Famous Grocery, Elledge Arcade

1888/1913

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

1. Famous Grocery, Elledge Arcade Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Becky L. Snider & C. Toney Aid, September, 2000:
The Elledge Arcade Buildings are two one-story, brick commercial buildings. The Famous Grocery Building was constructed in 1888. It was remodeled in 1913 and, at

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

2. Famous Grocery, Elledge Arcade Marker

Restored 2001
Kathleen & Toney Aid
• • •
Bill Oakley Construction Company

the same time, the J. L. Elledge Building was constructed. The two buildings share a common facade that faces Elledge Arcade, a narrow pedestrian passageway in the northwest corner of the West Plains courthouse square. The facade of the Famous Grocery Building and the J. L. Elledge Building consists of four one-story storefronts dating to 1913. These storefronts have wood framed windows, white vitrolite bulkheads and wide transoms filled with blue pressed glass squares. Additional detailing on the facade consists of a brick stringcourse, brick dentils around the attic vents, and a brick cornice.

The interior of the Famous Grocery Building has seen few significant alterations since the building was remodeled in 1913. Early or original features include a grooved wooden ceiling in the east section of the building, a pressed tin ceiling and cornice in the west section and original pine flooring. The building was constructed as a grocery store for Joseph Elledge. The Famous Grocery was the first store in West Plains to sell groceries exclusively, and it functioned as a grocery store for more than forty years. The J. L. Elledge Building has

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

3. Famous Grocery, Elledge Arcade Marker

The marker is mounted on the pilaster between the Famous Grocery Building storefront bays.

functioned as offices, as a restaurant, as retail space and as living space. Due to these changes in usage, the interior has been remodeled. Although few historic features remain, an early or original pressed tin ceiling is still in place. Both the Famous Grocery Building and the J. L. Elledge Building stayed in the ownership of the Elledge family for more than ninety years.

The Elledge Arcade Buildings are significant in the areas of commerce and architecture. Elledge Arcade was created in 1913 when J. L. Elledge, owner of the Famous Grocery, decided to expand his building and create an arcade to match the arcades in the other three corners of the West Plains courthouse square. In addition to creating the arcade, Elledge had two additional buildings, the J. L. Elledge Building and the Famous Theatre, constructed on the new Elledge Arcade. The Famous Theatre no longer exists, but the Famous Grocery Building and the J. L. Elledge Building have housed a variety of businesses over the years. Elledge's original business, the Famous Grocery was located in the Famous Grocery Building from the time of its construction in 1888 until the 1930's.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

4. The Famous Grocery Building

From the National Register Nomination:  The Famous Grocery Building was originally constructed in 1888. In 1913, it was remodeled and expanded, doubling the size of the building. Originally, the Famous Grocery Building was a single storefront that was located directly on the courthouse square. However, when the building was expanded in 1913, the original facade of the building was removed and a new facade was constructed. The facade of the Famous Grocery Building continues uninterrupted across the front of the J. L. Elledge Building, which was constructed at the same time the Famous Grocery Building was remodeled. The facade of the Famous Grocery Building is divided into two bays. A cast iron pilaster separates the two storefronts. Each bay has a storefront has a central door flanked by display windows. These storefronts, which were installed during the 1913 remodeling of the building, have wood framed display windows, bulkhead panels covered with white vitrolite panels, and wide transoms filled with blue pressed glass squares.

Since the Famous Grocery closed, the building has continued to function as a commercial space, serving as a pool hall, a photographer's studio, a music store and an office supply store.

The Elledge Arcade Buildings are architecturally significant as highly intact examples of a popular late 19th and early 20th century building type. The buildings can be classified as one-part Commercial Blocks, a building type common for modest commercial buildings of the era. The facade that extends across the Famous Grocery and J. L. Elledge Buildings has changed little since it was constructed in 1913.

Excerpt:  Elledge Arcade Buildings are two historic commercial buildings located at West Plains, Howell County, Missouri. They were built or remodeled in 1913, and are two one-story, brick commercial buildings known as the Famous Grocery Building (built 1888) and the J. L. Elledge Building. The two buildings share a common facade consisting of four one-story storefronts. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

(Submitted on September 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.) 

 

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

5. The J. L. Elledge Building

From the National Register Nomination:  The J. L. Elledge Building was constructed in 1913 as part of the creation and development of Elledge Arcade. The Elledge Building shares a wall on the east [right] with the Famous Grocery Building. The J. L. Elledge Building is a brick one-part commercial block with a concrete foundation and a parapet wall roof. The rectangular building is approximately 30 feet wide and 50 feet deep. The design of the facade of the J.L. Elledge Building is identical to the facade of the Famous Grocery Building. It is divided into two bays like the Famous Grocery Building, but the bays are not as wide. A cast iron pilaster separates the two storefronts. Each storefront has a central door flanked by display windows. These storefronts have wood framed display windows, bulkhead panels covered with white vitrolite panels, and wide transoms filled with blue pressed glass squares.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

6. The Elledge Arcade Buildings

From the National Register Nomination:  The facade that extends across the Famous Grocery [right] and J. L. Elledge [left] buildings has changed little since it was constructed in 1913. Above the storefronts, there are two attic vents which are centered in each bay. The vents are outlined by a raised brick stringcourse which runs the width of the buildings below the vents, brick dentils on the sides of the vents, and a wide brick cornice above the vents.

 

 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.