Newmarket/Montgomery Wards Building

Mayer Livingston opened the Newmarket in 1896 in the old post office building at the corner of Front and Center Streets. It was remodeled and expanded several times by himself, and later his sons, until the buildings were destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 1918. Prior to the destruction of the building, the firm had considered erecting a completely new building, but those plans were put on hold when the United States’ entered World War I. It was reported by The Pantagraph, that “Mayer Livingston & Sons will rebuild better than ever.”

Opened in 1919, the new structure was designed by renowned Chicago architect Alfred S. Alschuler. The four-story building (whose height was equal to a five or six story building because the ceilings were extraordinarily tall) was in the Chicago School of design with Italian Renaissance details.

There were three public facades with the original entry on Center Street. The primary façade had visually delineated floors. The second and third stories were taken up originally by large bays of “Chicago Windows,” but all bays on those floors were later enclosed. The fourth story has twisted terra cotta pilasters, and that design was originally surrounded by double hung windows (which were later enclosed). There was a decorative entablature, cartouches, and a parapet that was partially removed and now covered up.

The south-east corner of the building still shows the original decorative belt course, though the transom windows were enclosed. The original entryway was removed, and the first-floor façade was significantly altered.

The building included the most modern and up-to-date technology including a washed air ventilation system, two Otis rapid passenger elevators, and rapid pneumatic tubes for change making. There was also a Subway Store that included a complete food market, house furnishings in the forefront, and an ice and refrigerator plant.

The property became Montgomery Wards in 1937, and the business remained downtown until 1980 when it moved to the newly opened College Hills Mall. In 1982 the property was broken into commercial condos and were home to a variety of businesses such as Washburn Florist, American Vocational School/College of Technology, Carmen & Schroeder Jewelers, a local radio station, and more. In the 1990s a single interest consolidated ownership.

The building has been completely vacant since 2014 when the Illinois Brewing Company closed. The building was condemned in 2024, and demolition of the building was approved by the City of Bloomington in 2025. The property will be turned into a parking lot with the potential of redevelopment by the City of Bloomington in the future.