Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Northland Center


Southfield, Michigan - 1950's

Sure is purty, aint it? Retro shopping at its best! Back of this great postcard reads:
"The world's largest shopping center", built by the J. L. Hudson Company and opened in March 1954. The center section, occupied by the J. L. Hudson Company, is surrounded by beautifully landscaped malls . . . Including modern statuary . . . Restful redwood benches, fountains, trees and flowers. This "fabulous" shopping center is located between 8 Mile road and 9 Mile road and bounded by Greenfield Road and Northwestern Highway on the northwestern boundary of Detroit.
Mall history: 1954 - present
Architect: Victor Gruen (1903-1980)
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5



5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's between 8 Mile and 9 Mile road. So is this place still standing?

Tue Jun 27, 02:19:00 PM  
Blogger Scott Parsons said...

Easily one of my favorite malls. Its history is enough to capture my interest. You have to think this one started it all.
But, what's with Northland being in Southfield? And, isn't there a Southdale?
Scott

Tue Jun 27, 07:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Northland is still there, still alive. http://shopatnorthland.com

And there're a Southland, Eastland, and Westland, in Taylor, Harper Woods, and (surprise!) Westland, respectively.

Tue Jun 27, 08:52:00 PM  
Blogger Livemalls said...

Northland had the coolest design. Does anyone know if the Hudson's still looks similar?

Tue Jun 27, 09:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I worked at the JCPenney Autocenter at Northland from 1981 until 1983 when it closed. Good times. This was back when Northland was still a fairly popular mall, with lost of good stores.

There is a tunnel that runs under the mall, allowing access to the stores. Sometimes I would have to pick merchandise up from the main store via the tunnel.

Pretty cool.

Tue Apr 15, 09:53:00 PM  

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