The Croll Building, in Alameda, California

Alameda, California

Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...

, was the site of Croll's Gardens and Hotel, famous as training quarters for the some of the greatest fighters in boxing

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

 history from 1883 to 1914. James J. Corbett

James J. Corbett

James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was an Irish-American heavyweight boxing champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco...

, Bob Fitzsimmons

Bob Fitzsimmons

Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons , was a British boxer who made boxing history as the sport's first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett, the man who beat John L. Sullivan, and is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the Lightest heavyweight...

, Jim Jefferies, Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson (boxer)

John Arthur Johnson , nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” was an American boxer. At the height of the Jim Crow era, Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion...

, and many other champions all stayed and trained here.

Today this building is home to Croll's Pizza, the 1400 Bar & Grill restaurant, and the Gallagher and Lindsey Property Management division branch. The stained glass, elaborate etched windows, and carved wooden bar remain as they were in Neptune Beach days.

The second floor of the building is currently a residential hotel with just over a dozen units.

The third floor of the building is office space occupied by small businesses, attorneys, and the like.

The building is registered as California Historical Landmark

California Historical Landmark

California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...

 #954 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

(NPS-82000960). It is located at the corner of Webster Street and Central Avenue. A very large "Croll's" neon sign marks the location.