Korvette's was formed in 1948 in a 400-square foot Manhattan loft by Eugene Ferkauf, from which he pedaled luggage, household appliances and jewelry. What set his store apart from others were the liberal use of discounting; pricing of his inventory was one-third off regular prices, use of discounting programs which were considered outlawed at the time, a membership a first for a traditional department store. They issued "membership cards" to style themselves as a retail cooperative and, in so doing, Korvette's was able to accept deep discounts from suppliers—something that competing department stores could not do.
The first store was built in 1954 in downtown Manhattan. It began locating into Michigan, including their Southgate store, over 150,000 square feet, which was built in 1963. The chain would peak with 58 stores in the late 1960s, and were noted for their rather unique entry into the home entertainment business, including marketing of an "XAM" brand of stereo receivers. By the 1970s, however, it began to fall victim to poor management and a failure to focus on merchandise they specialized in, while the Southgate store began to lose market share to Hudson's, JCPenney and Sears.
Owned at various times by Spartan Industries, Arlen Realty and Agache-Willot Group of France, the remaining 15 stores were closed on Christmas Eve, 1980. The Southgate location, flanked by a Chatham supermarket, Sentry Drug Store and Thomas' Crystal Gardens, would enjoy a brief revival in the mid-1980s with the Southgate Flea Market, which ultimately was outmuscled by Gibraltar Trade Center in Taylor. Otherwise, Korvette's made more headlines by being vacant than by being occupied. The complex was finally demolished in 1993, replaced by a Super K-Mart from 1995-2014.
The first store was built in 1954 in downtown Manhattan. It began locating into Michigan, including their Southgate store, over 150,000 square feet, which was built in 1963. The chain would peak with 58 stores in the late 1960s, and were noted for their rather unique entry into the home entertainment business, including marketing of an "XAM" brand of stereo receivers. By the 1970s, however, it began to fall victim to poor management and a failure to focus on merchandise they specialized in, while the Southgate store began to lose market share to Hudson's, JCPenney and Sears.
Owned at various times by Spartan Industries, Arlen Realty and Agache-Willot Group of France, the remaining 15 stores were closed on Christmas Eve, 1980. The Southgate location, flanked by a Chatham supermarket, Sentry Drug Store and Thomas' Crystal Gardens, would enjoy a brief revival in the mid-1980s with the Southgate Flea Market, which ultimately was outmuscled by Gibraltar Trade Center in Taylor. Otherwise, Korvette's made more headlines by being vacant than by being occupied. The complex was finally demolished in 1993, replaced by a Super K-Mart from 1995-2014.
Aaron Montgomery Ward created perhaps the first mail-order business to gain widespread exposure, even before Sears, Roebuck & Co. made the "catalog" mainstream. The company was established in 1872 with a capital grant of $1,600 and was based in Chicago. The original catalog (later known as the "wish book") contained 163 items. Wards originated the "Satisfaction Guaranteed, Or Your Money Back" slogan by 1875, and held a monopoly until Sears emerged in 1896.
It was almost an afterthought for Wards to become brick-and-mortar, but the first store opened in Plymouth, Indiana in 1926, and the chain boasted 531 stores by the start of the Depression. Declining a merger offer from Sears in 1930, the company began its first of many downturns and reorganizations. About the time of its first rebound in 1939, store copywriter Robert L. May penned "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", which gained fame in the 1940s behind the unforgettable voice of Gene Autry.
Wards was very slow in accommodating the needs of the suburbs, as it took until the late 1950s for Downriver stores to open: Southgate opened its iconic location in 1959, with the Allen Park Distribution Center following in the 1960s. Wards eliminated the catalog in 1985 but gained "Electric Avenue" in 1987 (a rebranding of their appliances & electronics), and recorded a 94% jump in sales during 1994. Within only a few years, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and liquidated in full by May 2001 after a dismal Christmas shopping season in 2000. The Allen Park center would later host Roush Technologies, and the Southgate store's 2012 demolition became the first full-scale event "Downriver Things" covered. The footage now houses Southgate's Market City Park as of 2016, an ampitheater and public gathering area which hopes to bring traffic back to the shopping center.
It was almost an afterthought for Wards to become brick-and-mortar, but the first store opened in Plymouth, Indiana in 1926, and the chain boasted 531 stores by the start of the Depression. Declining a merger offer from Sears in 1930, the company began its first of many downturns and reorganizations. About the time of its first rebound in 1939, store copywriter Robert L. May penned "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", which gained fame in the 1940s behind the unforgettable voice of Gene Autry.
