This building is a survivor! It is an excellent example of grit and reinvention over 188 years of Cincinnati history. We prepared designs and documentation to describe its important contribution to our local history by continually becoming something useful.

And Cincinnati's Historic Conservation Board unanimously recommended to City Planning Commission and Cincinnati City Council for the designation of the House of Adam buildings as a historic landmark 

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While the building is known for its recent use as a clothing store, its history dates back to 1834, when the Whetstone family lived at the site. At the time, it was considered a “suburban retreat, where green fields stretched between the Whetstone home and Fourth Street,” according to documents filed with the Historic Conservation Board.

From there, the property became the St. Joe Eating House, then home to Amazon Insurance Co.’s headquarters from 1876 to 1885. A “grand billiard establishment” opened in the building at the end of 1888, after a five-month renovation that removed the original three-story facade of the Whetstone mansion to bump out that portion of the building to Vine Street. From 1910 through 2016, the building supported clothing retailers or tailoring shops without interruption. In 1961, it became home to House of Adam Men’s Wear.

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And once again the buildings are being reinvented to become two one-bedroom apartments on the second floor, a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor and 5,200 square feet of commercial space on the first floor.  

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Our goal is to help this building survive well past its bicentennial!

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Historic

Residential + Commercial

Downtown

Cincinnati