HJ Russell & Co. Building Historical Site Unveiling: No Small Thing in the Grander Scheme
What do the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Dome, Turner Field, Phillips Arena, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. and the downtown Atlanta skyline have in common?
They all, in one way or another, bare the DNA of Atlanta entrepreneur extraordinaire Herman J. Russell. Many of these structures along with scores of other highly crafted developments around the country originated in a less elaborate but equally important building at 504 Fair Street, the original headquarters of H.J. Russell & Company.
On On April 29, 2026, the legacy of H.J. Russell — the man and the company — were marked for posterity when a throng of supporters gathered for the unveiling of the Georgia Historical Society site marker designating the original home of the H.J. Russell & Company an historical treasure.
The renovated structure, now the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, is a premier entrepreneurial hub for small and minority businesses in one of Atlanta’s most storied neighborhoods. Its thriving network of business development and support systems dedicated to entrepreneurial success in the state-of the-art facility is a nationally renowned model for economic development.
RICE opened in 2019 and the vision was clear that it would serve as more than a brick-and-mortar tribute to its founder, it would build capacity for Black entrepreneurs to cultivate their dreams of building successful businesses and bring ideas for future jobs and economic growth to fruition.
“This building was the center of strategy, decision making, problem solving and bold ambition,” said H. Jerome Russell, President of H. J. Russell & Company. He added that his father was only 22 when he bought the land, a pretty heady achievement on its own. “This address has always been a place of purpose. Decisions were made here that mattered, risks were taken here and opportunites were created here … I know without question how proud our parents would be to see the evolution of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs thriving here.”
RICE is positioned as a catalyst for business growth and empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to innovate, scale, create jobs, and build legacies. To date the center has served 500 next generation business leaders, created 2,500 jobs through intentional growth, and generated more than $547 million in local revenue.
“This marker tells the story of a remarkable man and the company he built,” said Georgia Historical Society president, W. Todd Groce, PhD. “It pays tribute to Herman Russell, a man that we all loved and who was a force for change and for good. Through his leadership, philanthropy, entreprenuerialism and vision, [he] changed the course of Atlanta and created the economy and the economic giant that it is today.”
For nearly 75 years, H. J. Russell & Company has delivered complex projects that strengthen communities, support growth, and stand the test of time.
Equally impressive as the company’s investment in the astounding constructs shaping the Atlanta skyline, is the investment in the people behind the buildings. RICE and H. J. Russell & Company’s unwavering commitment to advance economic equity, create opportunities for small business growth and drive positive change in the city of Atlanta and beyond has impacted local economies and empowered entrepreneurs to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.
The H.J. Russell & Company and RICE continue their commitment to building communities, empowering Black entrepreneurs and improving the quality of life for residents with dazzling developments and boundless commitment to excellence. By doing so, they bolster the capacity to grow, create jobs and instill hope in the communities they serve and support.
Join our email list to stay connected.
