Arizona's Oldest Store is for SALE!

The Willcox Commercial Company is 

Arizona's oldest store.    

It is for sale.    

Asking price is $290,000.   

 For information email John Seidel at willcoxcom@yahoo.com or call 575 682 6362.

The Willcox Commercial Company has been open since 1880 in the same adobe building in Willcox, Arizona.       
 

      The flavor of the old west is evident in its victorian facade and multiple windows along the front.

       The back yard and patio is surrounded by a wide adobe wall.    The studio cottage is at the rear of the property.     

     The area has four seasons with summer monsoons and a mild winter with some snow that does not linger.  

     The deep set windows show off the adobe structure.     

      The back yard has grass and trees.    

      The living area has new windows.

      The studio cottage has its own bathroom.    

      The historic Albert Schwertner house is across the alley.  


Interior
  Commercial space...

  

  View from the interior balcony. 

Hard wood floors and pressed tin ceilings are original in this part of the store.  

The antique glass display cases hold historical artifacts of the store and community.   

The double sided gas fireplace has a pressed copper  front.   

The old cash register had a drawer for each sales person.    

 

The living quarters.

     The adobe structure adds interest to the residence. 

French doors open into the master bedroom. 

The upstairs living room opens to the bedroom and bath.    A hall goes to the balcony in the commercial space.    

This is a wonderful opportunity to own a piece of the history of the old west.

The Willcox Commercial Company is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.    The 133 year old adobe building has 6000 square foot of commercial space and a spacious two bed, two bath attached apartment.   A large studio cottage with bath is located across the expansive patio.    

The commercial space has the original lower ceiling of pressed tin and the two story ceiling with a deep built-in skylight.   One part of the space has original hard wood flooring and the other has new laminate flooring.  A double sided gas fireplace opens into both sides of the store.   Huge plate glass windows grace the front.  The many antique glass and wood display counters along with a multi drawer old-time cash register and the etched glass front door add to the historic feel.   A mural of 1800’s Railroad Avenue is painted on one wall.   The deep recessed windows and doors bring out the adobe architecture.  This versatile space has sold groceries, clothes, yard goods, hay and feed but has focused on western wear, clothing, hats and boots in recent decades.    The space has hosted parties and events and has been a part of many Willcox activities.   Live Bluegrass, country and classical music has rang out in the Commercial at special events and holidays.    

An interior balcony area overlooks the store.  The massive, custom hand painted, triple door safe is up there.   The fully operational safe once held miner’s gold and was used as a ‘bank’ during the early days of the Norton Morgan Commercial Company.   

The store anchors historic Railroad Avenue in Willcox.    Railroad Park is across the street with enormous cottonwood trees, grass, swings, picnic area, Rex Allen Statue and a War Memorial.     The store has been recently painted and the front has a Victorian façade with multiple colors.   The back yard and patio are surrounded with a thick adobe wall.    The yard has established fruit trees.  

The living area has a full kitchen, two baths, two bedrooms, upstairs living room and a gas fireplace.    It opens into the store on both levels and on to the patio.   The unique adobe construction is apparent throughout.   The apartment has new double pane windows. The detached studio has been recently renovated and has its own bathroom.   The over all feel is of comfortable western living.

This property has been owned and operated by three different families since 1880.   It has been a foundational institution of the Sulfur Springs Valley area.   Geronimo shopped here.    Last year it was featured in Phoenix Magazine (February 2012) and mentioned in Sunset Magazine.       

The property is on historic Railroad Avenue just off the main road to the Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historic Site and the Willcox Playa Wildlife area.   It is an ideal building and location for a winery, restaurant, retail space or a tourist specific business.   Hiking, biking, camping, sightseeing and birdwatching are area activities.    

 For information email John Seidel at willcoxcom@yahoo.com or call 575 682 6362.

More pictures at HistoricProperties/WillcoxCommercial