Recently remodeled and housing a delightful collection of eclectic shops, the opportunities for the future are bright.
L. Bashford established the company in 1864, the same year Prescott was designated the capital of the Arizona Territory. After burning down in the famous downtown fire of 1900, the current building, known as the Bashford-Burmister building, was built, and is included in the list of Courthouse Plaza Historic District buildings. Originally designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style, in 1929, the building underwent a major remodel to reflect the Art Deco era. Three stories tall, the floors open inward, allowing guests to see, and easily navigate, all the atrium has to offer while simultaneously being able to enjoy the detailed architecture and design of the building itself.
At one point in its history, it was the largest department store in Arizona and advertised the convenience of having everything under the same roof to save customers time and money. From groceries, furniture, boots and shoes, to hardware, mining supplies and building materials, the Bashford-Burmister building housed it all. Representing the booming era of the Arizona Territory, the company has been a part of Arizona’s history since the beginning. In old pictures, you can see horses and buggies lining Gurley Street in front of the building. One can imagine miners coming into town for supplies and ladies visiting to pick out their furniture, glassware and crockery.
While the interior has been updated over the past decades, the original tin tiles from 1908 still grace the ceiling, helping to retain the charm of its origin. Visitors still enjoy a view of Prescott’s historic courthouse through the large windows inside the front-facing shops while they peruse the various stores. While the Bashford-Burmister building has changed to reflect the passing of time, Bashford Courts has also evolved to reflect what the City of Prescott has become. You will see cars instead of horses out front, and the wares have changed quite a bit since the original days of staple goods. However, locals can attest to the role Bashford Courts still plays in their lives.
The atrium is a mecca for the joys in life. From a foot spa to relax visitors exploring the city, a sock store to visit after the foot spa, a restaurant, art stores, a sporting goods store, boutiques, gift shops, a bath store, a delightful candy shop for children and adults alike, and much more, there’s truly something for everyone. In the original building, patrons came to purchase items to build and live in the new Arizona Territory and the City of Prescott, visitors in more recent years enjoy a moment in time at the restaurant or a memento from their visit.
If we’ve learned anything from the changing architecture and goods within the walls of the Bashford-Burmister building, it’s that the building and its goods will always be a reflection of the people of the times. The question is, what comes next? Recently remodeled and housing a delightful collection of eclectic shops, the opportunities for the future are bright. As we see millennials focus on travel, experiences and a fascination for vintage, will Bashford Courts evolve to reflect the next generation’s coming dominance in the marketplace?
Will the Bashford-Burmister company someday hold a collection of vintage and antique shops on one floor? Maybe an old-fashioned soda shop next door to a virtual reality experience on the second floor? And a yoga studio next to some art galleries and flower shops on the third? Or, perhaps, the appreciation for locally grown and handmade will reintroduce groceries and supplies once again to grace the interior of the historic structure.
Regardless of what the future brings, we know the Bashford-Burmister building will be not only a successful cornerstone of the downtown Prescott area, but a beloved one to residents and visitors alike. QCBN
By Leslie Guiley
Interested in owning the Bashford-Burmister building? Call Matt Fish with BHGRE Commercial at 480-309-1089.