Once an asset of the Hoffman Furniture Company, 6 South Franklin now functions as Hurston, a bookstore and cafe. With residential space on the upper floors and a quiet, not far off the beaten path commercial space on the bottom, Hurston is the perfect place for locals like Tabitha to explore new connections on a first date or have her own “meet-cute“ while sipping her cold-brew coffee.

 

Our design keeps it classic by bringing back the simple lintels, but also take cues from the other townhouses on Franklin and the ornate Iron balconies on Dauphin. Using these classically Mobilian elements to create a sense of place while still looking towards the future by designing downtown Mobile to be a place for all. Even the name Hurston adds to the atmosphere as a nod to Alabama-born author, Zora Neale Hurston, who documented the Clotilda’s story in Barracoon.