The Carpenter Italianate style corner store was constructed in 1901 for John C. Morgan, a greengrocer. The structure is important in the Thomas Square Streetcar historic district and neighborhood as an example of essential corner stores that proliferated in residential areas prior to technological advances such as refrigerators and automobiles. In 1905, Jefferson D. Persse purchased the corner store and vacant land to the south on which he constructed the belgian block pharmacy. He resided in the second-floor apartment with his family and leased the commercial space below to tenants.
In 2018, the historic Persse Pharmacy & Corner Store was purchased to rehabilitate the property into a mixed-use commercial /retail and multi-family residence. Josh Ward AIA, principal for Ward Architecture + Preservation, developed plans that restored the historic building, retaining historic brackets, columns, windows, doors and fireplaces. He used historic documentation and physical evidence to design the replacement storefront for both buildings which had been lost overtime. Sarah Ward, Preservation Principal for Ward Architecture + Preservation, worked with the owners, architect, and contractors to obtain historic tax incentives from the National Park Service and Georgia Historic Preservation Division.
The successful rehabilitation was completed in 2021. Federal and Georgia Historic Tax Credits, combined for a value of 45% the rehabilitation expenses, and an 8.5 year Property Tax Freeze were used to help offset the expenses of following best preservation practices. The project received the 2022 Historic Preservation Award from the Historic Savannah Foundation.