Hudson's: Detroit's Legendary Department Store (Images of America) (Images of America) 
asked by caramel on November 23, 2006 2:59 AM
For over a century, the J.L. Hudson's Department Store on Woodward Avenue was more than just a store—it was a Detroit icon and a world-class cultural treasure. At 25 stories, it was the world's tallest department store, and was at one time home to the most exceptional offerings in shopping, dining, services, and entertainment. The store prided itself on stocking everything from grand pianos to spools of thread. In addition to departments offering fashionable clothing and home furnishings, the original Hudson's store featured an auditorium, a circulating library, dining rooms, barber shops, a photo studio, holiday exhibits, a magnificent place called Toytown, and the world's largest American flag.
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In today's increasingly competitive retail market, it's nice to see books documenting regional department stores. I have my fond memories of J.L. Hudson (known to me as just "Hudson's").
Before the merger with "Dayton's" and then then later re-named as "Marshall Field's" in the 1990's, I have fond memories of Hudson's - particularly the downtown Detroit location. When I was a child, my sister and I would be overwhelmed with the Christmas decorations. The picture with Santa; the imfamous "Santa Bear" - (later adopted by Field's). My mother would enjoy shopping in the "Oval Room" for her shoes, along with "Woodward" suits for my dad. It was the place for that one stop shopping: clothing, furniture, even appliances.
Nevertheless, what gave Detroit, particularly Michigan, an identity - other than the big three auto companies, K-Mart, Meijer, and Motown music, was Hudson's.
The effects of the current onslaught of department store mergers is evident. In several metropolitan areas, communities are losing their store (i.e. Kaufmann's; Robinson-May; Foley's, etc) "identity" as Federated Department Stores continue with re-branding old time stores into "Macy's" into a national brand.
Before the merger with "Dayton's" and then then later re-named as "Marshall Field's" in the 1990's, I have fond memories of Hudson's - particularly the downtown Detroit location. When I was a child, my sister and I would be overwhelmed with the Christmas decorations. The picture with Santa; the imfamous "Santa Bear" - (later adopted by Field's). My mother would enjoy shopping in the "Oval Room" for her shoes, along with "Woodward" suits for my dad. It was the place for that one stop shopping: clothing, furniture, even appliances.
Nevertheless, what gave Detroit, particularly Michigan, an identity - other than the big three auto companies, K-Mart, Meijer, and Motown music, was Hudson's.
The effects of the current onslaught of department store mergers is evident. In several metropolitan areas, communities are losing their store (i.e. Kaufmann's; Robinson-May; Foley's, etc) "identity" as Federated Department Stores continue with re-branding old time stores into "Macy's" into a national brand.
reviewed by 78704 on November 29, 2006 11:54 AM
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I was too young to remember Hudson's dept. store in it's heyday of the 40's and 50's. But I do still have fond memories of staring at the wonderful chrismas displays in their windows when I was a child attending the annual Hudson's Thanksgiving day parade.
This wonderful little book by Michael Hauser details hudson's history from it's initial construction to it's final, sad, demolition. At it's peak, the massive Hudsons store spanned an entire city block and employed more than 10,000 employees.
Through his text and archival photos, you'll see as Hudsons was built from a single building to a sprawling complex of many buildings over the years. The great photography includes many shots of those great christmas displays in the windows as well as the yearly interior holiday decorating themes, and shots of the classic parade.
This is the tale of a store that was once a one-stop shopping location for everything: Clothes, Furniture, appliances, Toys, tools...truly the days of a multiple floor dept. store. And Hudson's serviced everything, from appliances to fur coats.
Among the most interesting parts and photos deal with the amazing instrastructure of the store...the massive power and boiler rooms to keep the place heated and lighted...the floor dedicated to the storage of over 500 elevator motors. The multitude of pneumatic tubes that went to every corner of the complex, the in house switchboard and operator dept. The store even had its own on-site hospital with 4 full-time doctors and 6 nurses.
Hudson's was truly a city unto itself in its prime. A place for members of high society to shop for expensive fur coats and jewelry and for the common man to shop for t-shirts, get a haircut, or a shoeshine.
A step back in time to an era we will never see again. Highly recommended!
This wonderful little book by Michael Hauser details hudson's history from it's initial construction to it's final, sad, demolition. At it's peak, the massive Hudsons store spanned an entire city block and employed more than 10,000 employees.
Through his text and archival photos, you'll see as Hudsons was built from a single building to a sprawling complex of many buildings over the years. The great photography includes many shots of those great christmas displays in the windows as well as the yearly interior holiday decorating themes, and shots of the classic parade.
This is the tale of a store that was once a one-stop shopping location for everything: Clothes, Furniture, appliances, Toys, tools...truly the days of a multiple floor dept. store. And Hudson's serviced everything, from appliances to fur coats.
Among the most interesting parts and photos deal with the amazing instrastructure of the store...the massive power and boiler rooms to keep the place heated and lighted...the floor dedicated to the storage of over 500 elevator motors. The multitude of pneumatic tubes that went to every corner of the complex, the in house switchboard and operator dept. The store even had its own on-site hospital with 4 full-time doctors and 6 nurses.
Hudson's was truly a city unto itself in its prime. A place for members of high society to shop for expensive fur coats and jewelry and for the common man to shop for t-shirts, get a haircut, or a shoeshine.
A step back in time to an era we will never see again. Highly recommended!
reviewed by scoobie on November 29, 2006 11:56 AM