Pittsburgh Mercantile Company Building

By Generic1139 - Own work, CC BY 3.0

Location:

2600 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Description:

The Pittsburgh Mercantile Company Building is a six-story Beaux Arts–inspired commercial structure at 2600 East Carson Street, constructed between 1907 and 1908 and designed by the architectural firm Rutan & Russell. Its facade in buff-colored Roman brick is accented with ornate terra-cotta trim on the first story, conveying a sense of refinement and scale. A three-story-and-mezzanine east-side addition followed in 1936, and a small rear extension was added in 1950, reflecting the evolving needs of the building over time.

Originally conceived as the company-owned general store for workers at the nearby Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, the Mercantile operated as a full-service department store offering groceries, dry goods, hardware, and furnishings. Though such company stores were technically illegal in Pennsylvania, the Mercantile sidestepped restrictions through corporate structure while conveniently accepting the widely used company scrip—leading many to view it as effectively a company store. However, it maintained a reputation for quality merchandise and was often described as a “palace of every kind of merchandise” unable to be equaled elsewhere on the South Side.

Later generations saw the building repurposed by Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh from 1967 to 1968, serving as its headquarters, storefront, and workshop space. In the early 2010s the structure underwent a major renovation and was transformed into a high-end residential complex now known as The Brix at 26. In recognition of its architectural and commercial significance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and received local historic landmark designation from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation shortly thereafter. Today, the building stands as a striking symbol of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage and adaptive urban renewal.