06/23/2026
Did you know?
Between 1896 to 1966, there was a family who lived in Gainesville, FL. They were known to be one of the founding families who lived in Gainesville, and this family also owned a variety of businesses. That family was the Baird Family.
Today, we want to discuss the South Main Station!
South Main Station, today, is known as one of the best places in Gainesville to go for live entertainment, great food, and a place to connect with Gainesville's community.
In their words, "South Main Station is a constantly evolving destination, dedicated to bringing you local, inviting, and inclusive spaces with the very best of Gainesville’s food, drink, entertainment and shopping."
Well said!
However, there's much more to South Main Station that meets the eye. Before South Main Station ever existed, there was a warehouse. This warehouse was constructed in 1910 and was used as a stock room for the Baird Hardware Store located in the heart of downtown Gainesville. The hardware store would start small, selling items like stoves, paints, and equipment for phosphate mining before expanding to the point of wholesale distribution.
With a business like that, you would need a warehouse of a substantial size! Hence, the Baird Warehouse. The warehouse at the time was strategically placed in a plot adjacent to Gainesville Depot and its railways. This allowed the business to ship products to their clients efficiently. In 1900, the Baird Hardware Store was even considered one of the largest wholesale stores in America!
The Hardware Store continued to thrive for over 90 years before finally shutting its doors in 1981. Due to its role in both industrial and commercial growth, the warehouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The warehouse still retains most of its original brick structure allowing us to catch a glimpse of the past.
So, why exactly is the Magnolia Plantation Bed and Breakfast Inn telling you this piece of history? Great Question!
You see, the Main House of the Magnolia Plantation used to go by a different name. It was known as the Baird Mansion. Located on SE 7th Street, you can visit the Baird Mansion today and learn more about its history by taking our cell phone audio tour! Enough about us, though. Let’s get back on track.
Today, South Main Station is a beautiful community hub where you can find a variety of shops and restaurants. It is also the home of the Heartwood Soundstage. The Heartwood Soundstage is known best for its wonderful outdoor concerts and festivals that you can visit anytime of the year! For example, from November 13th to November 15th, the Heartwood Soundstage will be hosting the Tom Petty Weekend, allowing you and your family to enjoy the music of Tom Petty.
For all you Tom Petty fans, here’s a fun fact. Right next door to the Magnolia Plantation Bed and Breakfast Inn, is a beautiful Victorian home. Back in the 1920s, the home was used as an apartment complex and it stayed that way until the early 1960s. Local legend states that Tom Petty stayed in one of these apartments along with the members of his former band, Mudcrutch.
So, if you’re in the area and you want to learn more about the Baird Family, why don’t you stop by and visit The Magnolia Plantation! Don’t forget to try one of the restaurants at South Main Station and catch a concert or two at the Heartwood Soundstage! We’re only a 14-minute walk away or a 4-minute drive away from South Main Station.
Magnolia Plantation's Website: https://www.magnoliabnb.com/ South Main Station Website: https://southmainstationgnv.com/
Grand Scheme Website: https://www.grandschemebrewing.com/
Afternoon Coffee Website: https://afternoonroasting.com/
