The Shops at Mallory Square are connected to the history of a plaza and space that dates back to the origins of Key West, Florida. Located adjacent to Mallory Square itself, the space and stores that make up the Shops at Mallory Square are tied to an identity that attracts the attention of both residents and visitors.
From a Naval Depot to U.S. Cost Guard Headquarters to Storefront
In 1833, the United States government purchased a harbor-front lot in Key West while an act of Congress in 1852 authorized the creation of a Naval Depot in this space. In 1856, construction began on the building that would contain this Naval Depot. Completed in 1861, it was finished in time to be utilized during the Civil War, when it housed a squadron for the Union.
Coming to be known as Building Number One, it served as the Naval Administration Building until 1932. Late in that year, the offices of the 7th Lighthouse District opened in the building. The U.S. Coast Guard took over the service and the building in 1939. It remains Key West’s oldest brick structure but is also home to establishments that make up the Shops at Mallory Square.
Utilizing the proximity and identity of the adjacent plaza, the 26,000 square foot emporium has some of the island’s most unique establishments. They’ve been able to form an even stronger collective identity thanks to this connection to Mallory Square.
Boutiques, galleries and places to eat fill the space. They range from a family-owned jewelry boutique to artist workspaces to a café that serves authentic Cuban Coffee. Containing Key West’s only up escalator, the space has been able to embrace the history of the area to form an identity that makes a positive impact for these establishments, stakeholders and audiences that come from near and far.
A Simultaneous Link to the Past and Present of Key West
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the building that houses the Shops at Mallory Square showcases what it can mean for a space to simultaneously link the past and present of a community. In becoming known as one of the best shopping experiences in Key West, it highlights how an identity can be utilized to create opportunities in small and large ways.
