Farmers & Merchants Bank Building 401 S Main St

Built in 1905 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Farmers & Merchants Bank Building is currently under extensive renovation which will include restoration of its incredible skylight as well as the addition of a mid-level mezzanine and rear elevator. This iconic landmark is ideal for a single-user seeking irreplaceable flagship retail, restaurant or creative office space. Designed in the Classical Revival style by the firm of Morgan and Walls, the Farmers and Merchants Bank Building remains one of Southern California’s finest examples of the early “temples of finance” that were popular at the turn of the 19th century. Its two-story façade, reminiscent of a Roman temple, is punctuated by an entrance framed with Corinthian pilasters topped by a large triangular pediment. The Farmers and Merchants Bank was the first incorporated bank in Los Angeles, founded in 1871 by Isaias W. Hellman, a successful merchant, real estate speculator, and banker. Much of the original 1905 banking room remains, including light fixtures, a central skylight, and the loggia with its intricate railings. The building operated as a bank until its closure in the late 1980s.