Built in 1896, the historic five-story St Louis National Cash Register building spans 12,000 sq ft and is up for sale; once listed for $1.4M, it now asks $800,000

‘The Cosmopolitan’ in St Louis, Missouri, is no ordinary home. Built in 1896, this historic St Louis building once housed the National Cash Register company. Originally built as a place for commerce, the kind of sturdy brick-and-mortar operation that once anchored downtown, the property is now up for sale, according to Realtor.com.The five-story structure is now listed for $800,000, nearly half of its initial asking price of $1.4 million, in less than four years. That's $75 per square foot for a 12,000-square-foot Gothic Revival building in downtown. The buyer is not merely investing in an ordinary house, but an enormous historic building that looks and feels like an art museum, and they get to live and work in it.Historic five-story buildingThe St Louis historic building has had many owners before finally being listed again. After National Cash Register’s tenure, the building became a showroom for Clark Peeper furniture. Then came the interior designers Mark and Mary Pitliangas, who saw something in the bones that others might have overlooked. Not a fixer-upper, but a canvas. Known for their artistic endeavours, they had also restored a retro landmark in the form of a 25.5-foot-tall Vess Soda Bottle.What they built inside this building is almost impossible to describe without walking through it. The first floor is a Gothic lounge that feels pulled from another century. The travertine floors, custom stone and tilework, and illuminated stained glass run throughout the building. There are ceiling murals. There's a fireplace that was rescued from somewhere else and given new purpose here. The couple selected high-end antiques for features ranging from lighting to wall treatments, including a bar they retrofitted from an antique Chicago piece. And the best part? A brass elevator connects the five-story building.Five floors with numerous possibilitiesThe buyer is not getting an ordinary building. In fact, this historic building can transform into almost anything. Each level is curated differently. Every floor is fully zoned for both commercial and residential activities, which means buyers aren't locked into a single vision. The mezzanine functions as office and meeting space. The third floor holds a residential loft. The fourth could be a studio, storage, or a gallery. The penthouse is, of course, unlike anything. It features travertine floors, illuminated stained glass, ceiling buttresses, and modern amenities including Viking appliances and a home theatre.This historic building is not a cash register factory or a furniture store anymore. It is ready to become anything you want. The 12,000 sq ft building can be a private residence, an office building, or both.Treasure trove for antiquesThe building is a treasure trove for antiques, including custom tile, glasswork, and hand-painted artwork. Even the ceilings are embellished. Much of the furniture and antiques were either made or purchased specifically for The Cosmopolitan and will stay with the property. Some pieces are sentimental to the Pitliangases. Others are inventory from their design business, Antique Architectural Decor, which sources and installs custom materials for clients across the country. This is a bonus for buyers. You're not just purchasing walls and floors, but inheriting a curated collection of unique art pieces.The building has been on the market since 2022. Over the years, the price has fluctuated depending on market trends. Initially, The Cosmopolitan was listed for $1.4 million, but they didn’t really find any buyers. So they lowered the price. Now the asking price is $800,000, which means the price per square foot is roughly $100 less than the current Missouri average.“The ideal buyer is someone with flair and a desire to create unique experiences—whether that’s short-term rentals, creative offices, artist spaces, or the most singular home in the city,” previous listing agent Justin Ströhm told the outlet when the property first hit the market.No one is pretending that The Cosmopolitan is a starter property or an investment flip. But it's a statement. It’s an extraordinary building, so, of course, the buyers should match the vibe. They should understand that maintaining Gothic Revival architecture, custom tilework, and a brass elevator requires the kind of obsessive attention the Pitliangases had for the past two decades. The right person will see the 130-year-old building for what it is.Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision? Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes.