The ZCMI Co-op Building was the official outlet of the ZCMI, Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, known as "America's First Department Store." This building housed the Franklin Co-op from circa 1877 to 1900. It was part of the ZCMI co-operative system, which began in 1868 and served more than 150 communities in the Intermountain area with retail commodities and services.