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Grand Rapids Then and Now


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Well as long as the topic is here I thought I should ask if anyone remembers the building that once was just slightly south of Wealthy on Division. I think it was called the "American Laundry Building". I dont know for sure. I just remember that it was demolished in the 90s because it was thought that no one could ever redevelop it due to the site being so contaminated. It was a really nice Art Deco building, and caused a lot of controversery when it was decided to take it down. It became that ugly strip mall just south of the ICCF developments.

 

It was one of the three needless demolitions that got me into urban preservation and planning issue along with the homes that became the west side parking lots and the old Purple East building.

 

Does anyone have a photo of what this place looked like or a date that it was demolished?

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Is this where the Family Dollar is or that ugly (now vacant) factory with it's back-side facing Division?

 

I've been trying to place it all day. I've always assumed it was the Family Dollar location, but the factory could easily be the place too. Both went up at the same time by the same 3rd-rate developer that bought the property.

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I've been trying to place it all day. I've always assumed it was the Family Dollar location, but the factory could easily be the place too. Both went up at the same time by the same 3rd-rate developer that bought the property.

 

I've found an address saying it was at 634-646 South Division.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%22646+S.+Division+Ave+Grand+Rapids%22&hl=en&ll=42.951068,-85.667545&spn=0.000016,0.010568&sll=42.951102,-85.667564&layer=c&cbp=13,94.16,,0,-1.63&cbll=42.951068,-85.667545&hnear=646+Division+Ave+S,+Grand+Rapids,+Michigan+49503&t=m&z=17&panoid=CRuu9AyXNyC3sQ_UIDJY6g

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That is one beautiful piece of Art Deco.  Too bad it couldn't have held out a few more decades; there's enough interest in the south side today that it might have had a chance.

 

While I do remember all of the houses that were demolished between Mt. Vernon and Winter on the west side, I don't remember the old Purple East building, even though I know it has been mentioned on this forum before.  Does anyone happen to have an image or link to that?

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640sdiv.jpg

 

You know what catches my eye about this building.  It's that the front door is right on Division. However the side walk from that door leads you right to the parking lot.  You can't get from the door to the sidewalk along the street, which is only just feet away, because of the retaining wall.  Clever site design.

Edited by Gorath
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I have located two photos of the American Laundry on our Flickr photostream:

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitsorf/4352014973/" title="The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING by bitsorf 820,000 visits, Thanks much!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4019/4352014973_997b21b712_z.jpg" width="640" height="439" alt="The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING"></a>  

 

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitsorf/4352760564/" title="DETAIL FROM The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING by bitsorf 820,000 visits, Thanks much!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4065/4352760564_d30b328bf7_z.jpg" width="640" height="437" alt="DETAIL FROM The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING"></a>

 

there are other details from g.r. buildings on that photostream.

 

I am not sure how to post here, hope this is okay

Edited by ballema
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Some great old photos in here of Grand Rapids.  A few old buildings I can place but a few others I can't.

The picture of the old Williams distributing building...is that the BOB now?

I have located two photos of the American Laundry on our Flickr photostream:

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitsorf/4352014973/" title="The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING by bitsorf 820,000 visits, Thanks much!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4019/4352014973_997b21b712_z.jpg" width="640" height="439" alt="The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING"></a>  

 

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitsorf/4352760564/" title="DETAIL FROM The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING by bitsorf 820,000 visits, Thanks much!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4065/4352760564_d30b328bf7_z.jpg" width="640" height="437" alt="DETAIL FROM The AMERICAN LAUNDRY &amp; CLEANERS BUILDING"></a>

 

there are other details from g.r. buildings on that photostream.

 

I am not sure how to post here, hope this is okay

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Some great old photos in here of Grand Rapids.  A few old buildings I can place but a few others I can't.

The picture of the old Williams distributing building...is that the BOB now?

 

This one?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitsorf/4352763486/in/photostream

 

That's not the BOB.  That's 25 Ottawa SW

http://goo.gl/maps/msVQI

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I remembered not too long ago a building standing in the mid to late 90s on monroe center where the art museum is that was about 10 stories and looks very run down but still in use and had an old worn ad for wendys on the side. It was always very interesting to me because it stuck out as being very thin facing the stree and quit tall. Any info / pics on that building?

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I think it had a restaurant called the "hong kong inn"...classic dive

I remembered not too long ago a building standing in the mid to late 90s on monroe center where the art museum is that was about 10 stories and looks very run down but still in use and had an old worn ad for wendys on the side. It was always very interesting to me because it stuck out as being very thin facing the stree and quit tall. Any info / pics on that building?
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I remembered not too long ago a building standing in the mid to late 90s on monroe center where the art museum is that was about 10 stories and looks very run down but still in use and had an old worn ad for wendys on the side. It was always very interesting to me because it stuck out as being very thin facing the stree and quit tall. Any info / pics on that building?

 

 

I think you might be thinking of the "tower" portion of Wurzburg's department store (originally Herpolsheimer's)

 

http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/11/f-w-wurzburg-co-grand-rapids-michigan.html (the first building on this page)

 

That was demolished in 1973, not the 1990s, but there was never anything else that tall on the Art Museum block.

Edited by andrew.w
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That is one beautiful piece of Art Deco.  Too bad it couldn't have held out a few more decades; there's enough interest in the south side today that it might have had a chance.

 

While I do remember all of the houses that were demolished between Mt. Vernon and Winter on the west side, I don't remember the old Purple East building, even though I know it has been mentioned on this forum before.  Does anyone happen to have an image or link to that?

 

I think it might be next to impossible to find one. It was just before the age of early consumer digital cameras  The only one I know for sure was in the GR Press.

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I think the height is off, but Wendy's had a location on Monroe Center in the 90's. the building was 5-7 stories tall and very narrow. There were four(?) buildings in this block and none if them seemed to use more than the first floor. The other three spots included the Hong Kong inn, a printing company and the UICA. And a monstrous surface parking lot. The area is definitely better off (though I wish the UICA facade would have stayed downtown). :) Joe

I think you might be thinking of the "tower" portion of Wurzburg's department store (originally Herpolsheimer's)   http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/11/f-w-wurzburg-co-grand-rapids-michigan.html (the first building on this page)   That was demolished in 1973, not the 1990s, but there was never anything else that tall on the Art Museum block.
I think you might be thinking of the "tower" portion of Wurzburg's department store (originally Herpolsheimer's)   http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/11/f-w-wurzburg-co-grand-rapids-michigan.html (the first building on this page)   That was demolished in 1973, not the 1990s, but there was never anything else that tall on the Art Museum block.
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I think the height is off, but Wendy's had a location on Monroe Center in the 90's. the building was 5-7 stories tall and very narrow. There were four(?) buildings in this block and none if them seemed to use more than the first floor. The other three spots included the Hong Kong inn, a printing company and the UICA. And a monstrous surface parking lot. The area is definitely better off (though I wish the UICA facade would have stayed downtown). :) Joe

could be, any pics of that? i cant find any on a google search

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