Schlenker Building, 213-215 W Liberty St, Downtown Ann Arbor, August 18, 2023

"The Schenkler Hardware Building shows the wonderful possibilities of adaptive reuse and restoration of historic buildings in Ann Arbor's downtown.  In 2001 the building was extensively renovated and restored for office use by Liberty Land LLC, spearheaded by Janet Muhleman, with designs by Smith Group Architects and construction work done by J. C. Beal Construction.  A large addition was added to the back, and the original building was stripped of its c. 1940s enameled steel panels and paint.  The fine brickwork was restored and reconstructed, including the front parapet which had been removed in an earlier renovation.  A tasteful early 20th-century style storefront was also installed. The Historic District Commission recognized their work with an award.

The building was built in 1906 by Christian Schlenker to house his hardware business which began on Main Street in 1886.  Schlenker Hardware occupied the main floor of the building, selling stoves, furnaces, paints, and hardware.  It was among the first in town to sell radios and refrigerators.  The building's upper floor was used as a residence by the Schlenker family.  Lasting longer than its 19th-century competitors, Schlenker Hardware stayed in the family and in business until 1995, when it closed its doors for good."

Historic Ann Arbor:  an Architectural Guide by Susan Wineberg and Patrick McCauley, 2014.