Belk Hudson Lofts
Belk Hudson Lofts is a building with patterned brick walls and a decorative cornice top built in 1922 in downtown Huntsville. The structure housed department stores and various retail shops before being renovated starting in 2011 to become modern residential lofts with updated apartments.
The building was constructed in 1922 as a commercial hub for the city, initially housing a realty company and cafe, later the Fowler Brothers department store and Belk Hudson starting in 1943. Downtown retail declined in the 1960s leading to extended vacancies, until revival began in the 1980s with new businesses including a microbrewery.
The name Belk Hudson Lofts comes from the department store that occupied the building from 1943 to 1959 and became part of the community's shopping memory. The ground level still shows traces of this retail past, while upper floors now serve as residential apartments for current inhabitants.
The building sits at a prominent corner downtown and is easy to reach on foot, with good views of the original brick facade and crown details. The renovated lofts are accessible, but keep in mind this is a historic structure so some areas may have irregular layouts.
During renovation, historic artifacts like bottles and horseshoes were discovered, and a large brick mural from the 1920s advertising Fowler Brothers was found and relocated to the lobby wall. This preserved advertisement offers a direct glimpse into the city's early retail marketing.
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