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Lost building, Detroit, 1911 to 1998

Hudson's Department Store

Demolished in 1998

This massive structure, then the largest department store building in the world, was still there when I visited in..., 1988 Photo: artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1911
Style
Chicago School
Torn down
1998

Designed by Albert Kahn, Mortimer L. Smith and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

Hudson's Department Store stood in Detroit from 1911 until 1998. Here is what it was, who made it and where to find the spot today.

On the map

What is there now

Demolished in 1998

We have not yet found a source that says what stands on the spot today. Last looked on October 25, 2026.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1911, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, Hudson's Department Store went up.

Albert Kahn; Mortimer L. Smith and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls drew the plans, in the Chicago School style.

It is gone now, demolished in 1998, and the map pin below marks where it stood.

Timeline

  1. 1911 Built Designed by Albert Kahn, Mortimer L. Smith, and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
  2. 1983 Closed
  3. 1998 Demolished
  4. 2026 Today 28 years since it came down

Where it is

1241 Woodward Ave.

On this map

  1. Hudson's Department Store This place
  2. Kresge Building 110 ft
  3. Traver Building 130 ft
  4. Fowler Building 170 ft
  5. B. Siegel 250 ft
  6. 35W Capitol Park Apartments 260 ft
  7. Hudson's Detroit 290 ft
  8. Miles Theatre 290 ft
  9. The Albert 290 ft

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Albert Kahn
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Albert Kahn

American architect, 1869 to 1942. Designed the General Motors Building (1922) and 114 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Albert Kahn

Woodward Avenue Baptist Church, by Mortimer L. Smith Woodward Avenue Baptist Church, by Mortimer L. Smith. Photo: unk, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Mortimer L. Smith

American artist and architect. Designed Woodward Avenue Baptist Church (1887) and 5 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Mortimer L. Smith

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Traveler100, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

American architectural and engineering company, founded 1853. Designed the Penobscot Building (1928) and 68 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

More from Detroit in the 1910s

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. This massive structure, then the largest department store building in the world, was still there when I visited in..., 1988 Photo: artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.