The M. Rich Building, also known as the M. Rich and Brothers and Company Building and the W. T. Grant Building at 82 Peachtree Street SW (formerly 52-54-56 Whitehall), Atlanta, is a landmark building significant for both architectural and commercial reasons. It housed Rich's department store from the time it was completed in 1907 until it moved into its much larger premises at Broad and Alabama streets in 1924."M. Rich and Brothers and Company Building", City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission

In September 1882 Rich's moved to 54-56 WhitehallRich's: A Southern Institution, Jeff Clemmons, pp. 26, 30-31 and in 1906, the adjacent M. Kutz & Co. building at 52 Whitehall was acquired. Both it and the Rich store at 54-56 Whitehall were torn down. Rich's closed its furniture annex and moved its dry goods to that building temporarily, while a new building was built on the site of 52-54-56 Whitehall designed by noted local architectural firm Bruce & Morgan."Rebuilding sale of furniture", advertisement by M. Rich & Bros. Co., Atlanta Constitution, April 6, 1906, p.4 In April 1907 the new emporium opened for business."M. Rich Brothers and Company complete great department store", Atlanta Constitution, April 28, 1907

In 1924, Rich's moved to new, much larger Palazzo style quarters at Broad and Alabama streets. From 1925 to 1974 the W. T. Grant discount department store operated here. Later owners and occupants of the building were: 1978–1986 Patrick Swindall, Atlanta Furniture Company 1986–1990 Trion-Winter-MLK Joint Venture 1990–? Patrick Swindall, The Great Five Points Flea Market 1998–present The Mall at 82 Peachtree occupies the bottom two floors of the building

Today, most of the building operates as the M. Rich Center for Creative Arts, Media and Technology.M. Rich Center official website

In 2020, the building and surrounding area were added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Whitehall Street Retail Historic District.

Further reading

References

"M. Rich Building", History Atlanta - History of the building including diagram, images, and video "M. Rich Brothers and Company Complete Great Department Store", Atlanta Constitution - article from building's opening day, large illustration of building