Remembering Hudson's: The Grand Dame of Detroit Retailing

Images of America: Michigan

by Michael Hauser, Marianne Weldon

The J. L. Hudson Company redefined the way Detroiters shopped and enjoyed leisure time. Many Detroiters share memories of times spent shopping and enjoying spectacular events sponsored by Hudson's. A solid and lofty icon built by businesspeople who believed in their passion, Hudson's defined Detroit's downtown, creating trends and traditions in consumer culture that still resonate with us today. Now and in the future, as Hudson's boxes, shopping bags, and artifacts are discovered in closets, attics, basements, and flea markets, many will remember that it was once as solid a civic fixture as the City-County Building or the Detroit Public Library.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2010

Reviews

[Lenore Kuipers-Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that anyone born around 1953, like I was, and lived in Detroit, or had relatives in Detroit would enjoy this book. Hudson's was a name it seems as though I was always familiar with. There are photos on every page of the lst Hudson's downtown (Detroit)...I guess I was too young at the time to realize what a big store it was, and that at one time you could buy anything there! "In the 1960's, the company purchased 6.25 million lines of newspaper advertising annually, totally 50 pages of advertising a week."

"By the end of the 1990's, Hudson's was firmly ensconced in Michigan with stores in Ann Arbor,Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Port Huron, Saginaw, and Traverse City." I had no idea that Hudson's was still available to me while I was in high school and college.

This book was nostalgic for me. It made me remember so many things. Anyone that is familiar with the name of Hudson's and spent any time there should read this book.

[Laura K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The old-time department stores were really amazing especially during 1945 to 1960, apparently. I was left wondering why people thought that malls and City centers and the internet are such a big deal. The multitude and variety of services and features that were available in Hudson's is mind-boggling. The amount of coordination and planning required is staggering. I really enjoyed the book however I wish there had been a little more variety. For instance there were too many pictures about the war effort and too many pictures showing the warehouses where a few less would have been a better idea. But overall it was worth it if you are from Detroit or interested in the Glory Days of large department stores.

[Readitnweep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read with loads of b/w photos of JL Hudson’s “big store” through the decades. Lots of interesting tidbits of information that was well-researched. I really enjoyed this tribute to the famous Hudson’s store of downtown Detroit.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure didn't know they had a library for the public in Hudson's! Nor did I realize how big the Downtown store was and how many and varied the departs were.

[Deborah Schuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it's a book of photographs, but it still counts as a book. :) Arcadia Publishing (www.arcadiapublishing.com) has a fascinating line of books about various cities or places complete with historical photographs. I enjoyed reading this one (which I had bought for my mother because she used to shop at downtown Hudson's and loved it), because my Hudson's was at Southland. I realized that what I had liked about Southland Hudson's was many of the things that the original Hudson's was known for. It brought back many things I had forgotten, like Prince Matchabelli perfumes with their trademark crown tops. I loved this trip down memory lane!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a neat book. It is about the Detroit based department store Hudson's. It has pictures from the time they built it until the time it was demolished.

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh, Hudson's, how I miss you and the glory days of the department store!