The Emporium - History

Completed ca. 1884, an advertisement in the Augusta Chronicle that same year announced the availability of a "very desirable new brick store for rent at 1106 Broad Street. Several months thereafter the building was opened as the shoe department of the popular Broad Street dry goods merchants, B.F. Kohler, and served as such until a Sheriff's sale in 1889. Although the building subsequently housed numerous commercial and public functions, inciuding a doctor's office, fruit store, lunch counter and auto supply stores, its most oft-repeated function remained in line with its initial use: general merchandise. In addition to B.F. Kohler, the building also housed Schneider's department store...twice. A sale advertisement places Schneider's at the location in 1903 and, although the store had relocated by 1906 the building must have served the business well as the company returned to the space in 1934, after Montgomery Ward vacated. The building also offered residential space on the upper floors, including at least one 8 room unit. The building underwent a certified historic rehabilitation in 2010 returning it to its traditional mixed use, including first floor commercial space and nine residential units.