S. S. Kresge Headquarters On Cass Park
These bronze doors open to a world we can only catch glimpses of, a wealthy, bustling city that led the world in manufacturing and retail innovation. They are the doors to S. S. Kresge's headquarters on Cass Park.
There are several buildings in the city associated with the Kresge dime store business. The first one people think of is the old Kresge store on Woodward, now home to a start-up mini-mall.
The next one that comes to mind is now known as the Kales Building, on Grand Circus Park. It was built as S.S. Kresge's headquarters in 1914. Kresge used 9 of the 18 floors at first, but quickly outgrew it. It has been rehabbed into loft apartments.
The building below, with the glorious doors, was S. S. Kresge headquarters from 1927 till 1972, when Kresge's became K-Mart and moved to Troy. It was designed by Albert Kahn. The architecture is interesting for its unique blend of Art Deco with classic influences, and its horizontal emphasis.
The statue in Cass Park is of the poet Robert Burns... a story for another day.
The entrance and the lobby are full of the genius of the era's finest artisans.
The building is now owned by Wayne State University, and used as office space for small business, technology, and R&D start-ups. They call it the Metropolitan Center for High Technology.
Large mirrors on both sides of the lobby add light to the warmth of the walnut, marble and gold.
A detail from the top of the mirror...
From the lobby to the elevator bays and atrium beyond....
S. S. Kresge himself oversees the lobby. A portrait of his chief accountant is on the opposite wall.
A few more irresistible details...
Next week, the walk around Cass Park continues.
I'm trying to find a poem about S.S. Kresge, my dad can't remember the whole thing anymore. (He's 94- my Dad) It goes something like this:
ReplyDeleteHey Mr. Kresge, I got a complaint about your one gallon ten cent paint.
I painted the toilet seat and it never dried, my wife fretted and my how she cried.
----Well that's about all he remembers of the poem.
Do you have any ideas where to look or have you ever heard of this poem? Thanks in advance if you have a source of it.......
kbonomi@hotmail.com