Factors Walk & Factors Row
Factors Walk & Factors Row
Factors Walk & Factors Row
Factors Walk & Factors Row
Savannah, GA 31401
Factors Row and Factors Walk are located on a bluff just above the River Walk on Savannah River. Factors Row is a unique collection of 19th century red brick buildings, formerly a center of commerce for Savannah’s cotton factors, or brokers. Factors Row was also home to the original Cotton Exchange, where cotton factors, or brokers, set prices worldwide.
Factors Walk is a series of iron and concrete walkways that connected the buildings to the bluff. Ramps leading from Bay Street down the bluff to River Street are paved with cobblestones, brought as ballast and abandoned on the riverbanks by departing ships. Factor's Walk acquired its name in the 19th century when it was the meeting place for factors—sales agents and commission brokers such as cotton merchants—and was the center of commercial activities.
The 19th century brick buildings that are known as Factors Row are two or three stores above the bluff and descend for three or more stories to the river front. The upper level, on Bay Street, contained the offices of the cotton brokers and the building on the lower River Street side were used as warehouses.
Today the buildings on Bay Street have been renovated into antique shops, offices and historic inns. The old cotton warehouses on the River Street level have been converted into pubs, restaurants and specialty shops
