a history of broughton street

A HISTORY OF

Savannah was founded and Broughton Street was named after Thomas Broughton, the Governor of South Carolina. Broughton Street was largely residential but also functioned as the commercial hub of the city.

1733

George Washington visited the city’s retail heart, Broughton Street, during his presidency.

1791

Broughton Street is labeled as “Georgia’s first shopping district” and “the Hollywood of the South.” During this time period, there is a perfect harmony of residential and commercial space.

1800s

The Great Savannah Fire of 1820 swept through 94 lots, extending from Broughton and Bay Streets and Jefferson to Abercorn. Months without rain and illegally stored gun powder on Market Square resulted in large destruction. Fortunately, relief efforts were sent from across the country to restore the devastated city and aid the citizens in need. In 1825, the Savannah Fire Company formed.

1820

Marshall House, one of the first hotels in Savannah, opened on Broughton Street as the city’s population doubled during the railroad boom of the 1840s –1850s.

1851

TheBrushElectricCompanyofSavannahmergedwithParsonsRailwaytoformSavannahElectric.ThefirstincandescentlightsappearedinajewelrystoreonBroughtonStreet.

1902

NationalchainslikeSears&Roebuck,J.C.Penney,Adler’s,andKresstooktheirplaceonBroughtonStreetafterWorldWarII,establishingthestreetonceagainasashoppingmeccafortheentirearea.

1950s

OnMay20,firedestroyedtheAdlerDepartmentStoreonBroughtonStreet,markingthebeginningofthestreet’sdeclineasaMainStreetshoppingdestination.

1958

Thecity'sfirstmall,OglethorpeMall,openedin1969.BroughtonStreetwitheredasmanyremainingretailersandanchorstoresmovedtothemall,withSearsmovingintoaspace4timesthesize.

1969

Afteryearsofunderutilizationandabandonment,manybuildingsonBroughtonStreetstoodvacantfordecadesandwereinneedofmajorrehabilitation.In1990,thecity’ssecondmall,SavannahMall,opened,drawingmoreretailersandshoppersawayfromthedistressedstreet.

1980s – early 2000s

TheGreatRecessionimpactedeconomiesaroundtheworld,causingasharpdeclineinconsumerspending.Businesseseverywherestruggledtokeepdoorsopen,includingonBroughtonStreet.

2007 – 2009

BenCarterEnterprisesoutlinedavisionaryplantobuyandrestorehistoricbuildingsonBroughtonStreetinneedofrehabilitation.

2014

BenCarterEnterprisesinvestedover$100milliontorenovatemorethanthreedozenbuildingswithstorefrontsonBroughtonStreet,reintroducingmorethan225,000squarefeetofretailandrestaurants.Thebuildings’upperlevelsconsistofluxuryapartmentsandcreativeofficespace.

2014 – 2016

RetailonBroughtonStreetis95%leasedtoablendoflocal,regionalandnationalretailers.Upper-storyresidentialspacehasawaitinglistasresidencesarefullyleased.BroughtonStreetisonceagainteemingwithlifeandenergy,toppingthelistofUSAToday’sTop10GreatAmericanShoppingStreets.BenCarterEnterprisesisalsorecognizedbyTheGeorgiaTrustforHistoricalPreservation.

2017

www.broughtonstreetcollection.com@broughtonstcollection

Timeline References1733: http://www.savannahga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4346

1733:https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/thirteen-colonies/resources/view-savannah-georgia-1734

1800s:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2008678829/

1820:https://www.jstor.org/stable/40576606?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

1820:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/508414245403481211/

1820:https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/1175

1902:http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/savannah-electric-and-power-company

1950s: https://www.savannahbusinessjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1013:march-14-savannah-then-a-now&catid=113&Itemid=55&fontstyle=f-larger

1958:https://www.flickr.com/photos/aasuarchives/3542593513

1969: http://savannahnow.com/anniversary/2010-03-25/broughton-street-circle-economic-life#

2017: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/10greatplaces/2017/05/05/shopping-streets-districts/101287158/