Sam Meyer Building

This 1884 Italianate stepped false front commercial building was constructed for Sam Meyer, a prominent Healdsburg resident. Meyer emigrated from West Prussia and established himself in Healdsburg in 1860. Meyer engaged in business, land ownership as well as various social and political pursuits. The Sam Meyer building initially held the Sam Meyer general merchandise store. Sam Meyer alleged to buy and sell everything, a rarity at the time, and became very popular. The second story of the building was the birthplace of the Sonoma County Tribune (later Healdsburg Tribune) in 1884. Louis Meyer, son of Sam Meyer, was a founder of the paper.

In 2015, the façade of the building was renovated by owner Russ Keil, under the direction of architect Alan Cohen, who in 2016 received a Commercial Restoration award from the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society. 

Sam Meyer (1843-1925) was an immigrant success story. Born in West Prussia (today Poland), Meyer came to Healdsburg in 1860. He became a prominent merchant and respected civic leader. As a supporter of arts and culture, Sam Meyer sponsored festivals, theater, and debates.[1]

In 1860 Meyer opened his dry goods store, which quickly grew in popularity, probably because he was alleged to have bought and sold everything.[2] In 1879 he purchased a storefront on the plaza, which became his new business. The rumor was he had paid $3000 for one side and $7000 for the other. Meyer owned several commercial buildings near the Plaza.

This building was constructed in 1884 and housed Sam Meyer’s general merchandise store until 1887. In 1888, the Meyer Building became the home office for the Sonoma County Tribune (later the Healdsburg Tribune). Part of the building was used as a hardware store. From the 1910s through the 1920s, the building housed a Billiard and Pool Hall. Sprouse Reitz variety store operated here from 1939 through the 1960s, followed by TV Mart in the 1970s.[3]

The architectural style of the Sam Meyer building is Italianate stepped false front commercial. The cornice above the windows has double decorative brackets indicative of the style. A false front refers to the fact that the roof line of the building is hidden behind a false flat wall (front) so that proprietor has as much space as possible to advertise. The false front also makes the building look bigger than it is. Glass was still expensive when the building was built, but Meyer would have wanted as much display space in his front windows as possible, which accounts for the large four over-four glass-paned windows. [4]

In 2015, the façade of the building was renovated by owner Russ Keil, under the direction of architect Alan Cohen, who in 2016 received a Commercial Restoration award from the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society. 

[1] Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar, Volume XXV, Number 50, 21 March 1901 — Page 3

[2] Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar, Volume XXXVII, Number 43, 8 January 1925 — Pioneer Man, Sam Meyer Dies

[3] The Russian River Recorder, Volume 28 Issue 2 February 2016 page 5.

[4] Longstreth, Richard. The Buildings of Main Street: A Guide to American Commercial