52nd City

The Thaxton

Every so often, you get that feeling. That you've seen all the interesting buildings, lobbies and nooks in town. Then, occasionally, you run across a new one and it's quite an eye-popping sight.

Earlier this week, I got a last-minute invite to a political fundraiser at the Thaxton Building, 1009 Olive. Initially, I was drawn by the promise of catered food, free drinks and good company, but the space itself was quite an interesting add-on. An overtly art deco building that once served as a retail outlet for Eastman-Kodak, the space served a variety of purposes beyond its initial use, including a long stint as a furrier's showroom and cold-storage locale.

Located next to Bussone's, the last of the liquor store/diners in Downtown, the Thaxton's not particularly bursting from the streetscape. It's a modest height and the window decorations almost seem as if they're trying to bely an empty building, taking the popular "art in abandoned storefront approach." True enough, the highest floor of the Thaxton is still under construction, the entirety of the room filled with interesting pieces of of architectural detritus. (It's accessible by a door that... opens.)

Whilt the highest space are still in progress the lobby is done, a nice turn given to restoring the space to a new, art deco splendor, with lots of paintings and pin-up posters dominating the walls. The basement party room, meanwhile, is really a strange affair, with a mix of modern and traditional-nodding touches. It all adds up to a bit of an over-the-top feel, but that only adds to the sense of falling through the rabbit hole and into an odd, new room.

Maybe all 52nd readers have already been through, rendering these musings on this curious space redundant. If you've not been, though, wrangle a ticket to some high-rolling event and explore a bit. You'll be happy you did.