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Mercantile Wharf is located at the intersection of Commercial
Street and Atlantic Avenue. The building was constructed in 1857, and was
built as a storage warehouse to support nearby Quincy Market. Shipping related businesses originally occupied the upper
floors, which included sail makers and riggers. The building actually
bordered the waterfront at that time, and is thus why it was named a wharf. Gridley Bryant was the architect,
son of the builder of the Bunker Hill
Monument.
The north and south faces of
Mercantile Wharf are of solid granite. The first floor has arched entrances,
with a keystone atop each bay. The roof is very similar to its
original design, and does not contain additional dormers or decks that have
been added to
many of the other re-built structures along the waterfront.
A large fire in about 1970 gutted most of the interior of
the structure. The building was completely renovated in 1976, with
apartments located on the upper floors and shops occupying the first floor.
An attractive open atrium or galleria, made possible by the fire,
encompasses the center of the building, with skylights at the top providing
natural light.
The shops in Mercantile Wharf cater to North End residents, with a day care center, shipping
store, cafe, and a florist on the first floor. This building is worth noticing
as it is one of only a few buildings that very much resemble the waterfront
structures of mid-nineteenth century Boston.
Nearby attractions to the Mercantile Wharf include the
New England Aquarium,
Faneuil Hall, and
Quincy Market.
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PHOTOS
Nearby Buildings
Custom House
Grain Exchange
Long Wharf Hotel
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