DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm taking it from there. Now, Austin's got no shortage of buildings that have seen a thing or two, but the one they call the Goodman Building — she's got a story worth slowing down for. Probably constructed in the early 1890s, which is the kind of origin that suits a building with a little mystery to her.
No one's pinning down the exact year, and somehow that feels right. What we do know is that a grocer named Joseph Goodman had it built, and for decades the main floor was his store — a working commercial space that kept its doors open all the way until 1924. That's not a flash in the pan.
That's a man who showed up, stocked the shelves, and stayed. Now, while Goodman was running his operation down below, something altogether different was happening upstairs. From 1892 until about 1896, the upper floor was home to Jacob Bickler's German and English Academy — an elite preparatory school, if you please.
Two languages, one building, right above the groceries. You want to talk about a building earning its keep on every floor, well, there you go. And all of this sitting in a significant location near the State Capitol.
Close enough that you could probably hear the business of Texas being conducted while you were picking out your flour or conjugating your verbs. The Goodman Building is still standing today as a reminder of Austin's early commercial history — decorative brickwork, iron railing, and enough layered purpose to make most buildings feel a little underdressed. Some things hold their ground.
This one did.
What the marker says
Probably constructed in the early 1890s, this commercial building is noted for its decorative brickwork and iron railing. Built for grocer Joseph Goodman, the main floor served as his store until 1924. The upper floor was used from 1892 until about 1896 for Jacob Bickler’s German and English Academy, an elite preparatory school. From its significant location near the State Capitol, the Goodman Building stands as a reminder of Austin’s early commercial history. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1969