Grand Central Market

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Grand Central Market, Sears Roebuck and Company Automobile Factory, John Cusack Advertising Co.
Life Span: 1908-1949
Location: NE corner Loomis and Harrison streets
Architect: E. D. Shank

Inter Ocean, September 3, 1908

In the important matter of public markets, Chicago has been somewhat of a laggard. It Is satisfactory to know that this condition of affairs will very shortly be altered and Chicago will have one of the best public markets in this or any other country.

The new market is located on the West Side on Harrison street, and will extend the entire length of the block between Loomis and Throop streets. The comprehensive character of the enterprise will be better understood when it is said that the building covers an area of 476×200 feet.

The site is that of the old baseball park, which was formerly leased by the Chicago National league, and which Captain Anson made famous.

The name by which the new market will be known in that of the Grand Central market.

Tomorrow morning the grand parade, which will start at 10 o’clock, will serve to let the people of Chicago know something of the stupendous nature of the new central market. Everyone who entered into the construction of the building will be represented in the parade. This will include the scale company, the National Cash Register company, the packing houses, the bakers, the coffee firms, etc. On Tuesday morning at 6 o’clock the roasting for the immense barbecue will begin. The barbecue will last all day and the general public will be served from long counters, which will extend entirely around the half block north of the big building.

The exterior indicates the nature of the business transacted within. It is of red brick, relieved with stone dressing. The style is castellated, the main fronts showing square towers of graceful and effective proportions. The walls are pierced with five wide public entrances, one on Loomis street, one on Throop street, and three on Harrison street. In addition, there are four entrances upon the abutting driveway, for delivery purposes only. It may be stated that no windows show upon the exterior walls. As a safeguarding of privacy this is a commendable feature. People going to market usually prefer to buy as quietly as possible. Windows are peepholes. They attract the curious and thereby tend to assemble the crowd—not of purchasers, who are desired, but of sightseers, who only obstruct, and who by their presence tend to foster a sidewalk market, which is just the one thing the absence of which is most desired.

Excellent as, from a certain viewpoint, the markets upon South Water street, West Randolph street, and Fulton street are, they all suffer from the fact that their business is conducted too much from the sidewalks, and within sight of the general and nonparticipating public. None of these distractions and inconveniences will be present at the new central market.

The market will be directly lighted from overhead, all skylights facing the north. This arrangement admits not only what is acknowledged by all architects and artists to be the most steady and rellable light. but has the further advantage of keeping the direct rays of the sun off the stalls. All business will be conducted on the ground floor, thus doing away, with the embarrassment and crush of stairs, elevators, etc. There are no turns or windings to confuse, everything being under one roof and in plain view of all.

The Grand Central market provides for 480 stalls. These stalls will be 10xl0 feet each, which experience shows is ample for most individual lines. Holders in need of more than one stall can, of course, lease others, but it is part of the general market scheme that intending purchasers shall have at all times the advantage of free and open competition. It is the desire of the management of Chicago’s latest and best market that no line shall be the monopoly of any individual or set of individuals, but rather that there shall be a fair show for all. In this way it is hoped to build up in a comparatively short time a big and satisfactory trade for the renters by bringing buyers and sellers together under mutually advantageous conditions, by reason of the fact that they are mutually fair—for buyers a fair and sufficient competition; for sellers a constant stream of satisfied and dependable buyers.

At the market all business of the usual kind will be well represented. Here will be found purveyors of all kinds of eatables—meat, fish, delicatessen stores, game, poultry (live and dressed), groceries, butter, eggs and cheese, bakery goods in endless assortments, etc. There will also be a number of stalls devoted to the sale of such goods as are usually to be found in public markets—candies, notions, cigars, woodenware, kitchen utensils, etc.

As has been already stated, the stalls at the Grand Central market are 10×10 feet, and there are 480 of them. For purposes of comparison it is of interest to know that in New York city the stalls are 8×8 feet and at Indianapolis 7×6 feet. Reduced to superficial feet, these figures work out as follows: Chicago, 100; New York, 64, and Indianapolis, 42. Thus, as will be seen, the lead of the Grand Central market of Chicago in the matter of stall dimensions is considerable.

The arrangement of the market and its equipment throughout are of the very best. The market faces upon three streets, with frontages upon the south, east, and west. To the north is a private driveway forty-five feet wide, from whence goods will be received and delivered without interfering with customers. The market floor throughout is best Portland cement pavement, with ample fall for daily flushing. All conduits, ice chests, refrigerators, and machinery of all descriptions are raised six Inches above the floor for general sanitary purposes. There will be installed an electric light plant, refrigerator plant, steam heat, and plumbing of the most approved character.

The main passageways, or avenues, close upon 500 feet in length each, run east and ways, or alleys, run north and south and are ways, or alleys, run north and south and are nine feet wide. Altogether there is ample accommodation for several thousand visitors to move about in and effect their purchases in comfort.

