The Downtown Sterchi Building Lives On

THE STERCHI BUILDING, located on the 100 block of Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, was completed in 1926 and was home to its namesake, Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company. This building is the fourth home for the company’s flagship store in Knoxville, having previously been location on Vine Avenue, the 400 block of Gay Street, and the Emporium Building. The 10-story steel and reinforced concrete structure was designed by the local architecture firm of R.F. Graf & Sons, who are responsible for designing several well-known downtown buildings, including the Miller’s Building on the 400 block of Gay Street. The firm also designed numerous churches, schools, commercial and civic buildings, and residential homes.

Special design features included large storefront windows, three elevators, and an entire floor divided into individual rooms, each furnished with a living, dining, and bedroom - an innovation in retail merchandising. A sprinkler system was installed throughout the building as an added safeguard against a fire.

In 1888, James G. Sterchi (1867-1932) and his brothers, W.H. Sterchi (1862-1929) and J.C. Sterchi (1864-1955), opened a furniture store on Vine Avenue with $800 in initial capital. Knoxville’s expanding middle and working class helped the company grow, offering affordable and attractive furniture to the masses. By 1920, Sterchi Brothers had 18 stores in the southeast, increasing those to 48 by 1929. By the early 1930s, Sterchi Brothers was the largest furniture chain in the world; they had five manufacturing plants and forest land in Kentucky, which supplied lumber for its operations. The company also exported lumber from additional locations around the world. Due to the company’s success, in 1946, Sterchi Brothers became the first Knoxville-based company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Sterchi Brothers played an important role in the pre-Nashville development of country music by sponsoring many musicians and local radio programs, adding to the creation of some of the first-known county music recordings in hopes of increasing phonograph sales at the store.

Sterchi Brothers remained in business at this site until 1982, and in 1986, Sterchi Brothers Furniture was purchased by HeiligMeyers Company. In 2002, the building was renovated into 100 loft apartments ranging from studio to four-bedroom units. When it opened, it was the largest residential development in downtown Knoxville.

The Knox Heritage mission is to protect Knoxville’s unique character for future generations by preserving, restoring, and transforming historically significant structures and places. Established in 1974 as a nonprofit historic preservation organization, Knox Heritage is chartered by the state of Tennessee and governed by a board of directors.

May is Preservation Month!

Knox Heritage is hosting the East Tennessee Preservation Awards that recognize exceptional rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation projects that complement the historic and varied character of our community. This free event will be held on Thursday, May 18th, at The Emporium at 6:30 pm. RSVP at KnoxHeritage.org by Friday, May 12th.

Get Your PastPort Now

Historic Westwood, where the offices of Knox Heritage are located, is included in the seven Historic House Museums of Knoxville PastPort Tour. The other homes are James White’s Fort, Blount Mansion, Marble Springs, Historic Ramsey House, Mabry-Hazen House, and Crescent Bend House. Save on individual admission costs by purchasing your PastPort at any of the homes, the Museum of East Tennessee History, or Visit Knoxville Visitor’s Center. For more information, visit HHKnoxville.org or check out their Facebook page.