[7] The site of the building was the original location for the Bank of Italy, founded in 1904 by A. P.

[8][9][10][11] It was unusual for women to be philanthropists during this era, and the Columbo building (and Drexler's other commissioned buildings) served as a symbolic path towards in-powering women into independent living.

[2] These two buildings together are framing the gateway to Columbus Avenue and the North Beach neighborhood.

[5] The early occupants of the building included the Italian-American Realty; E. Jacopelli and Sons, auto dealers; Caeser Podoni & Company, insurance; and Joe Valvo, barber.

[12] City College of San Francisco had planned to create the Chinatown campus inside the Colombo Building, as the school had bought the property and neighboring property in the 1990s; but that plan was thwarted by Aaron Peskin and the Telegraph Hill Dwellers association.