What is Old is New Again

As we continue the renovation on the Richards Building, some of you may begin to have a feeling of nostalgia.  That’s because we are doing our best to reimagine this historic building in a way that hearkens back to its days as J.J. Newberry’s.  In the coming months, the brick will be painted to match the Bassett and Sussex Street corner of the building, and an awning in the style of the original Newberry’s awning will be installed by the Fourth of July. 

On the left is an old rendering of the facade looking east along Blackwell; on the right, a recent photo of the space where the new signage for The Richards Mercantile will be installed in the coming weeks.

You may also notice that the high, Sussex Street-facing windows have been reinstalled.  It’s one of the many ways we are trying to preserve the history of this beautiful building while modernizing it in a way that will be appreciated for generations to come. It's also a great way to allow more natural light into the future Richards Mercantile!

From left to right, you can see the windows facing Sussex Street in an earlier image, then see them disappear with the arrival of the fire exit, and now finally having been restored with West Morris Capital's ongoing renovation.

Additionally, we restored the original glass entryway to the marketplace that had been sealed up with concrete blocks (though it's not super-obvious in these pictures.)

While there is still some scaffolding remaining, we are getting closer each day to returning the Richards Building to its former grandeur.  This building has had many lives, and we’re excited to keep you updated on the progress we make as it enters its newest “era.”