Hudson's 30 Years Ago Today

**Dan Wesson** · January-18-14, 05:18 AM

Wasn't Crowleys the store with the mezzanine? It was where I first had what was called a Boston Cooler, basically a Vernor's with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. My Mom and Aunt both worked there and we would usually end up sitting at the counter.

I would hop on the Van Dyke bus at the corner of Phelps get a transfer ticket and then take the Gratiot bus downtown. Ding Ding, catch the drivers eye and get off.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-18-14, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Dan Wesson

Wasn't Crowleys the store with the mezzanine? It was where I first had what was called a Boston Cooler, basically a Vernor's with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. My Mom and Aunt both worked there and we would usually end up sitting at the counter.

It could have been. I was real young then.

**chicagoforlife** · January-18-14, 10:26 AM

I'm not sure of the history of the Hudson's store in Detroit but the Marshall Field's store on State Street in Chicago was built in 1892. The Architect was Daniel Burnham he also designed the Dime Building, Ford Building and Majestic Building's in Detroit. The Majestic Building was located where 1001 Woodward is currently located.

I'm not sure how much bigger Hudson's was but I know the current Marshall Field's in Chicago is the second largest store in the world.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-18-14, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by chicagoforlife

I'm not sure how much bigger Hudson's was but I know the current Marshall Field's in Chicago is the second largest store in the world.

Hudson's never had the grandeur of the MF. It did not have enormous multi-story light wells. It was more like a huge version of Carson's. About 20 years ago MF went through a big transformation and additional space was removed when a large central escalator lobby was installed. This took out tens of thousands of square feet of space, but at least allowed the rest of the store to look more full. Prior to then, it still had several closed floors.

**Sharnelle** · January-18-14, 11:12 AM

When I was about 4 yrs old I believed that the "J. L." referred to a jail. In my mind J L Hudson's was a combo amazing store and jail on the same downtown property. My parents thought this misconception was hilarious and didn't set me straight. Other than that, I remember a play area on an upper floor with miniature rooms of a pretend house. Later I remember being at Northland on opening day which happened to be my birthday.

**A2Mike** · January-18-14, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Hudson's never had the grandeur of the MF. It did not have enormous multi-story light wells. It was more like a huge version of Carson's. About 20 years ago MF went through a big transformation and additional space was removed when a large central escalator lobby was installed. This took out tens of thousands of square feet of space, but at least allowed the rest of the store to look more full. Prior to then, it still had several closed floors.

The Marshall Field building is a little smaller than Hudson's but Burnham's unified design and stone construction make it a more stately presence than the Hudson's building, which grew incrementally and was faced with a frankly unattractive reddish-brown brick. I am speaking strictly of the architectural character of the respective stores. As retail and civic institutions both stores had very high quality merchandise and highly accommodating customer policies, and both deserved the high regard they enjoyed. I knew Hudson's well growing up in Detroit in the 50's and 60's, and when I moved to Chicago in the 70's I was pleased to find that Field's atmosphere still resembled that of Hudson's some years earlier, while Hudson's sadly showed increasing signs of decline. Nonetheless, I'm pleased to have known both fine stores in their heydays. One cherished memory of Hudson's will always be that big red sign in the night sky, even from way out Gratiot or Grand River a reassuring sight. Field's, too, left me with very good memories. Their great furniture department was where I fitted out my first adult home, and I would still walk from Fullerton to the Loop for a pecan caramel banana split at Field's Crystal Palace!

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · January-18-14, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by chicagoforlife

I'm not sure how much bigger Hudson's was but I know the current Marshall Field's in Chicago is the second largest store in the world.

I think there has been some dispute about which stores were the biggest. If I recall what I've read in the past, Hudson's had more sq ft total than Macy's, but Macy's had more sq ft dedicated to sales floor [[Hudson's having more dedicated to office space). I am not sure how Marshall Field's measured in total or sales floor. I will say that visiting that store [[now Macy's) I don't get a sense of the grandeur that Hudson's had, but I realize that it has been done over [[and heck, if Hudson's were still with us today, the downtown flagship would be a bland Macy's in a red brick shell, too). I think Macy's has done itself long-term harm by taking the magic out of department stores. Now, you might as well shop online.

