Furuya Company (#20)

Look carefully at the building’s many signs to see the many aspects of Masahiro Furuya’s business.

Wing Luke Museum Collection.

Quick Facts

Location:

240 2nd Ave S

Significance:

Also known as: M. Furuya Company

Mile: 0.85

Masajiro Furuya founded the Furuya Company in 1892. Although it started as a tailor shop, Furuya grew the company to amass retail, import-export, labor contracting and banking businesses. Historian Gary Iwamoto describes him as “perhaps the most prominent local [Seattle] businessman of the early 20th century” and “certainly the top businessman among Japanese on the Pacific Coast” during that period.

Furuya built his company headquarters here on 2nd Avenue, housing his main office and retail outlet as well as his Japanese Commercial Bank central office. Find the nearby wayside exhibit as part of the “Trail to Treasure” walking trail to learn more.