  Designerguy24 Member Username: Designerguy24 Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2006 |
Can someone confirm this for me? Did Saks Fifth Avenue use to have a location in Downtown Detroit? If so where? Was it better then the Somerset location? Any memories of going there? | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 863 Registered: 01-2006 |
I was told that it was on Washington at one point, and then in New Center. I have no clue how accurate this is though. | ||
Mwilbert Member Username: Mwilbert Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2007 |
There was a Saks in its own building in New Center by the Fisher Building. My sister used to get her hair cut there. I was really little when I was there, and I don't go to Somerset, so I can't compare. I don't remember one downtown, but I wouldn't swear there wasn't one. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 1821 Registered: 10-2007 |
Wasn't there a Saks on Second Avenue? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6031 Registered: 08-2004 |
The Saks in New Center was in the Albert Kahn Building (on Second Ave.), just north of New Center One Building (NE of the Fisher Building). It is a 5 story building. | ||
Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 74 Registered: 12-2005 |
Wasn't it across the street from Dittrich Furs? - west of the Fisher Building | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6032 Registered: 08-2004 |
No, it was NE of the Fisher Building. West of the Fisher Building today is a parking lot. The large 5 story building that used to house Saks still exists. | ||
Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 75 Registered: 12-2005 |
OK, Thanks | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1506 Registered: 04-2006 |
Saks was in what is now known as Albert Kahn. Back then, it was called the New Center Building. This store was closed when the Fairlane Saks opened. Crowleys also had a store on Woodward and closed it when it was moved to the New Center One building. I do not recall a Saks being anywhere on Washington. Most stores on Washington were far too small to be Saks, though there were several carriage trade stores located on the Blvd. | ||
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle Post Number: 292 Registered: 10-2006 |
It was once on Washington Downtown. My grandmother used to work there. She once told me that her boss yelled at her for eating her lunch on Woodward since it wasn't as classy as Washington and that itd be terrible if one of the Saks patrons saw her over there.. | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 625 Registered: 06-2005 |
The Saks store in the New Center Building was on either side of the building's lobby, which is entered from Second Ave. In the rear of the building, on the east side, was the valet parking entrance. Demery's was a smaller department store on the SW corner of Woodward and Milwaukee, IIRC. | ||
Designerguy24 Member Username: Designerguy24 Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2006 |
Anyone happen to have pics they can post of the interior and exterior of the New Center Saks Fifth Avenue? | ||
Elevator_fan Member Username: Elevator_fan Post Number: 29 Registered: 04-2004 |
It occupied the first two or three floors of the Albert Kahn building. That's why the building has huge ground floor windows. There was a valet parking entrance on the right side of the building. I remember the four very noisy elevators in there. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3534 Registered: 10-2003 |
I don't think Saks was ever on Washington Boulevard (maybe you're thinking of the women's store Sax-Kay). Saks was in the new center since the early 1940s. The Saks beauty salon was in the Fisher Building. | ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 509 Registered: 10-2005 |
Wasn't there a Crowley's over by the new center also? I seem to remember one being there but I could be wrong. | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 1296 Registered: 09-2007 |
Yes it was Jjw. It closed around the Y2K or late 90s. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6036 Registered: 08-2004 |
Jjw... read Detroitplanners post...  | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1373 Registered: 12-2005 |
Here are a couple of Saks advertisements that appeared in the Grosse Pointe News. Dec. 4, 1941  Aug. 23, 1945  | ||
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle Post Number: 293 Registered: 10-2006 |
Mikem perhaps you're correct or my grandmother is mistaken on location. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 501 Registered: 11-2003 |
Saks @ Fairlane (which moved from New Center in 80') officially closed 12/31/07. Although it was just an "Off Fifth" outlet location for the past several years. Another victim of changing demographics and an economic downturn. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5886 Registered: 11-2003 |
Saks Fifth Avenue Stores. 54 stores, 25 states. The outlet stores were called Clearinghouse, changed to Off Fifth. jjaba. | ||
Masterblaster Member Username: Masterblaster Post Number: 105 Registered: 03-2005 |
Gistok, to be accurate, the Albert Kahn Building is 10 stories tall. The Saks was there from 1940's to the early 1980's. There is an article that talks a little bit about the circumstances of its opening. The link to the article is in a past thread entitled "The Rockefeller Center of Detroit" | ||
Designerguy24 Member Username: Designerguy24 Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2006 |
Anyone have a link to the "The Rockefeller Center of Detroit" thread I seem to not be able to find it. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1376 Registered: 12-2005 |
"The Rockefeller Center of Detroit" | ||
Philm Member Username: Philm Post Number: 42 Registered: 03-2005 |
My dad worked at that Saks in New Center for almost thirty years. I have memories of going down there with him on Saturdays now and then. I used to hang out in the tunnels connecting the NC Bldg with Fisher and GM buildings. Are those tunnels still in use? Phil | ||
Designerguy24 Member Username: Designerguy24 Post Number: 101 Registered: 10-2006 |
found this information about the Detroit Saks http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/d/dh hcc/retailers/saks.html | ||
Designerguy24 Member Username: Designerguy24 Post Number: 102 Registered: 10-2006 |
Saks Fifth Avenue Detroit window display 1940's  and another one I couldnt load http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?sid=4c1ab9489563be2e8e79bfd07ea7b5e3;xc=1;g=samplegroupic;q1=Saks;rgn1=ic_all;c=aict;c=cfai;c=dhhcc;c=djg;c=hcc;c=heartic;c=hfhcc;c=hmcc;c=map;c=mbd;c=rcn;c=vmc;evl=full-image;quality=2;view=entry;subview=detail;lasttype=boolean;cc=vmc;entryid=x-71038;viewid=71038;start=1;resnum=34 (Message edited by Designerguy24 on January 03, 2008) | ||
W_6_mile Member Username: W_6_mile Post Number: 27 Registered: 01-2008 |
I like the interior design of Saks Somerset. |
