Hudson's

From Retailpedia

Not to be confused with Hudson's Bay Company (Canada)

Hudson's (or The J.L. Hudson Company) was a chain of Department store|department stores based in Detroit, Michigan. Their flagship store at 1206 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, was the tallest department store in the world in 1961, and was, at one time, claimed to be the second-largest department store in the US by square footage. The flagship was demolished on October 24, 1998.

History[edit | edit source]

Beginnings[edit | edit source]

The company was founded in 1881, by Joseph Lowthian Hudson, who operated the store until his death in 1912, when his nephews James, Joseph, Richard, and Oscar Webber took control. In 1923, it unveiled the "world's largest flag", which covered 3,700 sq ft of the facade of the Woodward Avenue flagship store, and in 1924, J.L Hudson sponsored a Thanksgiving parade in downtown. The world's largest flag, previously displayed annually, was replaced with an even larger flag in 1949. In 1959, the company began sponsoring a fireworks display as part of the International Freedom Festival. Detroit Joseph L. Hudson Jr. became president of the company in 1961.


Locations[edit | edit source]

Address City State Notes
Briarwood Mall Ann Arbor Michigan Opened July 25, 1974
Lakeview Square Mall Battle Creek Michigan Closed 2017 as Macy's
15255 Michigan Avenue Dearborn Michigan Budget Store; closed 1976; sold to Kmart, then to Farmer Jack, then to Kroger
14225 West Warren Avenue Dearborn Michigan Warehouse Store; bought from People's Outfitting Company
Fairlane Town Center Dearborn Michigan Opened 1976
1206 Woodward Avenue Detroit Michigan Flagship; closed 1983; sold 1989; demolished 1998
Genesee Valley Center Flint Michigan Opened November 1970
Birchwood Mall Fort Gratiot Michigan Opened 1997; closed 2018 as Macy's
Glenbrook Square Fort Wayne Indiana Closed 2005 as Marshall Field's; sold to Carson's, then to Round 1
Woodland Mall Grand Rapids Michigan Opened July 1975
Rivertown Crossings Grandville Michigan Opened 1999
Eastland Center Harper Woods Michigan Opened August 29, 1957; closed 2017 as Macy's
Lansing Mall Lansing Michigan Closed 2017 as Macy's
3660 Fort Street Lincoln Park Michigan Budget Store; bought from People's Outfitting Company; closed 1970; sold to Farmer Jack, now vacant
29101 John R. Road Madison Heights Michigan Budget Store; closed 1968; sold to E.J. Korvette, then to Kmart, then to BJ's Wholesale Club
University Park Mall Mishawaka Indiana Closed 2006 as Marshall Field's; demolished 2007
Twelve Oaks Mall Novi Michigan Opened 1977
Meridian Mall Okemos Michigan
The Crossroads Portage Michigan
Fashion Square Mall Saginaw Michigan Opened 1976
Northland Center Southfield Michigan Opened March 22, 1954; became flagship 1983; closed 2015 as Macy's
Lakeside Mall Sterling Heights Michigan Opened as full-line store 1978; converted into women's store 1999
Lakeside Mall Sterling Heights Michigan Men's and home store; opened 1999 in former Crowley's
Southland Center Taylor Michigan Opened July 20, 1970
Franklin Park Mall Toledo Ohio Opened May 1971
Grand Traverse Mall Traverse City Michigan
Oakland Mall Troy Michigan Opened 1968
Somerset Collection Troy Michigan Opened 1996
Summit Place Mall Waterford Michigan Opened as Budget Store 1962; expanded into full-line store July 25, 1967; closed 2010 as Macy's; demolished 2019
Westland Center Westland Michigan Opened 1965; closed 2017 as Macy's