Richmond Virginia, June, 1929
Broad-Grace Arcade
3rd and Grace Streets
John Eberson, architect
Indiana Limestone, metal, brick
The Broad-Grace Arcade was the indoor shopping mall of
its day. It was built to complement the
massive Art Deco CNB building behind it on Broad Street. It had entryways facing Broad Street, next to
the front door of the CNB building, facing Third and Grace Streets.
Architect, John Eberson, a native of Vienna, was noted
for his flamboyant and ostentatious theatre designs which delighted many, but
the restraint of this building has none of his usual exuberance. The restrained nature of the structure make
it easy to miss; but upon closer inspection one can revel in a bit of
Richmond’s version of 1920’s modern.
There is a bronze trim around the windows of grape
vines and Classical urns, and the front is faced with smooth sandstone cut with
laser sharp lines. Although, they are
not shown in Charles Smith’s illustration shown above, and may have been a later addition, handsome
glass and metal Art Deco light fixtures grace each side of the arched entrances
on three sides of the building.
Smith’s Richmond magazine cover illustration is centered around the best part
of the building’s design, both in form and function. He shows us the function of the hallway lined
with shops that can easily access Broad Street from Grace. The tagline under the illustration tells us
that we are looking from Grace Street towards Broad. The entrance, with its grand two- story arch,
and the wonderful details of the faced limestone and bronze details are the
epicenter of the illustration.
In the June, 1929 issue of Richmond Magazine, an
article by Hal Norton, stated that the Arcade “will be more than an allure to
Richmond’s shopping element. It marks a
new step in the development of that type of building featuring the recent
growth of Broad and Grace Streets”. The
article went on to exclaim “when fully linked up and completed, will create a
picture of architectural beauty and harmony”.
Norton described the lobby as “splendid” and where two “high-speed
elevators” are housed.
The completion of the magnificent CNB skyscraper and
the Broad-Grace Arcade were important in the development of Richmond’s westward
expansion, and in marking Richmond as an urban force.
We certainly see the influence of the Art Deco in this
illustration. The entire composition is
vertical in nature; including the elegant people on the sidewalk and in the
Arcade. Its style is not unlike the mid-1920’s
fashion illustrations in Europe and America more , with a more conservative
edge.
CNB bought the arcade from the Broad-Grace Arcade Corp
in 1973, and toyed with the idea of tearing it down. The site remained unharmed, but remains empty
and has been condemned by the City of Richmond.
Notes:
1. Iain Zaczek,
Art Deco, p.89, p.75
2. Edwin
Slipek, Jr., “An Urban Tragedy”, The Richmond Mercury, date unknown
3. Hal Norton,
Richmond Magazine, June 1929, p.33
4. Robert P.
Winthrop, Architecture of Downtown Richmond, p.115
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