Butler Brothers Lofts Coming Soon to Downtown KC
Building permits were issued today for 804-808 Broadway, also know as the Butler Brothers Building. This historic structure, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, will be renovated into a modern residential project. Constructed in 1909, the building currently sits empty on Broadway, it is one of only a few remaining vacant and blighted buildings on this important corridor. Construction will begin in December 2014 and will be complete by the fall of 2015. This project will provide more opportunities to attract new residents to downtown Kansas City, further enhancing the downtown area and supporting downtown businesses.
The first through fourth floors will be converted into 30 market rate loft apartments. The lower level will be renovated into a fitness center, bicycle parking and resident storage. The anticipated residential unit mix will be 700 SF one bedroom and one bath apartments and 800 SF one bedroom and one bath apartments. These lofts will feature reclaimed hardwood and polished concrete floors, large windows, soaring heavy timber ceilings and modern finishes. Each loft at Butler Brothers has its own design and character.
The history of the Butler Brothers dates back to the 19th century. Founded in 1877 as a mail-order company by George H. Butler and Edward Burgess Butler. In the 1920s, Butler Brothers moved into retailing with a chain of “Scott” and “L. C. Burr” stores. In the early 1930s, they developed the Ben Franklin Stores and Federated Stores, both of which were franchised five and dime stores. Most were in small towns. By 1936 there were 2,600 Ben Franklin stores and 1,400 Federated stores.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Butler Brothers was one of the largest wholesalers in the country. Unlike many modern franchises, which seek to present a uniform identity to consumers, the Ben Franklin franchise largely benefitted dime store owners by making weekly shipments from their warehouses, where tens of thousands of items were kept in inventory. Not only could a store owner order merchandise on Friday and receive it on Tuesday to replenish empty shelves, but by consolidating shipments, saved a considerable amount on freight, and found it easier to manage his inventory.
If you are interested in becoming one of the first residents at this exciting new downtown loft project please contact us today at 816-842-6544 or at: contactus@kcloftcentral.com