships such as the Atlantic Motor Company and rows of plate-glass storefronts followed, and a Modern Sears department store arrived around 1946. Architecture is mostly restrained, with simplified Colonial Revival and Art Deco or Moderne touches in durable masonry. Ground-floor storefronts have often been remodeled, yet upper stories and overall massing keep the area's historic commercial and industrial character.
Significance in brief: The district's surviving buildings show how Richmond's industrial core relocated here from Manchester to use rail lines and open land, and how commercial buildings followed with the rise of the automobile. It includes large factories such as the Putney Shoe Factory and C.F. Sauer headquarters, along with auto dealerships, storefronts and a Modern department store.
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 11000550, listed August 18, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1800-2100 blks. of Broad & Marshall Sts., bounded by Allison & Allen Sts., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | August 18, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000550 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1902-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Scarborough & Howell, Inc. (C.F. Sauer headquarters); Marcellus E. Wright (Virginia School Supply Building); Ballinger (Sears store) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Commercial, Moderne, International Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many early storefronts have been altered, but upper floors largely retain original character; the C.F. Sauer Company still operates in its headquarters. Current functions include manufacturing, stores and some vacant buildings. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55980, -77.46056 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 11000550.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903105
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.