Dille Building - Oakland

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The Dille Building is at 308-312 - 14th St. It was built in 1921 for Helen M. Dille by F.A. Muller. Reed and Corlett were the architects. ¹

According to the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form:

Dille Building, 308-312 14th Street, 1921, architects Reed and Corlett, builder F.A. Muller, original owner Mrs. Helen M. Dille. This is a two-story retail building on a mid-block lot. The facade is orange-tan pressed brick with terra cotta trim in Renaissance Revival style. The three bays are outlined with a continuous band of low-relief terra cotta, and they contain three stores. Storefronts and upper windows are deeply recessed. In the frieze terra cotta plaques are positioned above the piers. There is an elaborate terra cotta cornice. The most conspicuous alteration is modern curved awnings. ¹

1950 Sanborn excerpt

Helen May Dille (January 4, 1878 – July 10, 1948) was the daughter of Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Dille and Mary Francisco (Dille). The family was originally from Ohio and J.T. was a carpenter, later getting into real estate. The family lived various places in Oakland before settling at 2623 Channing in Berkeley, where Helen lived the rest of her life.

Beginning in 1923, the building was home to a Piggly Wiggly store. ²

From 1930 to at least 1970, the building was home to the True Food Cafeteria, owned by Zora Svendsgaard. ³ Her son took over her former restaurant in Berkeley, the True Blue Cafeteria. In 1931, her sons opened another True Blue Cafeteria at 1707 Telegraph.

1930 ³1930 ³