The J.D. Whaley building opened at 816 Franklin St in 1921 at the southwest corner of Cass and Franklin Streets. The 2-story brick building joined a groundswell of construction in the early 1920s as businesses sprouted up needing places to sell their wares and spaces for professional offices. In this photo from 1927, as the nation stared down the throat of the Great Depression, Zed Williams Auctioneer took the first floor, and dentist Dr. M.L. Thomas had offices on the second floor. In November of 1931, Goff Jewelry Co. opened on the ground floor. Goff moved to 812 Franklin and ran for over 30 years before being bought by Besse Jewelers. An optometrist took over the corner spot.

The 34-story, 395-unit Element apartment building opened here in 2009. It sold in 2013 for $ 98 million. The building was sold again in 2017 to Northland Investment Corp. for an undisclosed amount, promising to improve the property. Haiku (center ground floor), a modern Asian-influenced izakaya spot, opened in the spring of 2021 and is located on the corner where J. D. Whaley once ran his business.

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