Frank & Seder Building (Pittsburgh)
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| Frank & Seder Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the Frank & Seder Building area | |
| Former names | Frank & Seder Department Store Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Commercial |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Location | 441 Smithfield Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°26′23″N 79°59′57″W / 40.4396°N 79.9991°W |
| Completed | May 21, 1918 |
| Owner | Stark Enterprises |
| Management | Stark Enterprises |
| Height | |
| Roof | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 7 |
| Floor area | 286,000 sq ft (26,600 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Charles Bickel, MacClure & Spahr, and William E. Snaman |
| Developer | Frank & Seder Department Store |
| References | |
| [1][2] | |
The Frank & Seder Building is a 30-metre (98 ft), 7-story, former department store building completed in 1918 on Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The building is a contributing structure in the Pittsburgh Central Downtown Historic District.[2][3]
As of 2019, the historic building is being renovated as a mixed-use facility, Smith & Fifth, with 40 apartments on the upper two levels, 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2) of office space, and 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of retail space spread over the first 2 floors, and underground parking.[4]
Russian Jewish immigrants Isaac Seder and Jacob H. Frank started a wholesale women's wear business in the early 1900s, then switched to retail, opening a downtown Pittsburgh store in 1907. The business grew, expanding into a department store, and adding locations in New York City, Philadelphia and Detroit.[5]
The Pittsburgh Frank & Seder building was expanded in 1913.[6] On January 27, 1917 a fire engulfed the retail shopping district in downtown Pittsburgh bordered by Wood St, Forbes Ave, Smithfield St, and 5th Ave. The Frank & Seder department store at 344 Fifth Avenue was completely destroyed, the Grand Opera House, the Hilton Clothing Company and a dozen other businesses were significantly damaged. The Frank & Seder building damages were valued at $600,000, total losses were valued at $4 million.[7][8][9][10][11] Even though Frank & Seder sustained a complete loss of the building they had been in since 1907, construction of a new building began shortly after and was completed in 1918.[12]
Several labor organizations staged strikes, accompanied by violence, against Frank & Seder and four other major Pittsburgh retailers from 1953 to 1954.[13]
National Department Stores acquired the Frank & Seder group of stores in 1923, including Frank & Seder, Inc. (Pittsburgh); Lewin-Nieman Co. (Pittsburgh); Fink Co. (Philadelphia); Frank A Seder Co. of Philadelphia and Frank & Seder Co. of Detroit.[14][15]
The Pittsburgh Frank & Seder store closed in 1958.[16]