Building, Lafayette Park, since 1931
Wisner Confectionary Building
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1931
- Style
- Art Deco
- Standing
- 95 years
Designed by H. Lawrence Levander
The Wisner Confectionary Building has stood on Gratiot Ave in Lafayette Park since 1931, 95 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Wisner Confectionary Building today, from the street
What is there now
Standing and open
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1931, as Detroit pushed through the Depression, the Wisner Confectionary Building opened in Lafayette Park.
The design came from H. Lawrence Levander, working in Art Deco.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Go see it at 1428 Gratiot Ave. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1931 Built Designed by H. Lawrence Levander
- 2026 Today 95 years and still standing
Where it is
1428 Gratiot Ave
On this map
- 1 Wisner Confectionary Building This place
- 2 St. John's-St. Luke's Evangelical Church 260 ft
- 3 Koenig Coal & Supply Co. Building 330 ft
- 4 Trinity Lutheran Church 0.1 mi
- 5 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex 0.1 mi
- 6 Eastern Market Historic District 0.1 mi
- 7 Frontera & Son 0.2 mi
- 8 St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church 0.2 mi
- 9 St. Joseph Shrine 0.2 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1930s
-
Brodhead Naval Armory
Building, built 1930, Art Deco/Art Moderne, by Stratton & Hyde
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Denby High School
School, built 1930, Art Deco, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Ambassador Bridge
Structure, built 1929, by Jonathan Jones
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
David Stott Building
Skyscraper, built 1929, Art Deco, by John Donaldson
Photo: Einar Einarsson Kvara aka Carptrash, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cooley High School
School, built 1928, Mediterranean Revival, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished 2026
Photo: Chuckjav, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
El Tovar Apartments
Building, built 1928, Art Deco, by Robert J. West
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Lafayette Park. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
St. John's-St. Luke's Evangelical Church
House of worship, built 1872, Late Victorian
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
260 ft
- Koenig Coal & Supply Co. Building Building, built 1911, Art Deco 330 ft
-
Trinity Lutheran Church
House of worship, built 1931, Neo-Gothic, by William E.N. Hunter
Photo: Revdski3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
-
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex
House of worship, built 1927, Gothic Revival, by Bernard C. Wetzel
Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
-
Eastern Market Historic District
Historic district, Early Commercial
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
- Frontera & Son Building, built 1900, demolished 0.2 mi
-
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
House of worship, built 1870, Late Gothic Revival, by Donaldson & Meier
Photo: Nheyob, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
- St. Joseph Shrine House of worship, built 1873, Gothic Revival, by Francis Himpler 0.2 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Wisner Confectionary Building from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026
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.