OVER A CENTURY OF
Resilience & Legacy

The historic Flood Building has stood for over a century as a symbol of the city its namesake, James Clair Flood, helped shape. Construction began in 1902, commissioned by his son, James L. Flood, as a tribute to his father. To this day, the Flood Building remains the oldest family-owned commercial building in San Francisco—continuing its legacy as an elegant address for businesses of all kinds.

1902

When the Baldwin Hotel was lost to fire in 1898, a prime corner of Market Street stood empty. James L. Flood purchased the land and transformed that void. He commissioned architect Albert Pissis to create a Beaux-Arts masterpiece in tribute to his father, James Clair Flood.

1904

After the Gold Rush, the Flood Building elevated the existing ranch-style architecture and put San Francisco on the map as an international city with world-class architecture. It serves as a reminder that San Francisco is a city built over decades.

1906

The Flood Building was one of the few structures to withstand the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and fire. Restored and reopened in 1907, it quickly became an enduring symbol of the city’s resilience.

1920s

The Flood Building adapted to the city’s changing needs when the family remodeled it for dental and medical offices. For more than three decades, it remained a bustling medical center—a testament to the city’s ability to rebuild and thrive.

1940s

Again, the Flood Building withstood threats of demolition when Woolworth’s Department Store took over the first, second, and basement floors with a 40-year lease. Rather than destroying the top nine floors as Woolworth’s proposed, the Flood Family secured a deal with the US government which needed emergency wartime office space during the Korean War. Throughout this period, San Franciscans flocked to Woolworth’s bustling lunch counter, making it a lively gathering place for the community.

1953

The government relinquished its occupancy, and the upper floors were converted back to commercial office space.

1990s

Decades later, after Woolworth’s downsized in 1992 and eventually vacated, James C. Flood undertook an ambitious renovation project to restore the ground floor and retail areas to their original 1907 elegance. Under Flood’s stewardship, the renovation restored the Flood Building to its former glory, reaffirming its place as a historic landmark of San Francisco. Even today, architects look to the Flood Building as a leader in historic renovations.

2025

Family-owned for over 120 years, the Flood Building remains a microcosm of San Francisco, currently housing more than 225 diverse tenants from around the globe. The Floods share a deep commitment to continuing the family legacy and strongly believe the building will be at the center of San Francisco’s downtown revitalization.