The Shoe Empire That Built a St. Louis Landmark — The A.D. Brown Building, 1136 Washington Avenue, Est. 1898
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DealMaker Old and Abandoned — Historic Buildings of the Midwest, Feature One: St. Louis, Missouri
DealMaker Old and Abandoned, Historic Buildings of the Midwest, Feature One: St. Louis, Missouri
The Shoe Empire That Built a St. Louis Landmark is Feature One of DealMaker Old and Abandoned, a series about historic buildings of the Midwest. This five-page edition focuses on the A.D. Brown Building at 1136 Washington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. Built for the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company, the building’s story moves from shoe-industry headquarters to changing commercial uses and, eventually, residential condominiums.
The publication brings together a founding story, a look at the company and its building, a record of businesses associated with the address, a tenant and use timeline, tour information, and a downtown day-trip guide. It is designed for readers interested in St. Louis history, architecture, and the evolving uses of a downtown landmark.
The Company Opens in 1872
The edition dates the company’s founding to 1872. It names J. M. Hamilton and Alanson D. Brown as founders of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company in St. Louis. As presented in the publication, the business began as a wholesale shoe operation, purchasing shoes from New England manufacturers and distributing them across the country.
The publication then traces the company’s growth into manufacturing. It describes Hamilton-Brown as becoming one of the largest shoe companies in the United States. This founding account provides the context for the building: the company’s headquarters reflected the ambitions and scale of a business that grew from wholesale distribution into shoe production.
The building section describes the headquarters as a nine-story structure completed in 1898. It notes Renaissance Revival and Chicago School influences, along with light-colored glazed brick. These details give readers a snapshot of the architectural ideas and materials presented in the issue, without losing sight of the building’s role as a place of business.
[Image: The Birth of a Shoe Empire page from DealMaker Old and Abandoned, covering the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company from 1872 to 1939.]
The birth of a shoe empire, as printed in the issue.
The Men Behind the Building
The publication places Hamilton and Brown at the center of the company’s story and connects the founders’ success with the decision to establish a grand headquarters on Washington Avenue. Its account presents the A.D. Brown Building as a statement of the company’s strength and aspirations in St. Louis.
Rather than treating the structure only as an architectural object, the edition ties its design to the work conducted inside: offices, warehousing, and the movement of shoes through a growing wholesale and manufacturing business. The building’s story is therefore both commercial and architectural. It reflects how a company’s needs could shape a prominent downtown address.
A Major Employer and a National Business
The publication describes Hamilton-Brown as a major employer during its growth. It reports that the company employed approximately 5,000 people across five factories and had 20 traveling sales representatives serving markets throughout the United States. A map panel illustrates the company’s sales reach from St. Louis.
The issue also includes a section on the company’s financial struggles and closing. It describes the company’s move from its headquarters in 1938 and its bankruptcy in 1939. These later events provide a contrast to the earlier account of expansion: the company’s business changed, but the building continued through new occupants and uses.
Five Businesses Documented at 1136 Washington Avenue
The publication names five businesses in its account of the building’s changing commercial history:
Mary Muffet, Inc., Presented as a women’s apparel and junior-dress business. The issue notes its connection with the address in federal records.
Millet Hats, Incorporated: A hats and millinery business. The publication associates the company with historical business records for the address.
Kerry Cricket: Described as a junior-size dress label and apparel business, documented in a published local history of St. Louis’s Washington Avenue fashion district.
Selmor Garment Company, Identified with women’s underwear. The issue notes its listing in the Federal Register in connection with an employment-training certificate.
Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company: The original headquarters tenant, associated in the publication with shoes for men, women, and children.
Together, these entries show the building’s connection to footwear, fashion, and apparel. The edition presents them as documented businesses tied to the address, while also noting that the available records do not provide the same level of detail for every period.
[Image: From Shoes to Fashion to Luxury Lofts page from DealMaker Old and Abandoned, showing the five documented businesses at 1136 Washington Avenue.]
From shoes to fashion to luxury lofts: the five documented businesses, as printed in the issue.
The Tenant and Use Timeline
The issue’s timeline moves from the company’s founding to the building’s later residential and commercial role:
1872: Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company is founded in St. Louis.
1898: The company opens its headquarters at 1136 Washington Avenue.
1938: Hamilton-Brown moves its headquarters.
1939: The company enters bankruptcy.
Mid-twentieth century: Fashion and apparel businesses use the building.
1977: The building is renovated for office use.
1999: Media Arts is documented in the building.
2004: A redevelopment plan is approved in December.
2005–2006: The building is converted into The Meridian, a residential condominium development.
Today: The Meridian combines residential condominiums with commercial space at street level.
This timeline helps readers follow the building’s changes without suggesting that each use replaced the last immediately. It is a concise guide to the milestones printed in the edition.
Building Tours and Visitor Information
The publication includes information about downtown architectural walking tours and notes that the A.D. Brown Building is often included in downtown tours. It also cautions that interior access is not guaranteed and asks visitors to respect residents’ privacy.
Tour availability and access arrangements can change. The issue lists tour information and a reservations line; check the details in the publication and confirm current arrangements before visiting. The edition is a starting point for planning, not a guarantee that a specific tour or interior visit will be available.
Explore Historic Downtown St. Louis
The final content page presents a day-trip guide that connects the A.D. Brown Building with other downtown landmarks and local stops. Its map and suggested itinerary are organized around architecture, history, shopping, dining, and places to stay.
The named landmarks include the Old Post Office, the Wainwright Building, and the Campbell House Museum. The publication describes the Old Post Office as a significant federal building, the Wainwright Building as an important early skyscraper, and the Campbell House Museum as a restored townhouse with original family furnishings and guided tours.
For independent shopping and food, the guide lists Bella’s Coffee Cafe, Pharaohs Donuts, Vinciguerra Jewelry, Broadway Oyster Bar, and Extra Way. Its lodging section names Benton Park Inn and Casa Magnolia Bed and Breakfast. The short descriptions in the issue range from coffee, breakfast, and lunch to jewelry, seafood, and historic lodging. Confirm current business details before making plans.
The page’s central invitation is to explore the area through architecture, history, and local businesses. The map and itinerary make the publication useful as a guide to possible downtown stops, while leaving readers free to shape their own visit.
[Image: Explore Historic Downtown St. Louis page from DealMaker Old and Abandoned, showing the visitor map, day-trip itinerary, dining and shopping.]
Explore historic downtown St. Louis, as printed in the issue.
[Image: Building tours and The Meridian today, as printed in the issue.]
Building tours and The Meridian today, as printed in the issue.
An Important Note on Sources
This is a free digital e-reader publication from AmeriShop Services LLC. The edition presents its building histories as documented accounts and credits reference materials within the issue. Business details, tour information, and stop descriptions are presented as they appear in the publication. Since schedules, access, and business information can change, confirm current details directly before relying on them.
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