The Riggio Building on Shaw Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.Photo byCoalfather, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The historic Riggio Building (also short-named in the past as The Bank), is at 5145-5149 Shaw Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. The historic uses of this building have included a business, a specialty store, a banking institution, and a dwelling.

The architectural style of the building is Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Beaux-Arts. The foundation is concrete and the walls are brick and terra cotta. The architect was Joseph B. Cantanzaro.

The building

The west side of the building (5149 Shaw) contained Riggio's offices, what the Hill community referred to as The Bank. In the 1970s, it was remodeled and converted into law offices. Later, during the process of historic rehabilitation, a tin ceiling was discovered above the dropped ceiling and a terrazzo floor was found under the carpeting. A marble-faced safe deposit vault was in the rear of the building.

The east half of the building (5147 Shaw) contained an open space used for retail. The wood floors, crown molding, and pressed tin ceiling had previously been restored. This is the portion of the building that contains Shaw's Coffee.

Backstory

The Riggio Building was constructed in 1924-1925. Part of the reason why this building is important is because of its association with the history and growth of the Italian American community in south St. Louis known as The Hill. Initially, the Riggio Building served as a lending agency.

In 1924, brothers, Joseph, and Ignazio Riggio had the building constructed. So this building is a century old. They wanted a building for their business called Riggio Realty Company which they founded in 1906. Their company (5149 Shaw) was on the west side of the building and they rented out the east storefront side (5145 Shaw).

The first known tenant, Michael Miano, ran a jewelry store. After this tenant left, it sat vacant until the mid-1930s when the Fairmont Food Shoppe moved in. After that, the Curry Credit Clothing Company moved into the storefront in 1940.

John Viviano & Sons Grocery moved to the building at 5139 Shaw in St. Louis, Missouri.Photo byGoogle Maps screenshot.

After a decade, J. Viviano and Sons Italian Grocery moved in and stayed until 1965 after which time, it moved into the building next door. It's now located at 5139 Shaw and run by John Viviano, Sr.'s grandsons, John, Jr. and Tony.

The Riggio Realty Company expanded its business to include a travel agency. Joseph Riggio was also a steamship agent selling tickets each year to immigrants who needed passage from Italy to the United States.

After the Riggio Realty Company dissolved, Ignazio's son, Nicholaus J. Riggio, established his law practice at that location. He ran his office there until 1999. That's when the present owner of Shaw's Coffee purchased the property.

Photo byFacebook/Shaw's Coffee.

The upper floor contained apartments that the Riggio brothers rented out. Until 1936, a man named Frank Riggio lived in one of the apartments. It wasn't determined if Frank was related to Ignazio and Joseph. Frank worked as a clerk and then manager of the Riggio's hardware store located at 5143 Shaw. After Frank moved out in 1936, the apartments continued to be occupied.

The Riggios

In 1900, Ignazio Riggio came to St. Louis, and in 1904, brother Joseph arrived. In 1906, they formed the Riggio Realty Company.

By the early 1920s, the Riggio's company had grown significantly. While the company wasn't chartered as a bank, it operated like one. With their business growing, they needed a new building that could function as their hardware store and residence which would be above the store.

The Riggio brothers became important figures in the community. Joseph Riggio was well known for the help he provided to many Italians in becoming American citizens.

When the Italian community needed financial assistance or advice, they usually went to the Riggio Building. The building is a reminder of the many contributions the Riggios made in and for the community.

Ignazio Riggio passed away on April 9, 1967, at age 88. His wife, Carmelina P Trapani Riggio, preceded him in death on December 1, 1959, at age 75. Joseph A. Riggio passed away on June 22, 1943, at age 53.

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