Lazarus Building
| Company type | Department store (former) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Fate | Brand retired in 2005 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio , United States |
| Products | Department store goods |
The Lazarus Building is a commercial structure situated in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, originally serving as the primary location for F&R Lazarus & Company, a department store established nearby in 1851. Finished in 1909, it remained the Lazarus flagship until 2004, a year prior to the brand's retirement. Today, the building hosts various state and county agencies, the Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, dining establishments, and a bank branch along High Street.
Attributes
Spanning nearly an entire city block due to several expansions and renovations, the building features five stories facing High Street and rises to seven floors on Front Street. The facade along West Town Street largely retains its original design.
History
F&R Lazarus & Company was founded close to this site in 1851 and relocated to the Parsons Building at Town and High streets by 1858. In 1909, the company moved into what is now known as the Lazarus Building, transitioning from specializing in men's apparel to becoming a full-service department store. This was Columbus's first building to feature an escalator in 1909; although it was initially removed, modern electric escalators were installed in 1947—marking another local first.
A major expansion took place in 1925 with the addition of a seven-story structure west of the original building, connected by pedestrian bridges spanning Wall Street.
In 1989, the City Center Mall opened directly across from Lazarus (currently the Columbus Commons area), offering many similar products yet providing support to the struggling store. A pedestrian bridge linked Lazarus with the mall as co-anchor tenants. After experiencing a 60 percent decline in sales over ten years, Lazarus closed its doors in 2004, with its iconic signage removed that August. The building was subsequently transformed into a mixed-use facility incorporating sustainable features such as a rooftop garden designed for water collection and cooling, which contributed to achieving a LEED Gold certification.
Presently, a significant portion of the building accommodates government offices including county economic development agencies, the Ohio Department of Medicaid, Ohio Department of Insurance, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Ohio State University Urban Arts Space, and AIA Columbus also maintain offices within the building. The city’s development department was previously located here before relocating to the Michael B. Coleman Government Center.
Between 1963 and 1990, the store’s rooftop water tower was illuminated during the Christmas season to mimic a tree—a beloved local tradition discontinued first due to energy concerns and later because newer high-rise buildings obstructed its visibility.
Lazarus gained widespread recognition for its holiday window displays, notably featuring a large "big window" at the intersection of Town and High streets.