 
Caldogven
Member
Username: Caldogven
Post Number: 156
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 9:31 pm: |    |
The Federals on Conner and Warren was originaly a Sam's Department Store.
Downtowntom -
I lived on Linwood behind Federals, where did your parents live? |
Scottr
Member
Username: Scottr
Post Number: 853
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 9:59 pm: | |
How large was the chain? (both in number of stores and geographically). I know the JCPenney i work at (well, used to work at, until i got transferred to our new store) in Courtland Center in Burton, near Flint, was originally a Federal's, but i was too young at the time of its closing to remember it now. I'm always interested in history, however, particularly things like this, and even more so when I have a personal connection to it (working in retail, in this case). So although I have no memories myself, I appreciate those who have shared theirs...
A few other things I've wondered... What store today would be most comparable to Federals so far as price of merchandise? What lines did they carry? What were the insides of the stores like - fancy, bare-bones, or somewhere in between? When did the company first go into business?
On a side note, we're moving down the mall into a store that was originally 'The Fair'. I do remember shopping there, until they closed in the 80's (I believe, maybe it was early 90's) Not wanting to change the subject, but it's also a store I'd be interested in knowing more about, should anyone else remember it... |
Hornwrecker
Member
Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1980
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 10:28 pm: | |
Nine Mile and Woodward, Ferndale
wsu/vmc
Just zero blocks north - of THE Nine Mile Road,... in Ferndale.
(Message edited by Hornwrecker on February 11, 2008) |
D2dyeah
Member
Username: D2dyeah
Post Number: 95
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 12:47 am: | |
Hornwrecker/ Thank you for the photos. The photo of the Hamtramack's Federal store's neon sign is incredible. Thanks again. |
Douglasm
Member
Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 1018
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 7:19 am: | |
That's the Ferndale I grew up in. Thank you, Hornwrecker...... |
Rsa
Member
Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1402
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:02 am: | |
quote:Does anyone know who designed these terrific looking buildings?
charles n. agree designed most (if not all) the federal's department stores. he also designed the beverly theatre (in the foreground of hornwrecker's photo), the hollywood theatre (razed), harpo's theatre, the vanity ballroom, the grande ballroom, the belcrest (in wayne state area), the whittier, and did the interior/exterior renovation of cliff bell's (which has just underwent a wonderful restoration). he had his offices in the book tower until the seventies (i think) then moved out to west bloomfield to work on his last big commission: the jewish community center. |
Oldredfordette
Member
Username: Oldredfordette
Post Number: 3869
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:25 am: | |
I guess the closest to compare would be Kohl's. Only there was service at Federals. |
Elevator_fan
Member
Username: Elevator_fan
Post Number: 38
Registered: 04-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 6:13 pm: | |
There was a Federal's on Southfield Rd. between 12 and 13 Mile Roads. When it went out of business, the store became a Sears. Then the strip mall remodeled, and the space became a Farmer Jack. Don't know if it still survives as a grocery store. |
Thoswolfe
Member
Username: Thoswolfe
Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 7:29 pm: | |
Grand River Greenfield that pedestrian bridge/ hallway across Grand River was built even though Federal's was already near bankrupt.
The grant $ was already committed, so that 'bridge to nowhere was built anyways, sealed off on the Federal's side.
What a difference that bridge could have made when that shopping area was booming. |
N7hn
Member
Username: N7hn
Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 8:36 pm: | |
HEY Thoswolfe, I remember the big babushka ledy...LOL> I used to tease my sis that was gonna be her, LOL< thanks for the nice (for me ) memory..... we used to wonder how long her hair was.... she was a redford (moving) landmark.... |
Thoswolfe
Member
Username: Thoswolfe
Post Number: 21
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:17 pm: | |
N7hn : Yep the big babushka lady was a Redford landmark! I thought Oldredfordette would have remembered, too. Any of us that hung around 7 Grand remember that lady! I think she was a cleaning lady that worked for the shopping center or one of the stores. Wow that knot of hair under the babushka was bigger than her own head. |
Oldredfordette
Member
Username: Oldredfordette
Post Number: 3884
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:21 pm: | |
I knew her, but I'll be damned if I can remember her name. She lived behind the shopping center in a ramshackle old house. I'll call my sister tomorrow, she'll remember. She was a nice, if deeply bizarre, lady. |
Ravine
Member
Username: Ravine
Post Number: 1933
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:29 pm: | |
The store on Gratiot, in Roseville or East Detroit, was the place for record-buying before Korvette's opened at 12 & Gratiot. My brother's copy of "Something New" by The Beatles (a bogus Capitol Records 33 RPM release) may still have the shrink-wrap with the Federal price tag affixed... $2.67, or thereabout.
