Lazarus Building

Lazarus Building The Lazarus Building is a historic department store structure in downtown Columbus, Ohio, associated with the Lazarus retail chain and with major figures in American retail such as Federated Department Stores, Macy's, and May Department Stores. The site sits within the urban fabric near the Ohio Statehouse, the Columbus Commons, and the Scioto Mile, and has intersected with institutions including the Ohio Democratic Party, the Columbus Landmarks Foundation, and the Downtown Columbus community. The building’s story touches on regional transportation hubs like Union Station, corporate mergers involving Federated Department Stores, and preservation efforts tied to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

History

Construction began in the early 20th century amid commercial expansion influenced by plans from proponents of the City Beautiful movement and by architects linked to the Chicago school and Beaux-Arts traditions. The original proprietors were members of the Lazarus family, contemporaries of retail pioneers connected to firms such as Marshall Field & Company, R.H. Macy & Company, and John Wanamaker. Over the decades the property witnessed downtown transformations driven by municipal projects from the City of Columbus, real estate investors including Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and development firms active in Midwestern urban renewal like Polaris Centers and the Columbus Partnership. The building endured the Depression era alongside institutions such as the Federal Reserve Bank and adapted during postwar retail shifts that involved suburbanization tied to the development of the Mall at Tuttle Crossing and Easton Town Center. Corporate events affecting the building included the Federated–May merger, acquisitions by Allied Stores, and shifts in ownership associated with institutional investors and pension funds. Preservation campaigns engaged entities like the National Park Service, the Ohio History Connection, and local preservationists organized through the Columbus Landmarks Foundation and the Historic Preservation Office.

Architecture and Design

The Lazarus Building exhibits elements rooted in the Chicago school’s emphasis on steel-frame construction and large display windows, combined with Beaux-Arts ornamentation that echoes precedents seen in works by Daniel Burnham and Louis Sullivan. Facade treatments reference masonry techniques used in contemporaneous buildings such as the Rookery Building and the Monadnock Building, while its massing and cornice articulation relate to civic monuments like the Ohio Statehouse and the Soldiers' and Sailors’ Monument. Interior features historically included grand atria comparable to those in Marshall Field's Wholesale Store and the Palais de la Bourse, with escalator installations later reflecting innovations promoted by Otis Elevator Company and elevator regulations administered by municipal building departments. Structural adaptations over time incorporated materials used by contractors familiar with projects for the Columbus Museum of Art, the Huntington Center, and the LeVeque Tower. Landscaping and public frontage tied the building to urban design schemes promoted by the American Institute of Architects and the City Beautiful proponents who also influenced parks such as Goodale Park and Franklin Park Conservatory.

Role in Retail and Commerce

As a flagship department store, Lazarus participated in national retail networks alongside names like Sears, Roebuck and Co., J.C. Penney, and Bloomingdale's, and competed regionally with stores at Easton and Polaris. The store was a node in consumption patterns shaped by manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, General Electric, and Woolworth, and by advertising practices that mirrored those of publications like The Saturday Evening Post and Ladies' Home Journal. Seasonal events at the building drew civic attention comparable to Thanksgiving parades coordinated with municipal agencies and holiday displays reminiscent of those at Macy's Herald Square and Harrods. Financial relationships connected the store to banking institutions including Huntington Bancshares, JPMorgan Chase, and PNC Financial Services, while merchandising strategies echoed catalog distribution models pioneered by Montgomery Ward and Sears. The building’s role in downtown commerce also intersected with transportation arteries used by the Central Ohio Transit Authority and Amtrak, linking retail foot traffic to regional tourism promoted by the Greater Columbus Convention Center and Visit Columbus.

Renovations and Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive reuse projects converted portions of the structure for mixed-use purposes, drawing expertise from architectural firms active in conversions of historic commercial properties such as those responsible for the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and the High Line-adjacent projects in New York City. Renovation phases involved historic tax credit programs administered by the National Park Service and financial instruments used by development firms and municipal authorities, similar to financing seen in projects undertaken by the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and private-equity real estate firms. New uses integrated hospitality providers akin to Marriott and Hilton, office tenants comparable to AEP and Nationwide, and residential components promoted by developers experienced with loft conversions in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Infrastructure upgrades referenced standards promulgated by the American Society of Civil Engineers and incorporated mechanical systems by firms like Carrier and Trane, while accessibility improvements aligned with ADA guidelines and municipal code enforcement.

Cultural and Historical Significance

The building has served as a civic landmark linked to cultural institutions such as the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio Theatre, and the Wexner Center for the Arts, and has been a backdrop for events organized by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio State University, and regional festivals. Its preservation engaged advocacy from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local groups including Heritage Ohio, intersecting with larger debates over urban revitalization exemplified by projects in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. The site figures in narratives about American retail evolution alongside case studies of department stores in academic centers like the Smithsonian Institution, the Cooper Hewitt, and university archives at Ohio State University. Commemorative uses have drawn partnerships with cultural organizations such as the Columbus Bicentennial Commission and events coordinated with the Greater Columbus Arts Council, reinforcing the building’s imprint on the civic memory of downtown Columbus.

Category:Buildings and structures in Columbus, Ohio Category:Historic department stores of the United States