Reardon Building

The Reardon Building also known as the Carmel Dairy Building is a Spanish Eclectic style two-story commercial building in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Constructed in 1932 for the Carmel Dairy, the building was designed by Guy O. Koepp and built by A. Caryle Stoney. Featuring a tower shaped like a milk bottle, the interior artwork and logos on milk bottles and lunch menus were crafted by local artist Jo Mora. The building is a key cornerstone building at the entrance to Carmel's downtown historic district.

History


The Reardon Building was named for Thomas B. Reardon, a Carmel pioneer who arrived in 1906.

The Carmel Dairy sold milk products produced by the William Hatton Dairy and the Martin farm (now occupied by the Mission Ranch). Caryle Stoney was the original contractor. The Santa Rosa Republican described Jo Mora's work with an article that said, "Mora murals show up behind the plate glass and illustrate that in the California artists' paradise even decorations for as prosaic an institution as a dairy must be different."

The Carmel Dairy sign still exists on the exterior of the building along Mission Street. Koepp's designed a corner tower to resemble a milk bottle-shaped polygonal tower and a Mission tile cap as the exterior centerpiece. The building is located on Ocean Avenue and Mission Street. The Stucco walls, arcaded windows, and title roof are examples of conventional Spanish Eclectic style. The building is significant example of early inventive commercial design for advertising and marketing. It is also one of the buildings that represents Carmel's Downton Historic District.

On March 17, 1932, the building was reviewed by Hal Garrott of the Carmel Pine Cone, saying: "Jo Mora, Guy Koepp and the latest scientific and hygienic apparatus for delivering milk to the public, have combined to make the new home of the Carmel Dairy at Ocean and Mission probably the most unique institution of its kind in existence....And Carmel is indebted to the late Thomas Reardon for having the vision to construct a building of lasting architectural value.'"

The Carmel Diary went out of business at the end of World War II, and the building was leased as a soda fountain for several years. In 1953, the Italian grocer Joe Bileci and Horace Coniglio moved his Mediterranean Market from San Carlos Street to the Carmel Dairy building. Architect Francis Palms made changes to the design. They added Portuguese tiles on either side of the entry as well as Spanish design exterior light fixtures. In 1955, Bileci hired architect Francis Palms to remodel the rear of the building. After 40 years in business, the Mediterranean Market was closed in 2001. Since 2002, it has been a retail store.