Kennedy Bakery, Historic bakery building in downtown Houston, US
Kennedy Bakery is a two-story brick building in downtown Houston at 813 Congress Street featuring wooden sash windows and pilasters framing the central entry. The structure faces Market Square in the historic district and displays the architectural style typical of 19th century commercial construction.
John Kennedy, an Irish immigrant baker, established his business in 1842 and built this brick structure in 1860 following a fire that destroyed his original wooden building. This reconstruction marked a turning point in the development of Houston's early commercial district.
The building has served as a trading post, stage stop, and coffeehouse throughout its past and now houses the La Carafe Bar. Visitors can still walk through spaces that once welcomed travelers and locals.
The building is located in the Main Street Market Square Historic District in downtown Houston and easy to spot on its original site. Visitors can appreciate the exterior and explore the interior when La Carafe Bar is open.
The building is Houston's oldest commercial structure and has remained on its original site since 1860 without relocation. This continuity makes it a rare example of a commercial edifice that has endured unchanged while the city transformed around it.
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