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The building was named after Garet Van Antwerp, the druggist who built the structure. His initials are displayed in the shield at the corner of the building, marking it for posterity. The building fell empty in the 1970s when Downtown Mobile suffered an economic decline along with most of the downtowns across the country. The Retirement Systems of Alabama purchased the Van Antwerp Building in 2015 and renovated it for office space and conference rooms. One of the new features was the installation of colored lights that illuminate the building’s exterior on holidays. When Mr. Van Antwerp began the building process, he was laughed at. Yet, over a hundred years later, the building still stands as an anchor at two of the most notable streets in Downtown Mobile. It experienced hard times, but it was restored and found new life — better than its beginning. I can see myself in that. Can you? Jesus restored me! He is the best carpenter I know. Read more about Garet Van Antwerp and the Van Antwerp Building here
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