The oldest commercial structure in Chandler, the Monroe building was built in 1912.  It is included as a contributing structure of Chandler’s Commercial Historic District and is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Originally built to house small shops on the first floor with offices and meeting rooms for the Chandler Improvement Company on the second floor. From these very offices, the company planned the new town and offered land for sale.

 

At the beginning of World War II, the Monroe building was remodeled into the Parkway Theatre --

Chandler’s second theater, and very first to have sound. This portion of the building collapsed prior to

Desert Viking purchasing the property in 1998. As part of Desert Viking’s restoration plan, the old theater

was converted into an award-winning outdoor garden patio. The original structure  was renovated to house a

restaurant space and 3,500 square foot landscaped patio on the first floor and restored offices on the

second floor. Desert Viking received the Arizona Heritage Preservation Honor Award in 2002

for its incredible preservation and restoration work on the Monroe Building.

 
 
 

Project Address: 12‐28 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ 85225

Project Type: Commercial

Original Use: Offices, Movie Theatre

Renovated Use: Restaurants and Office

Year Built: Circa 1912

Year Renovated: (DV) 1998

Building Size: 6,300 SF

Tenants: Mobillogix / SalesLyft, El Zocalo Mexican Grille