This angular one-story building at the intersection of Generala Milojka Lešjanina Street and Kneginje Ljubice Street, designed by one or more unknown architects, was built around 1905 for the requirements of the Niš bank, first as one object on Kneginje Ljubice Street. Later, not before WWI, one more object was built on Generala Milojka Lešjanina Street, with a high dome on the corner and with a change in the façade.

It was bought at public auction in June 1929 and became the Hall of the Merchant Youth of Niš, better known as the Hall of Merchants, with a school, library, reading-room, club and the cultural and art group called “Jedinstvo” (or Unity). After the school was transferred to the current building of the Merchant Academy, the school section of the building was taken over by the Administration of State Railways, and in 1940, the Headquarters of the 5^th Army moved into the building.

It is supposed that in this period, by the end of the 1930’s, a high cupola was added to the south side of the building.

With its simple monumentality and moderate façade plastics, this spacious building was one of the most representative public buildings in the city, and is now a valuable example of Academism in the architecture of Niš.

Today it is used as an office building. The building reconstruction included, until now, the replacement of the roof cover, windows and tin sheet cover on the cupola. However, the interventions have not disrupted the architecture of the old building so far.