Designed and built by architect Jan Nagel, who has designed several properties on the island, the Mario S. Arends building’s style is characterized by rounded corners, recessed shop fronts and the use of glass blocks.

Commissioned by businessman Mario S. Arends and inaugurated in July 1950, it has housed several businesses. First of all Mario Arends’ Department Store, where almost everything imaginable was sold, ranging from liquor and cigarettes to film cameras, radios and washing machines. When black & white television was introduced, people would gather all evening in front of the store window to watch Venezuelan television.

The building also housed Elmar, the island’s power supplier, the Aruba Commercial Bank and the Watapana Club, a popular skittle club. Later, one of the pioneer radio stations of the island, Voz di Aruba, transmitted from their studio on the second floor. The building even featured an elevator, something rare for those days.

Locally the MSA building was better known as the Lucky Strike building because of the huge sign on its store front with a clock and the text:
CORRECT TIME – TIME FOR A LUCKY!

More recently, the building was used as police headquarters.

The rounded front corner of this building remains its prime feature.