This building is currently called the 1894 City Market. It houses an Art Gallery on the first floor and luxury apartments upstairs and around back. It has always been a hub for photography in town, from seniors looking for a unique setting to professional photographers taking advantage of the diversity the buildings surroundings offer.
Before being remodeled this beautiful building had many other purposes. Like its current name, the building was built in 1894 by architect H.H. Richardson for Francis Mullins, fourteen years after the city was incorporated. The best surviving Romanesque Revival style building in Texarkana, it has three concrete chimneys, cargo doors, arched windows, an elevator, and the basement was once used for refrigeration equipment. Mullins was the owner of the Texas Produce Company that was founded in 1884. It was the first major grocery wholesaler in Texarkana. Mullins also served two terms as mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas between 1896-1900.His home was on the corner of 6th and Hickory, at what is now Mullins Courts Apartments.
In 1926, the building was sold to Ritchie Grocery for $60,000. After the purchase two additional lots were purchased and a one story masonry addition was constructed. Ritchie Grocery started in Camden, Arkansas in 1886 by J.C. Ritchie and W.W. Brown (They really like initials back then!). They originally sold basic groceries and hay for livestock and later expanded into hardware and appliances as well. The Ritchie Grocery Company ran its wholesale store here until the mid 70’s. They owned the building until it was purchased in 2016 by its current owner. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
David Peavy is a local business man that had a great vision for this unique building and has worked for years to bring it to fruition. You can check out the art gallery on the first floor for free and there is a Market every second Saturday of the month when the weather allows that is also free admission!
In the area around the 1894 City Market, there are many more things to see and check out. Behind the building are two lovely murals. One is on the back of the garages in the parking lot for Bi-state Employees on the corner of Front and Pine street. The other mural sits on the side of Graham Slam Bakery, adjacent to the same Bi-State parking lot. In the alley between 1894 City Market and the adjacent building are some really cool spray paint art pieces that have been added over the years. They make for awesome selfies. Normally there is a pocket park that is accessible from the alleyway that is great for picnics but sadly a nearby building has been falling apart and they have the park blocked off for now. Across the street from the 1894 building are the railroad tracks responsible for bringing Texarkana into existence. The probably coolest nearby attraction though, is the Flying Crow.
The Flying Crow was once a Santa Fe Railroad first class lounge car built around the 1940’s. Originally called Super Chief, the lounge car is now named the Flying Crow now because it was once a part of the Kansas City Southern’s Flying Crow train that traveled between Kansas City, Missouri and Port Arthur, Texas; Texarkana was a usual stop along that route. When it rolled down the line, it was also equipped with a shower and barber shop. Now the Flying Crow is seated on Front Street and is connected to a spacious patio. It has been gorgeously renovated to mirror 1942. Right now, it is available for events but owner, Mr. Peavy is looking for someone to operate a restaurant in the car for a nice old lounge car experience. I will update the page when they open for business, but for now enjoy the sights.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PHOTO OP SPOTS AROUND THIS BUILDING AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR SELFIES. JUST PLEASE REMEMBER TO NOT POST SPOILER PICTURES OF THE CACHE. LET EVERYONE HAVE THE LEVEL OF FUN YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY.
Your cache is located outside the 1894 building and can be accessed day or night. Nothing has to be taken apart, so please respect the property. Also keep in mind that this building is also residential so, be aware. Depending on the time of day and day of the week, muggles might be a plenty so use your stealth.