Hunrick Grocery

The Hunrick Grocery, located at 2211 Rose Street, was designated a Structure of Merit in 1988 because it provides «this generation and future generations examples of the physical surroundings in which past generations lived,» and its designation conforms to the purpose and criteria of the ordinance. It has now been fully restored and is a beauty to look at as I’ve walked by and admired this piece of Berkeley’s architectural history.
The building was constructed as a grocery store and residence by George Hunrick in 1908. Hunrick had come to California to study banking with A.P. Gianinni, but never returned to Germany. He moved to Berkeley in 1906 and set up his first store at 2120 Shattuck. In 1908 he moved his business and home to 2211 Rose Street. Prospects were good in this location at the time, as the north Berkeley hills were just being developed, and a streetcar line was extended up Spruce Street in 1910.
Hunrick operated the store at this location from 1908 until 1923, when he moved his home to Woolsey Street and opened a grocery on College Avenue at Ashby. The shop at 2211 Rose Street served as a small convenience store until 1966. The distinctive architectural feature of the now dilapidated building is its Mission Revival false-​front parapet.