The building that once stood at 500 Washington Street was a two-story, four-bay brick commercial structure with notable architectural details. The flat-roofed metal canopy, which sheltered the storefront throughout much of the twentieth century, was removed after the year 2000. The entire building, including its large sash windows, was in the later years painted bright red with Asian-themed exterior decorations. The west facing side featured faux arched double-leaf doors, a three-part entrance, and Chinese motif sculpture, which extends across the rear elevation of a one-story addition built by 1924. Originally addressed as 400 East Washington Street, the building's first-floor space was vacant in 1919, while the second floor hosted John J. Parks, William Keeble, hairdresser Louella Chavis, and the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. By 1921, the Washington Street Grocery operated on the first floor, with various tenants occupying the second floor, including insurance agents, pressing clubs, and religious leaders. Through the 1920s and 1930s, the building saw various grocery stores on the first floor, including Joseph Levine's grocery, Overcash Grocery, and Hylton's Cash Store. Professional offices, including those of attorney T. F. Sanders, dentist J. C. Morgan, and insurance companies occupied the second floor. From the 1940s to 1960s, the building's tenants included medical practices, notably those of Dr. Clifford T. Whitten and Dr. J.C. Morgan, and businesses such as the Bargain Center and Specialty Food Products Company. Dr. James Christopher Morgan, or J.C. Morgan for short, was a prominent tenant. He was a Jamaican native who graduated from Howard University and established a dental practice in High Point in 1921, serving both African American and white clients. He married Ophelia Robinson and built a home in the Griffin Park subdivision in 1941. Dr. Morgan was a civic leader involved in numerous community organizations, including the City Municipal Park, the Federal Housing Authority Board, and the High Point Professional Men's Club. He also developed several commercial properties in the area.