Cary Street Park and Shop Center

Cary Street Park and Shop Center is a U-shaped commercial building with brick walls, granite accents, and large glass storefronts along its facade. It houses multiple retail shops under one roof, combining practical layout with Art Deco styling.

Built in 1938 by the Sauer family, this was the first shopping complex on the East Coast designed specifically for drivers and their vehicles. This innovation reshaped how retail spaces were planned in American cities.

The center reflects how shopping habits shifted in the mid-twentieth century, with its design welcoming both car owners and people on foot. The Art Deco touches like curved windows and metal frames still shape the character of this neighborhood today.

The location on West Cary Street provides ample parking, making car-based shopping convenient. The layout of the shops makes it easy to walk between different stores.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and ranks among the best-preserved examples of early American shopping center design. Details like marble veneer and the projecting stucco canopy set it apart from other buildings of its era.