The First Federal Savings and Loan building in West Palm Beach on Southern Boulevard is set to open this summer as a 7-Eleven.
The building was first opened in 1959 and admired for its art deco flair and modern commercial design. Now it will soon become a 7-Eleven and gas station with six pumps. The convenience store will have a sparkling chandelier from the 1950s, a rotunda two stories high and lined with glass, and the signature standalone clock of the building.
Banner printing is often used at such sites to make such project known to the community.
The historic preservation office of the city of West Palm Beach, 7-Eleven, developer Flagler Realty, and design architect Keith Spina of Spina Orourke Partners worked together on this effort. Patrick Koenig, found of Flagler Realty and Development, said that this was a challenging project as the space is not user-friendly and configured such that it is almost unusable. Koenig approached 7-Eleven with his idea and all parties agreed that something special could be made from the space.
There is a large rotunda that is like a tower at one corner of the building which has windows that go from the floor to the ceiling. This feature is easily seen by anyone driving along Southern Boulevard to or from the city. There is a second story in the main rectangle building and an open area underneath it. Demolition has begun on part of building with the 7-Eleven expecting to open in July.
