Florida St.—The Gath and Chavez Building

←cont. from: Galería Mitre—Baroque Architecture on Florida Street

The eight floor Gath and Chavez building at Florida 202, a block away from Galería Mitre is another historic building downtown that today contains a Falabella department store.

This building, inaugurated in 1914, was once an elegant shopping destination, comparable to Harrods Buenos Aires. It had a huge central atrium surrounded by wide marble staircases with decorative columns and balconies.

Founded by Englishman, Alfred Gath and Chilean, Lorenzo Chaves, it specialized in men’s clothing imported from Europe. It is connected with an underground tunnel in what used to be their annex up the street, at Peru and Avenida de Mayo.

In 1974 Gath and Chavez closed its doors. To the deep dismay of preservationists, the building’s interior was then mostly destroyed to house a bank. To get an idea of its former splendor, visitors will have to travel to the beautifully conserved Gath y Chavez building in Rosario, also a Falabella.