Built in 1889 by early Albia merchant Elmer Skean, this building first served as a grocery store on the east side and a boot and shoe store on the west side. By 1896, Skean had his own business in the east half and owned part of the business, Skeans-Zook Furniture and Undertaking, in the west half. Sometime in the 1890s, he put his name on the building's façade. It is one of the finest and most decorative buildings in the district, with a façade displaying a rich variety of decorative elements. The stained glass panels above the storefront are very unique and set the building apart. The elaborate cast hoodmolds have an inner panel with an incised Eastlake design, while the outer rims have a keystone with embossed grapes surmounted by a sunflower. The building also has a detailed pedimented metal cornice. Its exterior was completely restored to original condition in 1996 as one of the first projects of the Bates Foundation, including new upper-story windows fabricated to match the originals, rebuilt original storefronts, new sets of doors, and replacement of other missing elements. It is one of four key structures in the historic district.