Diller-Chamberlain Store - The County's Oldest Shopfront

Photo: Barry Swackhamer, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Redwood City History Walk, a free self-guided tour.

This small brick building is easy to walk past, but it is a true survivor. John Voger Diller built it as a general store in 1859, and it is usually called the oldest commercial building in San Mateo County, as well as its first brick one. Some locals argue the Woodside Store is older, so treat the title as a friendly debate.

P. P. Chamberlain, who later became county treasurer, ran the store and a Wells Fargo express agency here, and Wells Fargo kept an office in the building from 1875 to 1911. In the town's early days, this was where you might pick up supplies, mail or money sent from San Francisco.

In 1938 the building was remodeled and became the Quong Lee Laundry. It is part of a small group of downtown buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Look for the plaque on the front, and notice how low and simple it is compared with its neighbors.

Getting here: Walk north on Main Street about half a block to 726 Main.

Did you know?: The store was standing for more than 50 years before the domed courthouse you started at was built.

Photo op: From across Main Street, frame the little brick front between its taller neighbors to show its size.

More on Wikipedia: Redwood City Historic Commercial Buildings · Wells Fargo

Diller-Chamberlain Store - The County's Oldest Shopfront

Stops on this tour