Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition
A historic Italianate building in downtown Salem, Oregon, that has served as an opera house, commercial center, department store, and retail complex.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition, generally known as the Reed Opera House or The Reed, is a historic commercial and cultural building in downtown Salem, Oregon. Constructed in 1869–1870, the Italianate brick complex was developed by Cyrus Adams Reed under an agreement with the State of Oregon. The original plan was intended to provide facilities for the Oregon State Legislature, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon State Library. State officials ultimately declined to honor the earlier administration's arrangement, leaving Reed with a nearly completed building that required a new commercial and cultural purpose. Reed adapted the project by incorporating seven ground-floor shops, an opera house on the second and third floors, and a hotel in remaining space. The building opened on September 27, 1870, with an inaugural ball held for Oregon Governor La Fayette Grover. It soon became one of Salem's principal venues for entertainment, civic gatherings, political meetings, touring theater, and opera. Its associations included appearances by performers and public figures such as Hallie Parrish Hinges, Thomas Nast, Susan B. Anthony, Mark Twain, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and John Philip Sousa's band. The building therefore functioned not only as a theater but also as a major public meeting place in the young state capital. The original theater closed on April 20, 1900, after the nearby Grand Theater introduced a more modern venue with improved amenities and a ground-floor entrance. Joseph Meyers and Sons, which leased the property from E. P. McCornack and had acquired Cyrus Reed's interest in 1885, subsequently converted the theater and much of the retail area into a department store. In 1902, McCornack added a two-story extension to house a furniture business. The main building and addition were later purchased and occupied by Miller's Department Store, which remained there from 1920 until 1976. A major redevelopment began in 1976, when realtor Coburn Grabenhorst Sr. and architects Phil Settecase and Howard Smith acquired the properties. A reported investment of $1 million reconfigured the complex into a collection of boutiques, restaurants, and other commercial spaces distributed across the lower level, first floor, mezzanine, and second floor. The project gave the buildings their contemporary retail-oriented identity while preserving their historic presence. The Reed was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The redevelopment initially prospered, but competition from a large nearby mall in the late 1980s contributed to financial difficulties. The deeds were transferred to the bank that had financed the redevelopment, and Bourne Properties acquired them in 1993. Roger Yost, a former marketing vice president of Jantzen Apparel, purchased the property in 2003 and began a further program of remodeling and historic restoration. Work included renovation of the Trinity Ballroom and kitchen, modernization of the elevators, and reconstruction of historically inspired rooftop architectural elements, including the pediment, corona, and brackets. The building continues to combine heritage preservation, retail, dining, and event functions.
History
Construction of the Reed Opera House began in 1869 in downtown Salem under the direction of Cyrus Adams Reed, with G. W. Rhodes credited as architect. Reed had contracted with the State of Oregon to create space for the legislature, supreme court, and state library. The state did not proceed with the arrangement made by the previous administration, however, and the building was already too far advanced to abandon. Reed revised the program, inserting seven shops at street level, a large opera house on the second and third floors, and a hotel in the remaining area. The building was completed and opened on September 27, 1870, with an inaugural ball for Governor La Fayette Grover. During its early decades, it became a central venue in Salem's social and cultural life. Touring dramatic productions and opera companies performed there, while political meetings and community events also used the premises. The venue hosted a range of nationally recognized visitors and performers, including Thomas Nast, Susan B. Anthony, Mark Twain, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and John Philip Sousa's band, alongside local performer Hallie Parrish Hinges. The theater closed on April 20, 1900. Its decline was connected to the construction of the nearby Grand Theater, which offered updated amenities and a ground-floor entrance more suited to contemporary audiences. Joseph Meyers and Sons, which had acquired Reed's interest in the property in 1885 and leased the premises from E. P. McCornack, converted the theater and much of the retail area into a department store. McCornack expanded the site in 1902 with a two-story addition intended for a furniture store. In 1920, the original building and addition were purchased and occupied by Miller's Department Store, which remained until 1976. The next major transition came in 1976, when Coburn Grabenhorst Sr. and architects Phil Settecase and Howard Smith purchased the buildings. Their $1 million redevelopment adapted the complex for modern commercial use, creating boutiques and restaurants on several levels, including the lower level, first floor, mezzanine, and second floor. The Reed Opera House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The retail project initially performed well, but the opening of a large nearby mall in the late 1980s created competitive pressure and financial difficulties. The deeds were eventually transferred to the financing bank. Bourne Properties acquired the deeds in 1993. In 2003, Roger Yost, formerly a marketing vice president at Jantzen Apparel, purchased the Reed and began another program of remodeling and restoration. The work included improvements to the Trinity Ballroom and kitchen, elevator modernization, and reconstruction of rooftop features modeled on the historic pediment, corona, and architectural brackets. The property remains an adaptive-reuse landmark whose identity combines historic preservation with retail, hospitality, dining, and event uses.
- 2003
Roger Yost begins restoration program
[1]Roger Yost purchases the complex and starts remodeling, expansion, and architectural restoration work.
- 1993
Bourne Properties acquires the deeds
[1]Bourne Properties purchases the deeds after the property's redevelopment encounters financial difficulty.
- 1978
National Register listing
[1]The Reed Opera House is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1976
Historic complex undergoes major redevelopment
[1]New owners invest approximately $1 million to convert the buildings into a multi-level retail and dining complex.
- 1920
Miller's Department Store takes over the complex
[1]The buildings are purchased and occupied by Miller's Department Store.
- 1902
McCornack addition is built
[1]E. P. McCornack adds a two-story building to accommodate a furniture store.
- 1900
Opera-house theater closes
[1]The theater ends operations after the nearby Grand Theater opens with newer amenities.
- 1885
Joseph Meyers and Sons acquire Reed's interest
[1]Joseph Meyers and Sons purchase Cyrus Reed's interest while leasing the property from E. P. McCornack.
- 1870
Grand opening
[1]The Reed Opera House opens on September 27 with an inaugural ball for Governor La Fayette Grover.
- 1869
Construction begins
[1]Work starts on the Italianate brick building in downtown Salem under Cyrus Adams Reed's development project.
Products and positioning
A historic downtown Salem landmark positioned as a mixed-use destination combining preserved nineteenth-century architecture with retail, dining, entertainment, and private-event functions.
Brand decisions
2003
Combine commercial operation with historic restorationStrategyBackground
Roger Yost acquired the property with the intention of expanding the complex while recovering historic architectural features.
Action taken
Yost remodeled the Trinity Ballroom and kitchen, modernized elevators, and reconstructed the rooftop pediment, corona, and brackets.
Aftermath
The work strengthened the property's role as a preserved landmark with retail, dining, and event uses.
1976
Adapt the historic buildings into a modern retail complexStrategyBackground
After Miller's Department Store left, the property required a new use and substantial modernization.
Action taken
The new owners invested approximately $1 million to create boutiques, restaurants, and commercial areas on multiple levels.
Aftermath
The redevelopment established the mixed-use configuration associated with the Reed in the late twentieth century, although later competition from a nearby mall caused financial pressure.
Reported redevelopment investment. (1976 redevelopment)
1900
Convert the former theater and retail areas into a department storeStrategyBackground
The theater lost business after the nearby Grand Theater opened with more modern facilities.
Action taken
Joseph Meyers and Sons converted the theater and much of the retail space for department-store use.
Aftermath
The complex shifted from a performance-led venue toward sustained commercial retail use.
1870
Reconfigure the building after the state-office plan failedStrategyBackground
State officials chose not to proceed with the earlier agreement to use the building for state government functions.
Action taken
Cyrus Adams Reed altered the plan to include shops, an opera house, and hotel space.
Aftermath
The revised mixed-use model allowed the building to open as a major cultural and commercial center in Salem.
Sources1 sources
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