Munger Building

Munger Building seen from the northeast in April 2020

Munger Building from the west in January 2009

This article is about the commercial building at Five Points South, for the administration building and auditorium at Birmingham-Southern College, see Munger Hall.

The Munger Building is an Art-Deco style commercial building wrapping the southwest corner of 20th Street and 11th Avenue South at Five Points South. The building, completed in 1928, was developed by the heirs of Robert Munger and was designed by Miller & Martin architects. Early designs for the building indicated that the S. H. Kress & Co. was a potential anchor tenant. The facade is decorated with chevrons, rosettes and floral motifs in shallow relief.

In the early 1980s, Bob Moody purchased the building for redevelopment. It was later bought and renovated by John Samford. In 2019 Alchemy213 owner Ace Graham worked with artist Shane B. to create the mural "Freezing Time" on the retaining wall behind the 11th Avenue side of the Munger Building.

Tenants

• ground floor
  • 11th Avenue South
    • 1915: Five Points Hardware Store (1932), Five Points Beauty Salon (1941–1942), The Bookshelf (1959–1970), Apple Book Exchange (1980-1984), Lion & Unicorn (1985–1990)
    • 1917: Modern Home Appliance Co. (1932), The Bookshelf (1942), Nell's Millinery Co. (1959–1970), Joe (bookstore) (1974-1977), The Darkroom (1980s), Snap & Back photo processing (1990s–2000)
    • 1919: vacant (1932), Martin Flowers (1942–1959), Dover Elevator Co. (1970)
      • suite 100: Jimmy John's (closed January 2019)
      • suite 200: Insomnia Cookies
    • 1921: Five Points Hatters & Shoe Rebuilders (1932), General Electric X-Ray Corp. (1942), J. H. Perkins & Co. real estate / Perkins Insurance Agency (1959), Gallery Thirty-One (1970), Little Forest (2013)
    • 1923: Towles Cleaning & Dyeing Co. (1932), Five Points Paint & Hardware (1941–1942), Tines Totem Pole clothing (1959), Foods for Health (1970), McNolia's cards & gifts (2000–2016), Alchemy213 clothing (Ace Graham 2018–), Magnolia Soap & Bath Company (2013–)
    • 1925: Yates-McAllister Radio Co. (1932), La Dame Cleaners (1942), Felton Collier architect (1959), J. B. Christopher Collection eyewear (2000), iii's eyewear
    • 1927: Wheeler's Shoe Store / Cantilever Shoe Store (1932), Harmon's Beauty Salon (1928–1931), Madame Husted's Dress Shoppe (1942–1950s), Lawrence Hi-Fi Music Center (1950s-1970), L. A. Ventures hair stylists (2000), Starbucks Coffee (2001-2017), Filter Coffee Parlor (2018-)
    • 1929: former location of Rosenberg's Shoe Store (1942), Five Points Bootery (1959)
    • 1931: Woods Drugs / U.S. Post Office (1932), Martin Flowers (1936), Lane Drugs (1942), Record Shop (1959), Martin Flowers (1980s), SouthPoint restaurant (1984-1987), Edgar's Grill (1989), Original Pancake House (Bob & Doris Goetz 2000–)
    • 1933: Selene Lighthall antiques (1932), Sarah Stansel Beauty Salon / Nell's Dress Shop (1942), La Ree's Beauty Salon (1959–1970)
  • 20th Street South
    • 1100: 3000 Bar, former location of Planet Smoothie, Kozy Flavor, High Spirits of Five Points
    • 1102½ (or 1933½ 11th Avenue South): building entrance
• rooms
  • 1: Henry Yolken dentist (1932)
  • 2: Samuel Silverstein photographer (1932–1946)
  • 3–4: Highland Knit Shop (1946)
  • 5: Frank M. Jones Estate Service insurance (1946)
  • 6: Louemma Davis dressmaker (1932), Milady Dress Shop (1946)
  • 8: Harry Wheeler manufacturer's agent (1946)
  • A: Addicus Private Equity (2020–)

References

• Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1946) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.
• Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1970) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.
• Burkhardt, Ann McQuorquodale and Alice Meriwether Bowsher (November 1982) "Town Within a City: The Five Points South Neighborhood 1880-1930." Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society. Vol. 7, Nos. 3-4

External links

Locate with
Google Maps

• Munger Building on Google Street View
• 3-D model of the Munger Building by Jordan Herring