Btw Sharnelle, your story is hilarious. JaiL Hudson's. Sounds like the name of a dive bar.

**chicagoforlife** · January-18-14, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I think there has been some dispute about which stores were the biggest. If I recall what I've read in the past, Hudson's had more sq ft total than Macy's, but Macy's had more sq ft dedicated to sales floor [[Hudson's having more dedicated to office space). I am not sure how Marshall Field's measured in total or sales floor. I will say that visiting that store [[now Macy's) I don't get a sense of the grandeur that Hudson's had, but I realize that it has been done over [[and heck, if Hudson's were still with us today, the downtown flagship would be a bland Macy's in a red brick shell, too). I think Macy's has done itself long-term harm by taking the magic out of department stores. Now, you might as well shop online.

Btw Sharnelle, your story is hilarious. JaiL Hudson's. Sounds like the name of a dive bar.

Truthfully I haven't been in that store since they changed the name.

**preserve** · January-18-14, 02:25 PM

Hudson's had everything you could possibly want. Dry cleaners, photography, had many an old photo restored there. I remember the hot dogs, seems like I was always there on Fridays when we couldn't eat meat. Loved the upper floors with all the decorating ideas. My sister registered there for her shower in 1956 and it was like a magic kingdom walking arounf with her while she chose her dishes and linens. In one of the basement stores, there was a nut stand and for .15 you could get a full bag of red skins, just to take your mind off the hot dogs.

**Bham1982** · January-21-14, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I think Macy's has done itself long-term harm by taking the magic out of department stores. Now, you might as well shop online.

Have you been to the Macys Herald Square flagship lately [[say last few months)? The renovations are pretty impressive.

They're pouring $500 million into a renovation/expansion, and it shows. Fancy new restaurants, more upscale offerings, giant new windows, and marble everywhere.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-21-14, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

Have you been to the Macys Herald Square flagship lately [[say last few months)? The renovations are pretty impressive.

They're pouring $500 million into a renovation/expansion, and it shows. Fancy new restaurants, more upscale offerings, giant new windows, and marble everywhere.

I don't thing he was talking about pretty. He was talking about service and having full lines of things. Not everyone wants upscale. Sam Walton's daily driver was a 20 year old pick-up and he was one of the richest guys in America at the time.

Stores like Hudsons of 30 years ago are gone. We have settled for the lowest common denominator.

**softailrider** · January-21-14, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

I don't thing he was talking about pretty. He was talking about service and having full lines of things. Not everyone wants upscale. Sam Walton's daily driver was a 20 year old pick-up and he was one of the richest guys in America at the time.

Stores like Hudsons of 30 years ago are gone. We have settled for the lowest common denominator.

I've heard about that pickup. Also heard that Warren Buffet lives in a 2200 square foot 1950's tri level - but he fly's around in a private jet. I just don't buy any billionaires poor act.

**beachboy** · January-19-14, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by Dan Wesson

Wasn't Crowleys the store with the mezzanine? It was where I first had what was called a Boston Cooler, basically a Vernor's with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream.

Wow, memories... this kid from the sticks was soooo impressed with Hudson's -- Crowleys had a more "light" sort of feeling but seemed way smaller. Hudson's was a warren of hallways, arcane stairways, and those wonderful escalators!! Mom and Dad would park me in the music store while Mom went shopping and Dad took a nap in the lounge. Then we would have lunch in the Riverview Room. I still have several books from Hudson's mezzanine that I purchased in the early 1970s. What a wonderful time to be alive!!

**EastsideAl** · January-20-14, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dan Wesson

Wasn't Crowleys the store with the mezzanine?

Crowley's had a mezzanine that was open and actually overlooked the first floor. With a lunch counter/soda fountain, as you remember.

I had a great-aunt who worked at Crowley's, also in the cosmetics department. My grandmother would lord the superiority of her workplace at Hudson's over her sister-in-law's place at Crowley's every chance she would get. Made for some awkward family parties sometimes.

One thing that I think everyone recalls about Crowley's is the clacking of the wooden escalators that echoed throughout the cavernous ground floor and the rest of the store. My grandmother always openly wondered how my great-aunt could "tolerate all that racket".