John C. Bentz Store Building
Pasadena, California
1901

The John C. Bentz Store was designed as a retail business block for John Bentz, a dealer in high end Chinese and Japanese art. The two-story brick sheathed-in-cement building with structural support provided by interior iron columns was built near the Greenes’ office. Its exterior design was simple, without much ornament to complement the traditional simplicity of the oriental art objects sold in the store. An addition to finish off the second story was commissioned by Mr. Bentz from Henry Greene in 1924 but it was never executed. The importance of the Bentz store to the Greenes’ practice was its proximity and use as inspiration for oriental design ideas. Due to frequent visits to the shop, a close relationship developed between the Bentz family and Henry and Charles Greene. This resulted in both John Bentz and his brother, Nathan later becoming clients for the Greenes’ home designs.