Staake Brothers Building, San Antonio

The Staacke Brothers Building, located in San Antonio, is a significant architectural and historical landmark recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984. It showcases the city’s rich mercantile history and its commitment to architectural preservation.

The Staacke Brothers Building, designed in 1894 by renowned architect James Reily Gordon, is a prime example of Renaissance Revival architecture. Built with red sandstone and pink granite, the structure originally spanned a massive 300 feet by 269.9 feet. Its history is tied to August F. Staacke, a German immigrant who founded a thriving business selling Studebaker wagons and prairie schooners. The business later became Staacke Brothers, run by his sons.

Initially constructed as a storehouse by John H. Kampmann on a site once occupied by a Presbyterian church, the building was partially razed in 1982 to make room for modern development. What remains today is a preserved facade and a reduced footprint measuring 42 feet in width and 97.5 feet in depth, with each floor covering approximately 4,000 square feet.

Adjacent to the Staacke Brothers Building, the Stevens Building, completed in 1891, also bears the architectural signature of James Reily Gordon. It is a three-story Richardsonian Romanesque structure, originally built for San Antonio businessman John J. Stevens. The building’s tenants have included notable businesses such as Wagner & Chabot bicycle wholesalers, Bledsoe Furniture Company, and the University of San Antonio, which leased its third floor for over 50 years. The Stevens Building features oriel windows and a facade adorned with brick, red granite, and carved limestone.

The Staake Stevens Building stands today as a testament to San Antonio’s rich history and enduring commitment to preserving its architectural heritage.