Korvette's record dept. was a big improvement, though. |
D2dyeah
Member
Username: D2dyeah
Post Number: 96
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:35 pm: | |
My aunt Barbara say's that there was a fire at the Woolworth's on Michigan Ave. in the late 50's, and the Mgr. of the Federal's across the street offered the girl's jobs, since most lived in the neighborhood. |
Detroitdecor27
Member
Username: Detroitdecor27
Post Number: 39
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 11:30 pm: | |
Thanks Hornwrecker for the pics of the 7 -grand location! My family moved into the area of 7- grand back in the 80's. I remember my parents didn't want me walk up to 7-grand until I was in high school(my parents were very protective). Of course my friends and I would always walk up there when we told our parents we were going to the park. But when I lived in that area I the Federals had became a Big Lots. But now I think that the Big Lots has closed as well. But the outside of the building other than the name change looks exactly the same with the two tone stone. It's funny because it is hard for me to picture anything else in that space but Big Lots but I know everything changes so much. But pretty much everything in the 7-grand area stayed the same for like 20 years then just recently they have been changing things up in that area. Tearing down building putting up new ones. I guess I don't like change I miss my old buildings. But I guess it is good for the neighborhood. |
Thoswolfe
Member
Username: Thoswolfe
Post Number: 22
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 11:51 pm: | |
Oldredfordette: You're right, she did live on that street behind the plaza. As a kid, we were afraid of her, and maybe laughed at her. Shame, like you said she was a real nice lady after all. My sis worked at Kresge's dinette early 80's, knew her well.
Another sis worked at Federal's late 70's till she couldn't cash those paychecks from banks in the Bahamas anywhere.
And that 'babushka'lady was mentioned alot in R.U.H.S. 's Classmates forum, so lots of us remember her! |
Oldredfordette
Member
Username: Oldredfordette
Post Number: 3901
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 11:10 am: | |
Mardell. Her name was Mardell.
Your sister probably knew my mom, she worked there till the last sad day. |
Thoswolfe
Member
Username: Thoswolfe
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 2:52 pm: | |
That jogged the memory! Yes, Mardel was her name.
Amazing, that old Federal's still has the distinctive architecture, has not been altered much other than being 'sub divided', and most of the windows being bricked over.
It's since been a Foland's catalog store, Minnessota Fabrics, Big Lots(or was it Odd Lots). I haven't been by there in the last year. But Google street view does not show any store name on the building.
Small centers like 7 Grand (renamed Redford Oaks to attract tenants and shoppers?) haven't done too well after losing their anchor, and Federal's was the only major tenant/draw there. |
N7hn
Member
Username: N7hn
Post Number: 6
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 9:07 pm: | |
I talked to my sis about Mardel.... she said her friend was her niece. I guess he mom used to always hack off her hair as a kid and mardel swore never to cut it again. I remember that run down house too. My sis used to wait on her (at some job I never knew she had) and said she was a very cool lady |
Hornwrecker
Member
Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1983
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 9:57 pm: | |
Michigan Ave, Dearborn
wsu/vmc |
Catch22
Member
Username: Catch22
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 10:07 pm: | |
I remember the Grand River & Greenfield store pretty well. In the latter days of the West era, they partitioned off a large chunk of the second floor and moved the main offices (I don't remember where from) into the space. I worked for Michigan Bell at the time and helped install their phones. Their off-shore paychecks were bouncing, but none the less all the office furnishings were first-rate. |
Skulmaty
Member
Username: Skulmaty
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 8:58 am: | |
Another Federals to add to the suburban list.
15 Mile and Gratiot in the Regional Shopping Center. It was down the line of stores from Montgomery Wards. Couple other long gone stores in Regional: Woolworth's, Winter's Deli and meats.
