CUSTOMER PARKING GARAGES BUILT FOR DEPARTMENT STORES
1920-1960
Richard Longstreth, compiler
revised 12.1.09
This compendium offers basic data on parking structures commissioned for patron use by the over 180
downtown-based department store companies in 59 cities studied for my book, The American Department Store
Transformed, 1920-1960 (Yale University Press, 2010) The list does not include parking lots used for the same
purpose, which appear to have been much more numerous. The listings are chronologically arranged by date of
opening, beginning with the earliest such facilities I have been able to document.
Many sources were used in compiling this material. Women’s Wear Daily and local newspapers were
especially useful. Site visits were made in most cases, in which case I have included notation of whether the building
still stands followed by the date of my last visit in parentheses as the last line in an entry.
Additions and corrections are welcome. Contact me at rwl@gwu.edu.
1922
SCRUGGS, VANDERVOORT & BARNEY DRY GOODSCO., St. Charles Street, between Eleventh &
Twelfth streets, St. Louis
announced 1.122, opened 8.14.22
4 stories + roof deck+ basement, 400 cars, $250,000
demolished ca. 1999
FAMOUS-BARR, Seventh, Elm & Walnut streets, St. Louis
announced 2.19.22, opened ca. 8.22
Will Levy, architect
1 story + roof deck, 235 cars, 54,000 square feet
no longer standing (9.00)
1924
EMPORIUM, Mission Street near Fifth Street, San Francisco
announced 6.14.24, project
10 stories, 700-1000 cars
THE HUB, Uhler's Alley, Baltimore
announced 7.2.24, opened ca. 1924
100 cars
no longer standing (9.96)
1
1925
BON MARCHE, FRASER-PATTERSON, RHODES, AND MACDOUGALL-SOUTHWELL FOUR
STORES GARAGE, First Avenue & Union Street, Seattle
announced 11.11.24, opened 4.5.25
Thomas & Grainger, architects
7 stories, 500 cars, $500,000
extant, altered (4.95)
MAY COMPANY, Lakeside Avenue, west of Ontario Street, Cleveland
announced 2.4.25, opened 6.22.25
Lehman & Schmidt Company, architects
3 stories, 600 cars, 100,000 square feet, $500,000
no longer standing (8.97)
ROSENBAUM CO., Pittsburgh
announced 4.25, conversion of delivery garage
SANGER BROS., Elm & Austin streets, Dallas
announced 4.18.25, opened 10.10.25
5 stories + roof deck, 350 cars
no longer standing (2.97)
1926
JORDAN MARSH CO., SHOPPER’S GARAGE, 14-22 Beach Street Boston
announced 6.14.24, opened 9.15.26
8 stories + roof deck + basement, 500 cars
extant, altered (7.99)
1927
MAY COMPANY, Ninth & Hill streets, Los Angeles
announced 10.11.26, opened 9.6.27
Curlett & Beelman, architects
4 stories + 3 basement levels, 535 cars, $1,850,000
extant (6.07)
1928
M. O'NEILLCO., State & S. Main streets, Akron
announced 12.7.26, opened 3.12.28
Graham, Anderson, Probst & White (Chicago), architects
2 stories, 400 cars, 57,000 square feet
incorporated in store building
section no longer standing (1.98)
2
M. RICH & CO., Hunter & Forsyth streets, Atlanta
opened ca. 8.15.28
2 stories, 150 cars, 32,000 square feet, $225,000
no longer standing (5.99)
DAYTON CO., 24-38 Eighth Street, Minneapolis
opened 9.1.28
4 stories + basement, 300 cars
remodeled as part of store ca. 1954
1929
THE BROADWAY, S. Olive & Fourth streets, Los Angeles
opened. ca. 11.20.29
7 stories, 600+ cars
purchase of Mutual Garage (built 1923-1924)
demolished late 1980s
J. L. BRANDEIS & SONS, Seventeenth & Dodge streets, Omaha
announced 1.17.29, project
George Prins, architect
1930
DANIELS & FISHER, Sixteenth & Arapahoe streets, Denver
announced 9.18.29, opened 8.25.30
5 stories, 200 cars, $150,000
incorporated in store building
demolished ca. late 1950s
A. POLSKY CO., S. Main, Center, State & High streets, Akron, Ohio
announced 4.9.29, opened 9.14.30
Starrett & Van Vleck (New York), architects
incorporated in store building
converted to storage space 1941
extant (1.98)
1936
KAUFMANN’S, Smithfield & Diamond streets, Pittsburgh
announced 8.5.36, opened ca. 11.36
Metzger-Richardson Company, engineers
2 stories + roof deck, 350-450 cars, $100,000
demolished for new garage ca. 1956
1937
3
HECHT CO., Seventh & E streets, N.W., Washington, D.C
announced 8.10.37, opened 9.29.37
Abbott, Merkt & Company (New York), architects-engineers
2 stories + roof deck, 275 cars, $100,000
demolished early 1980s
JOHN SHILLITOCO., Sevenh & Elm streets, Cincinnati
announced 3.8.37, opened 10.26.37
Potter, Tyler & Martin, architects
4 story, 300 cars
incorporated in store building addition
extant (4.08)
1939
J. L. HUDSON CO., Grand River Avenue & Broadway, Detroit
opened 1939
275 cars, 22,000 square feet
replaced by new garage ca. 1949
WOODWARD & LOTHROP, Tenth & H streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.
