Hudson's Department Store

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The Hudson's Logo

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

1 History
2 Trivia
3 Former locations
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

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 United States 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.

[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.

Esteemed historian Paul Kinney was a very successful fashion consultant and model here in his early days while still in college.

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 its equipment. The switchboard consisted of 37 operator positions with 252 incoming "trunk" lines.

The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1957. The name "Hudson" came from J.L. Hudson, founder of Hudson's Department Store, who provided the necessary start-up capital. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to become American Motors Corporation. Popular products made by Hudson and its descendants included the Hudson Hornet and an unrelated model christened later as the AMC Hornet. In 1987, American Motors was acquired by the Chrysler Corporation, which now owns all intellectual property rights associated with Hudson, Nash and AMC model names. Chrysler has announced it will introduce a new model called the Dodge Hornet in 2008.

[edit] Former locations

[edit] Indiana

Fort Wayne - Glenbrook Square (opened 1981 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, closed 3/2006)
Mishawaka - University Park Mall (opened 1980 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 1997, closed 3/2006)

[edit] Michigan

Ann Arbor - Briarwood Mall (opened 1974 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Battle Creek - Lakeview Square Mall (opened 1983 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
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)
Flint - Genesee Valley Center (opened 1970 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Grandville - RiverTown Crossings (opened 1999 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Harper Woods - Eastland Center (opened 1957 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Portage - The Crossroads (opened 1980 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Kentwood - Woodland Mall (opened 1975 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Lansing - Lansing Mall (opened 1979 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Novi - Twelve Oaks Mall (opened 1977 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Okemos - Meridian Mall (opened 1982 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Port Huron - Birchwood Mall (opened 1997 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Saginaw
- downtown (closed shortly after Fashion Square Mall store opened)
- Fashion Square Mall (opened 1976 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Southfield - Northland Center (opened 1954 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
Sterling Heights - Lakeside Mall
- Main store (opened 1978 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 2006)
- 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)
Traverse City - Grand Traverse Mall (opened 1992 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)
- Somerset Collection (opened 1996 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Waterford Township - Summit Place Mall (opened 1962 as Hudson's Budget Store, later converted to regular Hudson's. Became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)
Westland - Westland Center (opened 1965 as Hudson's, became Marshall Field's 2001, converted to Macy's 9/9/2006)