Wards was very slow in accommodating the needs of the suburbs, as it took until the late 1950s for Downriver stores to open: Southgate opened its iconic location in 1959, with the Allen Park Distribution Center following in the 1960s. Wards eliminated the catalog in 1985 but gained "Electric Avenue" in 1987 (a rebranding of their appliances & electronics), and recorded a 94% jump in sales during 1994. Within only a few years, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and liquidated in full by May 2001 after a dismal Christmas shopping season in 2000. The Allen Park center would later host Roush Technologies, and the Southgate store's 2012 demolition became the first full-scale event "Downriver Things" covered. The footage now houses Southgate's Market City Park as of 2016, an ampitheater and public gathering area which hopes to bring traffic back to the shopping center.
Sadie Mulias' family originally settled in the Michigan community of Bad Axe, but relocated to Trenton after her marriage. At the time, Trenton held the promise of the commerce and industry to come. A small general store was located on Washington Avenue in downtown Trenton, which Sadie and her husband purchased in 1911. Though her husband passed suddenly in 1914, her brother Meyer Ellias became the full-time business partner, and from there the business rapidly expanded.
Originally selling hardware, dry goods and groceries, merchandise selection increased under Mr. Ellias' guidance, the firm's first expansion was in 1917, then a 70x70 extension two years later. A 1926 fire forced Mulias & Ellias to take a step back, but they would sell salvageable merchandise from a tent, and were able to rebuild with the help of neighboring businesses. Meyer and Sadie were known for their generosity and willingness to help struggling families during times of personal setback, illness or loss of work.
By the time of the business' final expansion in the 1970s, the downtown department store covered almost a whole city block, employed fifty people, and their inventory? Their motto, “If you can’t find it at Mulias and Ellias, you probably don’t need it,” were not just words.
The Downriver area, specifically Trenton, suffered a huge retailing and public loss when Mulias & Ellias was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1987.
Originally selling hardware, dry goods and groceries, merchandise selection increased under Mr. Ellias' guidance, the firm's first expansion was in 1917, then a 70x70 extension two years later. A 1926 fire forced Mulias & Ellias to take a step back, but they would sell salvageable merchandise from a tent, and were able to rebuild with the help of neighboring businesses. Meyer and Sadie were known for their generosity and willingness to help struggling families during times of personal setback, illness or loss of work.
By the time of the business' final expansion in the 1970s, the downtown department store covered almost a whole city block, employed fifty people, and their inventory? Their motto, “If you can’t find it at Mulias and Ellias, you probably don’t need it,” were not just words.
The Downriver area, specifically Trenton, suffered a huge retailing and public loss when Mulias & Ellias was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1987.
Neisners was founded in 1911 by brothers, Abraham and Joseph, with five stores incorporated into the chain in New York City by 1916.
Neisners was a stalwart during the Great Depression; by 1933 when Abraham Neisner died, the chain had grown to 79 stores, with apparel being the big item. Nine years later (1942) upon the passing of Joseph Neisner, the chain had 117 stores, including those in Lincoln Park and Wyandotte. At its official peak, Neisner boasted 129 stores around the United States, with Michigan having ten.
The Wyandotte location, at Biddle and Elm Streets, was beloved by its regular customers for its irregular, creaking, sloping wood sales floor, which was the only item not touched by renovators during a brief 1977 upgrade. The chain would liquidate in 1978, following its purchase and demise by Ames Department Stores, closing both Downriver locations. Wyandotte's turned into the Biddle Square Mall, which succumbed to fire in 1988.
In later years, the Lincoln Park site housed Community Care Services outreach center, but met the wrecking ball in 2015 to construct a recently-opened Save-A-Lot grocery store.
Neisners was a stalwart during the Great Depression; by 1933 when Abraham Neisner died, the chain had grown to 79 stores, with apparel being the big item. Nine years later (1942) upon the passing of Joseph Neisner, the chain had 117 stores, including those in Lincoln Park and Wyandotte. At its official peak, Neisner boasted 129 stores around the United States, with Michigan having ten.
The Wyandotte location, at Biddle and Elm Streets, was beloved by its regular customers for its irregular, creaking, sloping wood sales floor, which was the only item not touched by renovators during a brief 1977 upgrade. The chain would liquidate in 1978, following its purchase and demise by Ames Department Stores, closing both Downriver locations. Wyandotte's turned into the Biddle Square Mall, which succumbed to fire in 1988.
In later years, the Lincoln Park site housed Community Care Services outreach center, but met the wrecking ball in 2015 to construct a recently-opened Save-A-Lot grocery store.
