Sears & Roebuck Founder’s 100-Year-Old Prairie-Inspired Florida Home Draws Huge Interest After Listing for Just $600K

A picturesque Craftsman-style Florida abode that was built by Sears & Roebuck founder Alvah Roebuck has snagged itself a buyer only days after hitting the market for just $600,000.

Located in the small coastal town of Gulfport, a community of brightly painted cottages that attracts all manner of creatives and free spirits, the quaint dwelling was constructed by the retail giant in 1925.

Much of its original 100-year-old design details remain to this day, merging perfectly with the many modern upgrades that have been installed in the century since Roebuck took up residence.

With three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms spread across 1,536 square feet of living space, the home’s footprint is compact yet comfortable, with bright rooms that flow seamlessly from one to the next and modernized kitchen and bathroom spaces.

The fact that it was built by Roebuck—the co-founder of the retail giant that defined the early 20th-century American department store industry—adds an undeniable bit of historic flair.

Roebuck, who was born in Lafayette, IN, moved to Florida after leaving the company in 1895—when he was bought out by Sears for just $20,000.

However, his time in the Sunshine State was cut short by the 1929 Wall Street crash, in which he lost a very hefty chunk of his fortune, ultimately forcing him to return to the company that had made him so famous.

Today, his name is closely intertwined with the evolution of housing in the U.S., thanks to the 1908 launch of the iconic Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog homes, a collection of ready-to-assemble mail-order properties that took the country by storm after they were first released.

While Roebuck had left the company by the time these properties were launched, his name was still firmly stamped on the products.

Similarly, his legacy in Florida remains—with his former home serving as what the listing agent described as a truly remarkable example of craftsmanship and design.

“It’s just one of the most charming houses you’ll come across in the famed Gulfport neighborhood,” says listing agent Steven Sallo of LPT Realty LLC. “The craftsmanship, the details, the way the home feels high and dry in a nonflood zone—it all matters.”

Roebuck, who was also the inventor of the Woodstock typewriter, chose Gulfport as a destination for his retirement and built his dream home in the Craftsman style with Colonial Revival influences.

Those sentiments are reflected in the original hardwood floors, crown molding, and large windows that fill the interiors with natural light and connect the home to its lush surroundings.

"The hardwood floors are immaculately restored, which gives the home a warm and fuzzy feel that's hard to duplicate," the listing notes.

Amid a brick-street neighborhood that still echoes the 1920s era, the home exudes a sense of history without sacrificing livability.

"When you walk in and feel that warmth underfoot of restored hardwood, you know someone took great care. I’m sure Mr. Roebuck would be proud of how beautifully this home has been restored," Sallo says.

Other key features inside the residence, which is being offered fully furnished, include an original wood-burning fireplace that remains fully functional, a brand-new roof, and a newly added mudroom.

Set amid Gulfport’s historic district and within walking distance of the bay, the home manages to feel both connected to the coast and quietly removed from it all.

“The house itself is just a few blocks away from the vibrant Gulfport Art District, where you can indulge in over 20 restaurants, enjoy live music and dancing, and savor your morning coffee at one of the many charming cafés,” says Sallo.

Every Tuesday, Gulfport’s outdoor fresh market comes alive along Beach Drive, offering local produce and artisan goods.

Almost exactly 100 years after Alvah Roebuck built it, his Gulfport retreat remains every bit as relevant and intriguing as the man behind it.