GM&O Open for Business

Sep 26th, 2003

The GM&O building in Mobile can now truly be called magnificent. Take a look and you’ll see why.

When the GM&O originally opened in April 1907, former Mayor Pat J. Lyons in his address to the citizens of Mobile said in his speech "We had to wait a little long, perhaps, to get it, but when it arrived, it made up for its tardiness by the magnificence of its structure, the modern character of its equipment and the rank it will take among the buildings of its kind in the south and in the country at large." Mayor Mike Dow in his remarks quoted portions of Lyons' speech, saying "Let's celebrate the opening of a building that will last many years to come."

It’s taken three years to restore the old railroad terminal - formerly referred to as Union Station. Now, new tenants including the USDA, ATF, Metro Transit, State Farm Insurance and Hall-Baumhauer Tharp McCormick Architectural Firm are moving in. There is more lease space available, but developer Ross Carbonne says he expects the building to be full by the end of the year.

Mayor Mike Dow, along with City Council Vice President Thomas Sullivan and developer, Ross Carbone welcomed a crowd of city, county and state officials to the event. Councilman Sullivan recalled that for years "nobody wanted to touch the GM&O-it was one of the most unattractive sites in the city."

Now according to Sullivan and Mayor Dow, the GM&O is one of the most beautiful sites in the city.