The building, a project by the Italian brothers Rinaldo, Antonio and Guido Masperi, was built under the auspices of the Lima-based merchant Juan Romano on land destined for new buildings that would surround and embellish the space destined for a new square under construction, which would be later known as the San Martín Plaza.

[1][3] In the 1940s the Art Nouveau ornamentation was removed, lightening its decoration, and turning it into a neocolonial building.

[3] Later the poultry shop moved to the Barranco district, and the Parrilladas San Martín restaurant was installed on the premises, a business that did not last long due to the Peruvian crisis of that time.

[3] On the first level of the five-story building was the Roky's chicken shop, which had been operating since the beginning of the year 2000,[2] where it is presumed that the fire started.

[4][5] The building has remained empty since, still in a dilapidated state and without final demolition or reconstruction due to bureaucratic obstacles and financing problems.