by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
One of the benchmarks of the better Jacksonville Plan is City Hall at 117 W. Duval St. Now the home of the mayor’s office, City Council and its chambers and myriad City offices, it was originally a landmark department store when Jacksonville’s retail was almost exclusively Downtown.
Just two blocks away at Hogan and Adams streets, another former department store is now a four-story office building, a private rather than public project.
The Levy Building, later known as the Saxelbye Building, opened its doors in 1927. It was designed by Marsh and Saxelbye, who drew the blueprints for more large buildings Downtown than any other architectural firm in the 1920s.
It was one of four large structures designed by the firm in a three-block section of West Adams Street, which also included the George Washington Hotel, The Greenleaf & Crosby Building and the Hildebrandt Building.
Except for the polished granite base, the entire Levy Building is covered with decorative terra cotta molded with leaf and griffin motifs.
The original construction cost was $425,000 for the structure, which was renovated in 1985 and converted into an office building.
The former department store that developed a reputation for carrying some of the most exclusive and luxurious merchandise available is now the home of the Boyd & Jenerette law firm, which occupies three floors of the building.
Other tenants are a court reporting service, some smaller law offices and a dental practice. It’s fully occupied, with only one small suite possibly available in a few months.
Property Manager Fred Kaiser remembers what it was like in the building, including how the original elevators worked. They were renovated in 2001 and retain the original light fixtures and mirrors. One amenity that’s lost to history, however, is how the cars are moved.
“There used to be elevator operators,” he said. “I remember one of the ladies always went upstairs to toast a bagel every morning when she got to work. She was really feisty. People who worked in the building had to wait until her breakfast was ready before she’d bring the elevator down to the first floor.”
Roy Thomas, who with his wife owns Jacobs Jewelers at the other end of the block on Adams Street, remembers when the building was a department store.
“Levy’s was a fine store. I bought all my clothes there,” said Thomas. “It was the only store in town that sold Hollywood suits. They were handstitched and cost $300 back then. They also sold Italian shoes.”
Thomas also remembers having an unofficial business relationship with the staff at the store.
“They’d send me customers and I’d send them customers,” he said.
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