Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm
Post Number: 1593 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 12:02 pm: | |
You're right Living, when I read your comment the name Harvey Leach came to mind. He was involved with Joshua Doore. That name still lives on, albeit in South Africa. http://www.jdgroup.co.za/2007/ annualreport_2006/revops_joshu a_doore.htm |
Dogperson Member Username: Dogperson
Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 12:22 pm: | |
I used to work at the Federal's (Schaefer and Michigan)1956-1957 era. Started at 55cents a hour and then got a nickel raise after three months to 60 cents a hour. I always remember the big sales they had, especially one where Levi's were $3.00 a pair. The department sold 800 pairs in one day. Oh the gool old days |
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765
Post Number: 2512 Registered: 01-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 12:29 pm: | |
Hey Skulmaty, Dogperson - welcome to the board ! Watch your backs in here, can be rough. |
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d
Post Number: 51 Registered: 01-2008
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 12:43 pm: | |
Yeah,Jiminnm, thats way cool. kudos on that find,. |
Norwalk Member Username: Norwalk
Post Number: 197 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 1:48 pm: | |
Yes there was a Federal's at Universal Mall where the Value City is now located. I shoplifted my first item from there. |
Lmr Member Username: Lmr
Post Number: 119 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 2:01 pm: | |
There was a Federal's in downtown Wyandotte. It's where the Wyandotte City Hall is now, on Biddle. There was also a Federal's at Southgate Shopping Center at Eureka and Trenton Rd. in Southgate, at the far end along Trenton Rd. I can't remember what is in that location now. Federal's used to supply girl scout uniforms. |
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 7084 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 2:39 pm: | |
Another fond memory of Federals (the Seven Grand location) was that it was the first time I ever recall seeing a pay bathroom stall. My poor little brother had just finished a small frozen Coke at the Kresge's down the mall aways and suddenly felt the call of nature. My mom had dragged the both of us into the women's bathroom (this was obviously LONG before the days of unisex or family bathrooms) and had to fumble around for a dime before shuttling my poor brother into the stall to do his business. To this day I recall it like little Ralphie did in "The Christmas Story"- a slight fuzzy haze and yet the awkwardness of that day still remains. What were people thinking back then when they installed pay stalls?? And the indignation of being dragged into the ladies bathroom with your mother... ugh, the mental scarring. |
Chuckjav Member Username: Chuckjav
Post Number: 364 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 2:48 pm: | |
Don't want to threadjack....but, can't get the Joshua Doore TV jingle out-my-head. "We've got brand name furniture at discount prices, and you won't have to wait. Pick it out in the showroom, pick it up at the warehouse...take it home in a crate" - you've got an uncle in the furniture business...Joshua Doore"! |
Onthe405 Member Username: Onthe405
Post Number: 37 Registered: 11-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 2:55 pm: | |
There was also a store at Gratiot & Frazho (10 1/2 Mile) Eastgate Shopping Center in Roseville. My folks bought my first bicycle there. Certainly not condoning West's strategy, but Federal's days were numbered anyway. K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy et al. mowed over Arlen's, Federals', Shopper's Fair, EJ Korvette, Zody's and (nationally) Montgomery Ward. There are a combination of factors that drive this: one is that the gap in economic classes continues to widen. Nordstrom & Saks are doing relatively well, as are the aforementioned discount stores. The other is that we as a society have determined we would like to own lots & lots of disposable cheaply made junk rather than fewer high quality items. This is driven largely by technology--why would a consumer invest in an expensive item that will be outdated in a few years? It might matter for a Burberry overcoat, but not a computer or cell phone. JCP, Sears, and Macy's are scrambling for market share as their customer base continues to shrink. In general, they don't provide cache for the designer/status conscious consumer and their prices are too high for the voracious appetite of the gadget-collecting masses & the poor. Retail by nature is also dynamic and cyclical--constantly changing with customer tastes and particularly vulnerable to quick-cash, power & ego driven mergers/acquisitions. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 6293 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 3:27 pm: | |
From what I remembered... Harvey Leach (Joshua Doore) was found dead in the trunk of his car... on his wedding day!! A mob hit. (Message edited by Gistok on February 11, 2008) |
Chuckjav Member Username: Chuckjav
Post Number: 365 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 3:41 pm: | |
Yes....I remember the murder; something about Leach owing a substantial sum of money. I believe that the body was discovered in a car parked at Metropolitan Airport |
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette
Post Number: 3866 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 3:55 pm: | |
Because my mother worked there, I was always allowed to use the employee bathroom. Once I was in the store and they had a new security guard, he wouldn't let me in the employee lounge and I had to use the pay one. Ugh! Privilege had it's place, bathroom-wise. |
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 7088 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 4:21 pm: | |
Who in their right mind is coherent enough to scramble for dimes when their bladder's driving 'em crazy? WHY stores even contemplated the idea of a pay toilet is beyond me. |
Thoswolfe Member Username: Thoswolfe
Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 4:29 pm: | |
At 7 Grand Federal's the main security guy was the store Santa at Christmas, and still watching us older kids, we considered shoplifting in front of him just to be chased by Santa. But feared he'd call our parents or worse yet, send the big babushka lady after us. Federal's also had a store in downtown Farmington, one of the last to close. Class act, that West. He opened a bank account in Bahamas for payroll, playing with check-kiting so paychecks weren't cashable for a week or so. |
Thoswolfe Member Username: Thoswolfe
Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 4:36 pm: | |
Last time I was up there, 10 years ago,there were still some (non-working) pay toilet boxes in the 7-Grand Federals. Beat up bad, but still there. The upstairs of that building has not been retail for many years. Access is through the side street in back. The building/'Redford Oaks' owner rented 'rooms' for musician studios, wonder if they still do that? |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1974 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 4:46 pm: | |
Federal store, Jos Campau, Hamtramack.