Sebastian S. Kresge met Frank W. Woolworth as a traveling salesman (Kresge delivered his goods to nineteen Woolworth stores at the time). With an $8,000 investment, backed by partner John McCrory, Kresge bought a five-and-dime store in Memphis, TN. But Kresge would concentrate on developing in the Detroit area. Soon after Detroit's store was opened, Kresge bought out his share from McCrory and assumed full operations in the Midwest.
Officially incorporated as Kresge & Wilson in 1912 with 85 stores; the store name became simply S.S. Kresge by the 1920s. The store count steadily held at around 600 stores for decades, including several Downriver entries in the 1950s in Lincoln Park and Southgate.
Under manager Harry Cunningham, Kresge sought to go suburban, which it would through its K-Mart subsidiary (the first K-Mart opened in Garden City in 1962; it was slated to close in 2015). This proved to be a vital move, as Kresge was in danger of being bought out by Jupiter Department Stores. The two stores' combined business, however, would end up nearly equaling some bigger rivals.
Despite Kresge's Southgate location being just several hundred feet from a K-Mart, both stores did well until the Southgate store closed by 1983. It would later become Tri-State Furniture before it turned into a series of buffet chains (Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet, All-American Buffet).
Kresge would be acquired by none other than the McCrory chain in 1987, which still had a store at Sears Lincoln Park Center thru the early 90s.
Officially incorporated as Kresge & Wilson in 1912 with 85 stores; the store name became simply S.S. Kresge by the 1920s. The store count steadily held at around 600 stores for decades, including several Downriver entries in the 1950s in Lincoln Park and Southgate.
Under manager Harry Cunningham, Kresge sought to go suburban, which it would through its K-Mart subsidiary (the first K-Mart opened in Garden City in 1962; it was slated to close in 2015). This proved to be a vital move, as Kresge was in danger of being bought out by Jupiter Department Stores. The two stores' combined business, however, would end up nearly equaling some bigger rivals.
Despite Kresge's Southgate location being just several hundred feet from a K-Mart, both stores did well until the Southgate store closed by 1983. It would later become Tri-State Furniture before it turned into a series of buffet chains (Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet, All-American Buffet).
Kresge would be acquired by none other than the McCrory chain in 1987, which still had a store at Sears Lincoln Park Center thru the early 90s.
Federal Department Stores (known to most as Federal's), was incorporated in 1929 by the Davidson brothers in Detroit. Its main core business rarely took it out of the Metropolitan area. Although Federal did buy out Kobacker's Department Store out of Ohio in 1961, it would shed its entire market when the chain first declared bankruptcy in 1972, concentrating only in Detroit and Flint.
Its Downriver flagship store was constructed in Wyandotte in the 1940s. Federal would also locate a store at Southgate Shopping Center in 1957; it was the second store to open in the mall (after Wrigley grocery store). Known for a fine jewelry selection, it would acquire Shifrin-Willens Jewelers, which would operate its Southgate store just east of the department store for several years.
Federal would close its Wyandotte locale in 1966, to be reopened by 1969 as the new City Hall. It would maintain the look and feel (and age) of the former department store until facilities were moved to Biddle & Eureka in 2014. The Southgate store would carry on business until 1977, with Service Merchandise moving in afterward... continuing that address' reputation for fine jewelry for another quarter century.
Neither store was involved in a suspicious series of fires that were set at a number of Federal locations in the late 1970s, eerily close to the company's eventual demise and liquidation under Steven West's hostile takeover in the 1970s.
Its Downriver flagship store was constructed in Wyandotte in the 1940s. Federal would also locate a store at Southgate Shopping Center in 1957; it was the second store to open in the mall (after Wrigley grocery store). Known for a fine jewelry selection, it would acquire Shifrin-Willens Jewelers, which would operate its Southgate store just east of the department store for several years.
Federal would close its Wyandotte locale in 1966, to be reopened by 1969 as the new City Hall. It would maintain the look and feel (and age) of the former department store until facilities were moved to Biddle & Eureka in 2014. The Southgate store would carry on business until 1977, with Service Merchandise moving in afterward... continuing that address' reputation for fine jewelry for another quarter century.
Neither store was involved in a suspicious series of fires that were set at a number of Federal locations in the late 1970s, eerily close to the company's eventual demise and liquidation under Steven West's hostile takeover in the 1970s.