What's there now? Lowes, Jeepers, Star Theaters, etc. |
Mallory
Member
Username: Mallory
Post Number: 235
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 9:18 am: | |
Gotta add another location: Taylortown Mall at Ecorse and Pardee in Taylor. Back in the day, that mall had a Woolworth's, Federal's and Grant's all in one mall. Of course this was before Southland was built on the other side of Taylor.
My memories of Federal's are three: that is where mom took me when it was time for new shoes; you could buy 10 cents worth of candy from the candy counter, the blue trucks with the white "Federal's" on the sides.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. |
Danny
Member
Username: Danny
Post Number: 7136
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:30 am: | |
You all know what happen to those buildings after it close in 1971.
Federal's stores in 1961:
HQ - 1200 McNichols E, Highland Park
Gone: Now a auto parts junk yard.
East Side -
Gratiot at 7 Mile Gone: Now a new E. 7 Mile and Gratiot plaza.
Maddelein at Hoyt Long Gone
Jos Campau at Yemans became Shopper's World; close last year.
Harper at Baldwin Long Gone
West Side -
Grand River at Greenfield became Kingsway Dept. Store closed in 1990; became Asian owned Mammoth's Mini Mall and Dept Store closed in 2005.
Grand River at Oakman Blvd. Became Kingsway Dept. Store closed in 1990; became Shoppers World Dept. Store closed in 2007.
7-Grand Center, Redford Long Gone:
Schaefer at McNichols W. Became a Depart of Social Sevices (a.k.a) WELFARE AND FOOD STAMP OFFICE closed in 1990; building is now vacant ever since.
Michigan at Schaefer, Dearborn Became several dept. stores; then R.J. Lead's Furniture Store closed in late 1990s; vacant until been brought By Arab owners now a Museum of Arab American History opened in 2002.
Michigan at 33rd long gone
Vernor Hwy W at Central: Now Dantos Furniture store
Suburban -
Southgate Center, Southgate become several dept. stores until it bought by Service Merchandise in the early 1990s; closed in 1998; building is torn down in 2006.
Eastgate Center, Roseville long gone
Wonderland Center, Livonia become several dept. stores until it been bought by Dunham's sports; move to another location replaced by Service Merchandise; closed in 1998 building left vacant until is been used by Halloween USA costume warehouse. Wonderland mall became a dead mall, demolished in 2006; rebuilt as Wonderland Plaza. An EVIL WAL-MART SUPERCENTER. It is a part of the revitilization in Downtown Livonia's Plymouth Corridor.
Shores Center, St Clair Shores: Became a mom and pop clothing and dept store.
8 Mile E at Dequindre, Hazel Park: become several dept stores; then a flea market; closed in early 2000; building is vacant. expected to be demolished for a proposed retail strip stores.
Woodward at 9 Mile, Ferndale: Parts of the building torn down, became several dept. stores; became Old Navy Clothier; closed in 2005; building is now vacant.
Biddle at Maple, Wyandotte: became a furniture store still in business.
Saginaw N at Warren, Pontiac became a mom and pop owned ceramic art store: still in business.
I have been to all of them and all of Federal's buildings either change, re-arrage and demolished.
Is there a another Federal's Dept. Store on E. Warren and Conner? Surely is used to be a Kingsway Dept. Store and then Shopper's World until it was closed in 2005. |
Lpg
Member
Username: Lpg
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 1:42 pm: | |
I remember the grand opening of the Southgate Shopping Center around 1958. Right in front of the Federal's store they were giving helicopter rides. My sister and I went up for a ride in an old Bell helicopter with the bubble front like on the old "Highway Patrol" series. Or the one on the opening of "MASH". Cool memories. |
Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 2751
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 5:02 pm: | |
Great post, Danny. Thanks. |
Lmr
Member
Username: Lmr
Post Number: 121
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 6:24 pm: | |
Danny -
The old Federal's store in downtown Wyandotte is now
the Wyandotte City Hall. The furniture store is next
door. |
Douglasm
Member
Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 1024
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 9:13 pm: | |
Danny.....
