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  427 Granby

  Posted by Drew Ungvarsky in All Things Grow, Hometown Goodness

  

  Sorry, it’s been a while… to say we’ve been busy would be an understatement at best.

  Since the beginning of the year, not only have we been cranking away on some of the biggest projects to date (more on those later), but we’ve also been in the midst of the renovation and historic restoration of our new home, 427 Granby St.

  At nearly a hundred years old and abandoned for the past several years, we’ve restored the building to its original 1917 beauty and historic charm—with some modern additions like a partial green roof, a bleacher seating presentation area, and a green screen studio.  Read more about the building’s history “after the jump.”

  We’ll be posting a more complete view of the renovation in the coming weeks, but we’d love to have you come visit. We’re having a housewarming party on Friday, November 5th. If you’d like an invitation, drop us a note at info@thisisgrow.com.

  Not to be forgotten, we’re excited about our return to Downtown Norfolk and look forward to helping steer its continued renaissance.  More soon!

  –

  A History of 427 Granby

  

  Jules Oscar Wergley first opened the doors of 427 Granby in 1917 with his namesake’s bakery and confectionery. Wergley’s thrived among fine hotels and theaters along Granby Street, the premiere corridor of Norfolk—at the time a bustling and progressive port city, nicknamed the “Manhattan of the South.”

  Throughout their 15 year operation, the Wergley’s delighted guests with offerings like fresh spun cotton candy, red rope licorice and homemade pastries. A true family-run business, the Wergley’s lived upstairs, even delivering a child, Oscar Albert, in their third-story apartment.

  In January of 1930, W.H. Fowler’s began leasing the property, specializing in heating and cooking stoves and gas powered appliances. Fowler’s also opened a roofing department in the rear of the building in what is now the Greens Court alleyway.

  In 1936, entrepreneurs Samuel Ullman and Isaac and Richard Emanuel moved their menswear and ladies’ clothing store from Main Street to 427 Granby, and for nearly 70 years, some incarnation of “The Spot” occupied this address. In 1954 to accommodate an expanding inventory, a suspended mezzanine was erected within the first floor, the eyelet hooks for which are still visible protruding from the first floor tin ceiling.

  With the ’60s came a concrete and plaster facade for the face of the building, instituting a more “modern” look. Throughout the 1970′s, Ullman and Emanuel, in an effort to draw shoppers and attention back downtown and away from suburban shopping destinations, began hosting live bands and art exhibits. They also purchased their competitor Altschul’s, and the structure would bear that name until its renovation in 2009.

  When Altschul’s moved in 2006, the building was left uninhabited until 2009—an eyesore along downtown’s most historic row. In June of 2009, publisher 24SevenCities sought and received accreditation for the building as a certified historic structure and began the restoration’s initial planning and demolition phases.

  Grow Interactive purchased 427 Granby in January of 2010 and enlisted partners Robyn Thomas Architecture and general contractor Spacemakers to complete the historic restoration and renovation of the building. A shell of a building at the project’s onset, the structure presented deteriorated ceilings and walls, collapsed staircases, and an uneven foundation among its many obstacles.

  The structure now bears a great resemblance to its original form and has maintained much of its historic character, inside and out. The plaster veil that once encased the front of the building has been chipped away to again reveal its towering windows and turn-of-the-century masonry. Inside, the restoration is highlighted by its intricate tin ceilings, restored windows and doors, and original wood floors. Grow completed the restoration in September of 2010 and is now proud to call 427 Granby home.

  
  

7 Responses to “427 Granby”

1. jason says:

   October 7, 2010 at 6:40 pm

   unbelievable watching you guys expand and do amazing work with some incredible local initiatives. congrats!

   Reply
2. mari says:

   October 7, 2010 at 9:31 pm

   Yayy! Happy Housewarming, Grow-ers.

   Reply
3. Mary Miller says:

   October 8, 2010 at 8:11 am

   Thank you for your thoughtful restoration of the building. We welcome you back downtown.

   Reply
4. Alison Dodson Anderson says:

   October 9, 2010 at 2:29 pm

   Just a simple thank you for continuing to help raise the bar in Hampton Roads! Your team at Grow has done an amazing job of bringing back a much needed “creative hub” to our area and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! We will be the “Manhattan of the South” again soon…. and it is because you people like ya’ll!

   Reply
5. lucien says:

   October 14, 2010 at 11:30 am

   grats guys! keep up the good work.

   Reply
6. Allison Erkelens says:

   October 19, 2010 at 9:50 am

   Thank you for your thoughtful restoration of this beautiful building and congratulations on “growing” a great company!

   Reply
7. 5forty design | 5forty design, inc. — Product, Graphic, Installation Design says:

   April 14, 2011 at 10:59 am

   [...] turned out about 2 and a half tons of oak butcher block furniture for Grow Interactive’s new office in Downtown Norfolk. Here are some pictures from the adventure: Get the flash player here: [...]

   Reply