OFFICIAL TABLULATED RESULTS FOR THE 2014 BUSINESS CLASS
CONTEST CONDUCTED: November 2014
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 520
ENSHRINEMENT CUTOFF: Twenty votes guaranteed victory
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 520
ENSHRINEMENT CUTOFF: Twenty votes guaranteed victory
Business Class 2014
Korvette's 75 Wards 52 Mulias & Ellias 35 Neisner Dime 34 S.S. Kresge 31 Federal 23 |
Others with 3 or more votes
J.L. Hudson 18 Sanders 15 Winkleman's 15 Woolworth 14 Fisher's Apparel 12 Sears Roebuck 12 Trenton Dime Store 9 F & M 6 Service Merchandise 6 Farmer Jack 6 |
A & P 5 Ben Franklin 5 K-Mart 5 Robert Hall 5 Fort George DriveIn 4 Lawson's 4 Chatham's 3 Kinney Shoes 3 Open Cars 3 Truan's Candies 3 |
Businesses with two votes:
Angel's Candy Store, Anny's Candy Store, Arlan's, Cunningham Drugs, Empel's, Forest City, Franklin's Restaurant (Ecorse), Fretter Appliance, Gail's Office Supply, Grand Hardware, Hartman's, Hungarian Kitchen, Joshua Doore, Jumbo Supermarket, Kowalski Deli, Lerner's, Mary's Sweet Shop, Naum's Catalog Showroom, Pants Galore, Ron's Par-T-Pak, Sims Menswear, Spartan/Atlantic, Susie's Casuals, Three Sisters, Topps, Wickes Furniture, Willow Tree, Wrigley's.
Businesses receiving one vote:
A&W, Affholter's Creamery, Arthur Treacher's, Awad's Market, Baker Shoes, Baxter Hardware, Big Boy, Bucki's, Buster Brown, Calder's, Cecilia Melody's, Chelsea, Chuck's (Gibraltar), Clemente's, Crowley Hardware, D.C. 5 & 10, Dasher Drugs, Dog & Suds, Ecorse Drive In, Epps Sporting Goods, Frank's Bar, Frank's Nursery, Girodano's, Great Scott, Grove Drugs, Grybal's Hardware, Hallmark, Highland Appliance, Holly's Costumes, Hughes & Hatcher, Jack In The Box, Jack's Party Store, Jean Nicole, Johnson's Restaurant, Johnny's Nursery, Junior Achievement, Kaul's, L.G. Haig, Leewards, Lincoln Park Fruit Market, Lucky Drugs, McLouth Steel, Margie's, MaCauley's, Marianne, McCrory, Morris Store, Old Fashion Pancake House, Omeo's, Owen's Restaurant, Penny's (Lincoln Park), Plum Place, Poster Pit, Potter's, Red Barn, Rexall Pharmacy, Richmond Drugs, Sam's Bar, Sentry Drugs, Shopper's World, Stanley's Truck Stop, Stone Fruit Market, Stoner's Hobby, Taylortown Center, Twin Pines, Watkins Hamburgers, White Castle, Wyandotte Record Exchange.
Angel's Candy Store, Anny's Candy Store, Arlan's, Cunningham Drugs, Empel's, Forest City, Franklin's Restaurant (Ecorse), Fretter Appliance, Gail's Office Supply, Grand Hardware, Hartman's, Hungarian Kitchen, Joshua Doore, Jumbo Supermarket, Kowalski Deli, Lerner's, Mary's Sweet Shop, Naum's Catalog Showroom, Pants Galore, Ron's Par-T-Pak, Sims Menswear, Spartan/Atlantic, Susie's Casuals, Three Sisters, Topps, Wickes Furniture, Willow Tree, Wrigley's.
Businesses receiving one vote:
A&W, Affholter's Creamery, Arthur Treacher's, Awad's Market, Baker Shoes, Baxter Hardware, Big Boy, Bucki's, Buster Brown, Calder's, Cecilia Melody's, Chelsea, Chuck's (Gibraltar), Clemente's, Crowley Hardware, D.C. 5 & 10, Dasher Drugs, Dog & Suds, Ecorse Drive In, Epps Sporting Goods, Frank's Bar, Frank's Nursery, Girodano's, Great Scott, Grove Drugs, Grybal's Hardware, Hallmark, Highland Appliance, Holly's Costumes, Hughes & Hatcher, Jack In The Box, Jack's Party Store, Jean Nicole, Johnson's Restaurant, Johnny's Nursery, Junior Achievement, Kaul's, L.G. Haig, Leewards, Lincoln Park Fruit Market, Lucky Drugs, McLouth Steel, Margie's, MaCauley's, Marianne, McCrory, Morris Store, Old Fashion Pancake House, Omeo's, Owen's Restaurant, Penny's (Lincoln Park), Plum Place, Poster Pit, Potter's, Red Barn, Rexall Pharmacy, Richmond Drugs, Sam's Bar, Sentry Drugs, Shopper's World, Stanley's Truck Stop, Stone Fruit Market, Stoner's Hobby, Taylortown Center, Twin Pines, Watkins Hamburgers, White Castle, Wyandotte Record Exchange.