One
of Joplin's more prolific decades occurred during the 1890s when the
zinc mining was well entrenched into the culture of our community.
House supplies or better known as dry goods were in great demand. With
these favorable conditions, two young fortune seekers from Dubuque,
Iowa arrived in Joplin on their way to New Orleans. Mr. Peter
Christman and Mr. Edmund Bliedung decided to stay put and on September
13, 1890 opened the Christman and Bliedung Dry Goods Store.
In
1995, the Christman Dry Goods Company was purchased by the national
retailer, R.H. Macy's and Company. Macy's remodeled the east elevation
of the annex and occupied the site for another 22 Years. Oddly, after
Macy's closed in 1976 the store reopened again as Christman's for a few
more years. But in recent times, the building was owned and occupied
by Howsman's Office Supply.
Today this
elegant historic landmark has been beautifully restored by the Matt
Miller Company with the name Main Street Place. Housing 26 new loft
apartments that offer a modern metropolitan style reflecting the
structural allure of the 1900's era. With completion of the lofts,
comes the beginning of phase two with the development of over 9,000 sq
feet to be allocated for a restaurant, commercial tenants and retail
space.
Matt Miller Company/Blue Block Lofts 431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield, Missouri 65806 Main Office: 417.889.0951 Lofts for Rent: 417.864.LOFT (5638) webmaster@mattmillercompany.com
