BUILDING HISTORY

Anchoring the corner of Merchant and Prairie streets, this brick building with amazing architectural details and its unique corner tower has looked on as trails became pavement, horses gave way to the automobile, and growth and progress came (and went, and came back again) to downtown Decatur.

Our Building’s Historic (and slightly checkered) Past

1888: Built by Citizens National Bank
1930's: Became part of the Merchant St. “Red-light district” (ask great grandpa)
1940's - 1980: Post Jewelry
late 1970s: Merchant St. begins revitalization, shops and restaurants open
1982: John Rodgers opened “Josephine’s”, a fine dining restaurant
Early 1990s: Under new ownership the restaurant became “The Crowe’s Nest”
Late 1990's: Under new ownership the restaurant became “Central Park West”
2005: Gary Allen opened “Porter’s On Merchant”