History of the Mitchell Building

In 1946-47, the U.S. was thriving with post-war optimism, the industrial age was gaining momentum, steel was the backbone industry of the nation and mass produced automobiles were spreading throughout the land. Fuquay-Varina businessman Joseph 'Mack' Mitchell was busy designing and building the first Chevrolet dealership in Southern Wake County. It was to be named Mitchell Chevrolet and would occupy the lot at 101 South Main Street.

Standing prominently at the corner of South Main and Academy Streets, its red brick exterior rises 20 feet skyward to meet a black, barrel style, domed roof. The basement of Mitchell Chevrolet was dug out with a mule scoop.

Large showroom windows along both streets displayed the latest Chevrolet model to come off of the assembly line. New cars were a big deal and each year the new models were kept hidden at the Mitchell homeplace on Holland Road until they were moved into the showroom and hidden behind papered windows. When the time was right for their announcement, they were unveiled with great fanfare. Onlookers would line the showroom windows, several people deep, as they waited to see the new models.

Mack Mitchell ran the business for 10 years and then turned over management to sons Buford and Wallace. Mack also owned two Esso stations on Main Street. Fidelity Bank now stands on the site of one of the stations.