opened ca. 1939
2 stories + roof deck
demolished 1980s
1940
STIX, BAER & FULLER, Seventh Street & Lucas Avenue, St. Louis
announced 12.10.39, opened 8.1.40
Morris F. Marks, designer
2 stories + roof deck+ basement, 275 cars, 75,000 square feet, $250,000
extant (4.96)
1941
GIMBELBROS., THRIFT PARK, Eighth & Chestnut streets, Philadelphia
announced ca. 9.40, opened 1.27.41
Abbott, Merkt & Company(New York), architects-engineers, Silverman & Levy, consulting architects
3 stories + roof deck, 400 cars, $500,000
extant (10.00)
BUFFUM’S AUTOPORT, First Street between Pine & Pacific avenues, Long Beach, California
opened 2.19.41
J. H. Davis, engineer
4 stories + roof deck+ basement
extant (1.08)
4
1944
MILLER & RHODES, Seventh Street, Richmond, Virginia
opened 1944
5 stories
purchase of Richmond Garage (built 1927-28)
extant (10.00)
1947
JOHN SHILLITO CO., Seventh & Elm streets, Cincinnati
opened 4.47
Potter, Tyler & Martin, architects
3 stories + roof deck, 1000 cars, 248,000 square feet, $884,000
extant (4.0 8)
GIMBEL BROS., N. Plankinton Ave. & W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee
announced 1.14.46, opened 5.19.47
Drolshagen & Boynton, architects
2 stories + roof deck, 450 cars, $750,000
extant (10.99)
M. O'NEILL CO., State & Water streets, Akron
opened 9.2.47
1 story + roof deck, 500 cars
no longer standing (1.98)
FOLEY BROS., Travis Street between Lamar & Dallas, Houston
announced 5.22.45, opened 10.21.47
Kenneth Franzeim, architect
5 stories + roof deck+ basement, @ 600 cars, 191,205 square feet
extant (6.00)
F. & R. LAZARUS CO., W. Town Street & Riverside Drive, Columbus, Ohio
announced by 4.16.47, opened 11.6.47
Potter, Tyler & Martin, architects
3 stories + roof deck, 1000 cars
extant, altered (4.08)
1949
M. RICH & CO., 1 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta
opened 8.12.49
Stevens & Wilkinson, architects, MacDougall-Warren, engineers
4 stories + roof deck, 325 cars, 108,000 square feet, $500,000
no longer standing (5.99)
5
DAVISON-PAXON, Carnegie Way, Atlanta
announced 6.30.49, opened 11.9.49
R. Kennon Perry, architect
4 stories + roof deck
1950
MILLER & RHODES, THALHEIMER BROS., PARK & SHOP GARAGE, Grace Street between Sixth &
Seventh, Richmond, Virginia
opened 10.1.50
Carneal & Johnson, architects
2 stories+ roof deck+ basement, 475 cars, $1,500,000
extant, later additions (10.00)
J. L. BRANDEIS & SONS, Eighteenth & Dodge streets, Omaha
announced 2.22.50, opened 12.1.50
Noel S. Wallace, architect
4 stories + roof deck + 2 basement levels, 400 cars, $500,000
1951
J. L. HUDSON CO., Broadway, Grand River Avenue, Central & John R streets, Detroit
announced 1949, opened ca. 1.51
Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, architects
4 stories + roof deck, 850 cars, $1,500,000
extant (4.00)
WURZBURG’S, Ottawa Avenue & Lewis Street, Grand Rapids
announced 4.17.50, opened 4.9.51
3 stories + roof deck (?), 320 cars, $250,000
no longer standing (4.00)
HECHT BROS., Baltimore & Pine streets (?), Baltimore
opened by 12.51
Abbott, Merkt & Company (New York), architects-engineers
2 stories + roof deck, 343 cars, 119,200 square feet
no longer standing (9.99)
STIX, BAER & FULLER, Seventh Street & Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis
announced 10.5.50, opened 11.18.51
Russell, Crowell, Mullgardt & Schwartz, architects
4 stories + roof deck+ basement, 400 cars
extant (4.96)
6
1952
CAIN-SLOAN PARKING CENTER, Church & Fifth avenues, N., Nashville
opened 8.19.52
3 stories, 504 cars, 150,000 square feet, $1,500,000
incorporated into new Cain-Sloan store, 1956-57
demolished 1994
1953
WOODWARD & LOTHROP DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE, H & Tenth streets, N.W., Washington,
D.C.