wsu/vmc |
Newport1128 Member Username: Newport1128
Post Number: 173 Registered: 05-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 4:47 pm: | |
I believe there was also a Federal's at the Warren-Conner shopping Center, as well as a Kresge or Neisner dime store. |
Stinger4me Member Username: Stinger4me
Post Number: 181 Registered: 08-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 4:53 pm: | |
Hornwrecker: do you know what year the image was taken? I am trying to think of the name of the shoe store which was adjacent to the Federal's store. It was on the corner of Evaline and Jos. Campau. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1975 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 5:11 pm: | |
Another photo taken at Evaline shows the shoe store: Baker's Shoes. As to the date, figure it to be the early 50s by the cars. |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 1017 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 5:13 pm: | |
Oldredfordette..... ....there actually was a time when "retail salesman" was a respected profession. In the late 70's, a manager I worked for called me the last of a dying breed, a professional shoe dog. I was 30 at the time and managed to hold on to the career for another 15 years. Nowadays, I don't think these kids would know what a Ritz stick was if it smacked them up the side of the head..... |
Stinger4me Member Username: Stinger4me
Post Number: 182 Registered: 08-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 5:29 pm: | |
Hornwrecker; That is about the time I wandered off and misplaced my parents on a Friday night. I must have been about 5 years old. Followed the crowds crossing the street and knew where my aunt lived. I wish I could have had a picture of their faces when I walked into the kitchen. Back then that was one busy street on a Friday or Saturday evening. Many times there were officers on the corners directing the heavy traffic. Thanks for posting the images, brings back a lot of memories. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3587 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 5:33 pm: | |
Federal's stores in 1961: HQ - 1200 McNichols E, Highland Park East Side - Gratiot at 7 Mile E Maddelein at Hoyt Jos Campau at Yemans Harper at Baldwin West Side - Grand River at Greenfield Grand River at Oakman Blvd 7-Grand Center, Redford Schaefer at McNichols W Michigan at Schaefer, Dearborn Michigan at 33rd Vernor Hwy W at Central Suburban - Southgate Center, Southgate Eastgate Center, Roseville Wonderland Center, Livonia Shores Center, St Clair Shores 8 Mile E at Dequinder, Hazel Park Woodward at 9 Mile, Ferndale Biddle at Maple, Wyandotte Saginaw N at Warren, Pontiac |
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm
Post Number: 1594 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 6:30 pm: | |
Stinger, that's a 1949-1951 Ford smoking in the middle of the shot (can't see it well enough to differentiate). The other cars look to be late 1940s, maybe 1950, vintage. |
Paczki Member Username: Paczki
Post Number: 49 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 7:03 pm: | |
Our family went to St. Lad's. In (I think) 1974 my brother was the Santa Claus at Federals on Campau. I bet that really fooled the kids; a 16 year old santa! Most of the kids from St. Lads worked at Federals, Bakers, Cosmetic Chest or one of the Dime Stores. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the dime store. |
Stinger4me Member Username: Stinger4me
Post Number: 183 Registered: 08-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 7:23 pm: | |
Paczki; Take your choice, there was a W. T. Grant, Neisner's, and down near Caniff there was a Lendzion's. The Lendzion's would be very close to St. Lad's. Were there any Paciorek's during your days at the high school? |
D2dyeah Member Username: D2dyeah
Post Number: 94 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 7:33 pm: | |
The Federal's in Dearborn and the store at Michigan and Junction are the store's I'm familiar with, and both stores were bland. Seeing photos, on other threads, with neighborhood retail shopping areas, the photos of some of the Federal's stores on the eastside and other locations, had fantastic Streamline Modern/Art Deco facades. The neighboring Cunningham's/Kinsel's stores, which were near, had some of the same design. Does anyone know who designed these terrific looking buildings? |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1978 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 7:39 pm: | |
Federal store, Grand River near Oakman
wsu/vmc |
Downtowntom Member Username: Downtowntom
Post Number: 16 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 8:40 pm: | |
My parents left Detroit and moved to Roseville in 1957. This shopping center was at the end of their street. It was so new and so modern and all the stores were "Air Conditioned"...WOW.
|
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1543 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 9:04 pm: | |
I was familiar with three federals growing up: Grand River/Greenfield Plymouth/Evergreen (became Sears Surplus) Michigan/Schaefer Wonderland Mall Later I found a list of stores in an ad while researching some microfiche in a library. There was one in Downtown Farmington as well at one time. That was a snapshot in time. It would be interesting to see a list of all the stores, dates they opened/closed and if there was ever one that was considered a flagship. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1979 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 9:20 pm: | |
Grand River and 7 Mile
Eastgate, Gratiot and Frazho Rd
wsu/vmc |