What did they tear down of the Ferndale Federal's besides part of the "tower" on the corner? It used to run from the alley a bit up 9 Mile around the corner to the Radio City..... |
Norwalk
Member
Username: Norwalk
Post Number: 223
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:12 pm: | |
It looks like the old Federal's in Hamtramck might be seeing the wrecking ball soon. Good old Hamtramck politics |
Detroitej72
Member
Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 678
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:43 pm: | |
Supposedly, the Hamtown location is to be replaced with an Aldi's and apartments on the top 3 floors. |
Lmr
Member
Username: Lmr
Post Number: 122
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 1:45 pm: | |
The Federal's in downtown Wyandotte closed a while before the chain folded. It was one of the smaller Federal's stores and was closed during an overhaul of the downtown Wyandotte shopping area in the late 1960's during which a lot of buildings were torn down (some of them in bad shape) or fixed up. I think after the opening of the considerably larger Federal's in Southgate Shopping Center (which lpg stated correctly as about 1958) business went down at the Wyandotte location and it eventually closed. The building was vacant for a while before it became City Hall. I am not sure of the exact year the Wyandotte Federal's closed but I know for sure it's somewhat before 1972 and my guess would closer to 1967-68.
Here's a link to a current picture of the location, the trademark Federal's tower is still there:
http://www.wyandotte.net/gov/ |
Mallory
Member
Username: Mallory
Post Number: 237
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 2:56 pm: | |
You forgot Taylortown in Taylor. |
Msamslex
Member
Username: Msamslex
Post Number: 42
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 3:05 pm: | |
The Grand River Federal's/Kingsway/Shoppers World is occupied by a church now, (can't think of the name) but I thought the Shopper's world was closed before 2007. Seems like the church has been there for more than a year but I could be mistaken. |
Lmr
Member
Username: Lmr
Post Number: 123
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 3:29 pm: | |
The former Federal's store at Southgate Shopping Center became Service Merchandise long before the 1990's. I moved away from Michigan in January of
1984 and it had already been Service Merchandise for
several years. |
Detroitplanner
Member
Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1556
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 4:33 pm: | |
Danny or Jjabba,
Can you verify whether or not there was a Federals at Plymouth near Evergreen? It became the Sears surplus back in the mid-70's. I have done a few web searches and come up with nothing.
I am just trying to verify some old memories.
Thanks |
Stromberg2
Member
Username: Stromberg2
Post Number: 68
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 8:36 pm: | |
I know there was a Federals in Monroe up until the mid 70's when it became a Penneys. I still have a baseball mitt with the Feds logo or font.
Stromberg2 |
Citychick
Member
Username: Citychick
Post Number: 26
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 1:07 pm: | |
Wow....Federals. We used to shop at the one on & & Gratiot and the one on Jos. Campau.
A few years ago when we bought our house, we were pulling up the carpet remnants that had covered the living room floor since maybe when it was built (???) and the owner had lined the floor with old newspapers and then put the carpet down. There was a reverse copy of a full page Federals' ad permanently inked onto the hardwood that all the chemicals could not erase. Before we refinished the floors, I would move the furniture and show people the ad. : ) |
Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 2790
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 2:12 pm: | |
That's funny, Citychick! |
Jan
Member
Username: Jan
Post Number: 33
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 2:22 pm: | |
Federal's used to give firefighters (and their families) a discount. I think it was 20%. I know my folks often did back-to-school shopping at the 7/Gratiot one because of that.
jan |
Margjame
Member
Username: Margjame
Post Number: 2
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 5:29 pm: | |
In the late 60's, the Federal Department store in Ferndale had a series of classes for young girls to teach them manners, dressing, etc. My daughter went to those classes. The last one was a fashion show and afterward each girl got to buy the dress she modeled. My daughter enjoyed the whole experience very much. |
Savannah
Member
Username: Savannah
Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 6:23 pm: | |
I remember as a child in the car headed east on 9 mile, it seemed that Federals sign at Woodward came out over the whole street. It dominated the landscape. |
Ladyinabag
Member
Username: Ladyinabag
Post Number: 393
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 6:38 pm: | |
There was a Federal's at 8 Mile & Dequindre on the Hazel Park side. It closed in 1962. The building is still standing and has not been occupied since. It was across the side street from "The 8 Mile Big Boy", a favorite haunt of mine while I was in high school. I saw the building yesterday and remarked to myself how it had never again been occupied....this was while I was driving to start my Metro Times route with a car full of "Just Go" cover pictures of Kwame. Don't think that I wasn't paranoid yesterday....and not because of the old Federal building. |
Stinger4me
Member
Username: Stinger4me
Post Number: 197
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 7:13 pm: | |
The discount was 10% for cops and smoke-eaters. |
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