Hudson's Department Store

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Hudson's or The J.L. Hudson Company was a major retail department store chain based in Detroit. Hudson's flagship store (demolished 24 October 1998^[1]) on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit was the tallest department store in the world in 1961.^[2], and at one time claimed to be the second largest department store (next to Macy's of New York City) in the United States, in terms of square footage. ^[1].

Founded in 1881 by Joseph L. Hudson, the store thrived during the growth of Detroit and the auto industry during the first half of the 20th century. The family also founded the Hudson Motor Car Company, which eventually became part of the American Motors Corporation.

J.L. Hudson expanded into suburban Detroit, starting with the anchor store at Northland Center in nearby Southfield, Michigan, the largest shopping center in the US when it opened in 1954.^[2] Similar suburban malls followed (Westland Mall and Eastland Center), as well of other stores throughout the tri-state region. The flagship Hudson's store closed January 28, 1983 (at the nadir of Downtown Detroit's decline) and was imploded 15 years later in October 1998.

The J.L. Hudson Company and the Dayton Company of Minneapolis merged in 1969 to form the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, operating Dayton's and Hudson's under their original names, eventually acquiring and selling several other department store chains. In 2000, Dayton-Hudson Corporation took the name of its most successful operation, becoming Target Corporation, and one year later re-branded all Hudson's and Dayton's locations with the Marshall Field's moniker, an operation purchased by Dayton-Hudson in 1990. After being briefly owned by May Department Stores, the former Hudson's stores fell under the ownership of Federated Department Stores in 2005 and all Marshall Field's stores were renamed Macy's in 2006.

Contents 1 Trivia 2 Former locations 2.1 Indiana 2.2 Michigan 2.3 Ohio 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Trivia

Diana Ross was a salesgirl at the Detroit flagship store as a teenager, before she debuted in 1964 as the lead singer of the Supremes.

J.L. Hudson's had the largest private branch exchange (PBX) switchboard in the United States, second only to that of the Pentagon. It also was the largest department store switchboard in the world. The old "cord" switchboard was put in service in September, 1953 after a five year installation process. It required a whole building from Michigan Bell to house it's equipment. The switchboard consisted of 37 operator positions with 252 incoming "trunk" lines.

[edit] Former locations

[edit] Indiana

• South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Mishawaka - University Park Mall (opened 1980 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, closed 3/2006)
• Fort Wayne, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Fort Wayne - Glenbrook Square (opened 1981 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, closed 3/2006)

[edit] Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Ann Arbor - Briarwood Mall (opened 1974 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
• Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Dearborn - Fairlane Town Center (opened 1976 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 9/2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
  • Detroit - 1206 Woodward Avenue, (flagship store; closed 1983)
  • Harper Woods - Eastland Center (opened 1957 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
  • Novi - Twelve Oaks Mall (opened 1977 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
  • Port Huron - Birchwood Mall (opened 1997 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
  • Farmington - Downtown Farmington Center (opened 1961 as Hudson's, closed 1984, converted to TJ Maxx in 1984)
  • Southfield - Northland Center (opened 1954 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
  • Sterling Heights - Lakeside Mall (opened 1978 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
  • Sterling Heights - Lakeside Mall Men's & Home Store (opened 2000 as Hudson's in former Crowley's location, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
  • Taylor - Southland Center (opened 1970 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
  • Troy - Oakland Mall (opened 1968 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
  • Troy - Somerset Collection (opened 1996 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
  • Waterford Charter Township - Summit Place Mall (opened 1962, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006. Originally a Hudson's Budget Store.)
  • Westland - Westland Center (opened 1965 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Battle Creek, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Battle Creek - Lakeview Square Mall (opened 1983 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Flint - Genesee Valley Center (opened 1970 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Grandville - RiverTown Crossings (opened 1999 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
  • Kentwood - Woodland Shopping Center (opened 1975 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Portage - The Crossroads (opened 1980 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Lansing - Lansing Mall (opened 1979 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
  • Okemos - Meridian Mall (opened 1982 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Saginaw - Fashion Square Mall (opened 1976 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
• Traverse City, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area
  • Traverse City - Grand Traverse Mall (opened 1992 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)

[edit] Ohio

• Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Toledo - Westfield Franklin Park (opened 1971 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• A history of Hudson's Department Store, and the subsequent status of the site after implosion of the building
• Hudson's Department Store at the official City of Detroit website
• Controlled Demolition of Hudson Department Store
• Detroit Ruins - pictures of the old J.L. Hudson Building Downtown Detroit