J.B. Bayless Grocery Building
Lucky store number 7 has made it through the years in good shape, partially through luck, partially through the dedication and inventiveness of its more modern occupants.
The J.B. Bayless grocery store near 7th Street and Roosevelt is a remarkable example of the power of adaptive reuse. First constructed in 1926, it was the seventh in the Bayless chain. At the time, when supermarkets were still a thing of the future, it was lauded for its modern amenities. To have all market items consolidated in one place was still an uncertain new concept.
Perhaps it’s fitting then that its new use is also cutting edge. CO+HOOTS, the main tenant of the well-preserved building is a work cooperative, based on the idea that having productive people from all kinds of different fields will help breed creativity increase productivity. It’s a garden variety of professionals, a wide and diverse selection similar to something you might find at say, a supermarket.
The resurrection of the old building was brought about by real estate broker Joseph Lewis, who recognized its potential when he purchased the space 20 years ago, according to an article in Phoenix Magazine.
“I knew it had good bones,” he said.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 for its significance in Phoenix commercial history and the architectural integrity of the building which was representative of the time period when it was built. Lewis restored the building with help from the city and now leases it to its current tenants.
Today a gym, photography studio, and a graphic designer fill out the space in addition to CO+HOOTS.