Visitors going to the Grand Central market will find themselves surrounded by all conveniences. In the center of the building is a handsome fountain, surrounded by tables, benches, and chairs. Here ladies can rest when necessary, check over their purchases, and partake of light refreshments. A nursery is provided, where children can be left in security and attended to in the absence of their natural guardians while engaged in shopping. There are also retiring rooms for women and men.

The general arrangements provide for meat, fish, poultry, etc., at the east of the building: woodenware, 5 cent and 10 cent stores, kitchen ware, groceries, etc., at the west end of building, and the lighter kind of goods, such as candies, bakery goods, delicatessen goods, etc., in the center, grouped around the fountain.

Attached to the market is a restaurant, where good meals can be had at reasonable prices. A baker’s oven, constantly going, will be another feature.

The Grand Central market, as it stands to-day, is the largest retail market in the United States, and, under enlightened management, is destined in a short time to be the best. It covers under a single roof 66,500 superficial feet of area, and adjoining there is ample space for extension; if necessary.

The location is as near central as possible. It is on the great West Side, where over one-half the population of Chicago have their homes. It is easily reached from the Northwest and Southwest by way of Halsted street, via Milwaukee avenue and Blue Island avenue, and transfers can be had over all surface lines running east and west. The elevated line is also quite near.

The Grand Central market is, it is figured, in the center of a residential population of fully 500,000. This population is, it must be remembered, considered as directly tributary to the market. In addition, buyers are expected to flock to it from the numerous outlying districts, more particularly from the numerous manufacturing suburbs. There are undoubtedly great elements of suecess in the location, and in the enterprise.

The land on which the market stands was taken over from the Richmond estate (George S. Eddy, lawyer, representing), by Mrs. Allfe C. Shank, who released for ninety-nine years to the Grand Central Market company. Mrs. Shank owns upward of fity warehouses scattered all over Chicago, and is one of the largest owners of real estate in the city.

The market building was erected for the Grand Central Market company by the Shank company, builders of warehouses and fae-tories, 108 La Salle street, and in accordance with plans furnished by E. D. Shank.

The Grand Central market represents an outlay of $460,000. The enterprise has strong financial backing behind it, and nothing will be wanting to make it a complete success.

Chicago Tribune,September 26, 1908

It is reported that the firm of builders which constructed the Grand Central Market at Throop, Loomis, Harrison and Congress streets is planning to build four more, two probably on the south side, one on the north side, and one on the northwest side. Each is expected to cost $500,000. They will be one story high and similar in plan and materials used to the Grand Centrall

Chicago Tribune, May 11, 1909

GREAT MARKET TO BE CLOSED.
West Side Venture Unsuccessful and Building Will Be Turned Over to Manufacturers.
By the end of this week the Grand Central market at Harrison and Loomis streets will be no more. The great building will be turned over to manufacturing companies.

Attorney W. B. Langmore. representing the market company, admitted last night that the enterprise had been a failure.

“Not one of the stockholders. however will lose a cent.” he added. “When the building was erected it was understood among the promoters that if the market did not prove a financial success it would be converted into manufacturing plants.”

Chicago Tribune, December 23, 1909

Sears, Roebuck & Co, Lease Building in Which to Manufacture Automobiles.
It is interesting in this connection to note that Sears, Roebuck & Co. have leased from the Grand Central Market company the entire building at the northeast corner of Loomis and Harrison streets, which was erected nearly two years ago, with the purpose of using it for market purposes, much after the plans of the Gray and Market company. For some reason, however, it failed of success and the undertaking was abandoned.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. will use it for the manufacture of automobiles, and have leased it for a term of years at an annual rental of $14,000. The building is said to be admirably adapted for the purpose, being one story high, with sawtooth skylights running the entire length of the building, the dimensions of which are 140 feet on Loomis street and 476 feet on Harrison street. The lease was negotiated by L. G. Varty of H. O. Stone & Co., in connection with W. B. Langmore of James A. MeLane & Co.

Inter Ocean, June 25, 1913

GRAND CENTRAL MARKET SELLS.
The Grand Central market, with 476×138 feet of ground, at the northeast corner of West Harrison and Loomis streets, has been purchased by the Thomas Cusack company, manufacturer of signs. Only a nominal consideration is mentioned in the deed, but the purchaser has given to the Chicago Title and Trust company a trust deed to secure the payment of $200,000 twenty years with 6 per cent interest. The transfer was recorded under the Torrens system.

Chicago Tribune, November 30, 1949

Old Buildings Topple in Path of Expressway.
The biggest physical change on the west side of Chicago in generations is well under way as hundreds of old buildings are razed to make way for the west express-way.

More than 250 structures have come down between State st. and Ashland av. on the right of way, lying in the main between Van Buren and Congress streets. Some of the demolished buildings were multi-story factory and commercial structures, others stores, rooming houses and wooden homes built more than 50 years ago.

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