A landmark building located alongside the Endom Bridge was once the headquarters of a prominent retail and wholesale liquor operation during Prohibition. 

The J.S. Bloch building, located at the corner of Grand and Desiard Streets adjacent to the Ouachita River levee in the old commercial section of Monroe, once served as the offices of what is believed to be the first-ever mail order liquor business in Monroe. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 30, 1980. 

During the 19th century going into the 20th century, prohibition forces resulted in many towns and counties voting themselves "dry" under local law options. By 1908, most states in the Deep South voted to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution, however, mail order sales of liquor were still legal. 

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Prohibition eventually became a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. 

Born in Memphis, Tennessee in July 4, 1859, Jacob S. Bloch migrated to Mississippi and eventually settled in Monroe. Bloch met and married Lena Kuhn, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kuhn. The two had one child who died in infancy. 

As early 1892, Bloch recognized the opportunity in selling liquor by mail. 

Built prior to 1890, the building is constructed of common bond brick and featured shallow arch fenestration, brick pilasters, a corner entrance, and parapet formed of molded brick panels. Bloch's store and adjacent saloon included cast iron Corinthian support columns and an elaborate cast iron shop front featuring a lace work of iron scrolls. 

The second story façade showed pressure tin ornamentation with triangular pediments over the windows and triglyphs at either end of the parapet. The interior featured cast iron columns running the length of the first floor and an elaborate back staircase. 

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In addition to his whole liquor business, Bloch was active in the public and private sector. Bloch served two terms on the Monroe City Commission under mayors Alexander Jackson Herring and Dr. Andrew J. Forsythe. Bloch was also a director of the Ouachita National Bank, a financial institution founded in 1907. The bank was notable for having issued more than $1.5 billion in national currency over its lifespan. 

Bloch died on Aug. 4, 1931 and is buried in Monroe's Jewish Cemetery. 

After Bloch closed his mail order liquor business, the building was later used as a general store, a cafeteria, a bookstore and a cotton exchange. The building currently houses Cotton Restaurant on the first floor and Planter's Gastropub on the second floor. 

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