opened 1.4.53
A. R. Claus, architect
5 stories + roof deck, 240 cars, $350,000
demolished 1980s
G. FOX, Morgan & Market streets, Hartford
announced 10.14.52, opened ca. 10.1.53
Abbott, Merkt & Company (New York), architects-engineers
3 stories + roof deck, 500 cars, $1,000,000
no longer standing (5.01)
J. GOLDSMITH & SONS CO., Front, McCall & Hoteel streets, Memphis
announced 1.21.53, opened 10.19.53
E. H. Harrison, architect
4 stories + roof deck, 500-600 cars
no longer standing (3.07)
MAY COMPANY, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles
opened by 10.30.53
A. C. Martin & Associates, architects
2 stories + roof deck, 1189 cars, $1,000,000
extant (3.00)
1954
Z.C.M.I., S. Temple Street, Salt Lake City
opened 11.2.54
4 stories + roof deck, 520 cars, $750,000
demolished 1970s
M. O'NEILLCO., Water, State & Bowery streets, Akron
opened by 11.17.54
1 story + roof deck, 400,000 square feet, 1150 cars, $1,000,000
no longer standing (1.98)
7
1955
GOLDEN RULE, Eighth & Roberts streets, St. Paul
announced 8.7.55, opened ca. 12.55
3 stories + roof deck, 600 cars, 220,000 square feet, $800,000
no longer standing (9.00)
1956
F. & R. LAZARUS CO., Rich & Front streets, Columbus, Ohio
announced 4.27.53, opened 11.56
Austin Company (Cleveland), architects-engineers
3 stories + roof deck, 500 cars, 140,000 square feet, $500,000
demolished (4.08)
KAUFMANN’S, Smithfield & Diamond streets, Pittsburgh
announced 12.20.55, opened ca. 11.56
Hoffman & Crumpton, architects
6 stories + roof deck, 864 cars
built by Pittsburgh Parking Authority for store
extant (4.07)
KAUFMANN’S, Smithfield Street & Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh
opened ca. 1956
Hoffman & Crumpton, architects
5 stories + roof deck, 528 cars
built by Pittsburgh Parking Authority for store
extant (4.07)
F. & R. LAZARUS CO., Rich & Front streets, Columbus, Ohio
announced 1.1.56, opened 11.11.56
Benham, Richards & Armstrong, architects
3 stories + roof deck, 575 cars
demolished between 1998 and 2008
1957
CAIN-SLOAN CO., Church Street & Fifth Avenue, Nashville
opened ca. 10.25.57
8 stories, 568 cars
JOHN SHILLTIO CO., Seventh, Elm & Race streets, Cincinnati
additions
announced 3.23.56, opened ca. 8.15.57, 10.6.57
4 stories (rooftop addition to existing structure) and 5 stories + roof deck (side addition), 770 cars
included corporate offices of Federated Department Stores
extant (4.08)
8
1958
KRAUS CO., Iberville, Liberty & Treme streets, New Orleans
announced before 7.2.57, opened 2.15.58
5 stories + roof deck, 350 Cars, $500,000+
extant, vacant (11.06)
L. S. AYRES & CO., Illinois & Maryland streets, Indianapolis
opened ca. 8.17.58
4 stories + roof deck, 545 cars
no longer standing (4.08)
AUERBACH’S's, State Street & Exchange Place, Salt Lake City
announced ca. 1.57, opened 11.28.58
Ashley Carpenter, architect
1500 cars, $1,500,000
1959
JOSPEH HORNE CO., Pittsburgh
announced 8.7.56, opened 7.27.59
680 cars
built by Pittsburgh Parking Authority for store
ABRAHAM & STRAUS, Elm Place, Hoyt & Livingston streets, Brooklyn
announced 5.19.58, opened ca. 8.4.59
4 stories, 600 cars
on former Namm-Loeser store site, purchased 7.57
extant (7.02)
DAYTON’S, Seventh & Eighth streets, Minneapolis
opened 8.31.59
750 cars
replaced earlier garage
extant (9.00)
RIKE-KUMLER CO., Dayton
announced 2.16.59, opened ca. 11.1.59
6 stories, 208,200 square feet, $1,252,000
1960
BON MARCHE, Pine & Stewart streets, Seattle
announced 10.27.58, opened 3.2.60
George A. Applegarth (San Francisco), architect
9 stories, 1300 cars, $3,000,000
extant (6.04)
9
1961
J. L. BRANDEIS & SONS, Douglas Street, Omaha
announced 3.21.59, opened 5.14.61
8 stories + roof deck + basement, 653 cars, $3,000,000
extant (5.97)
F. & R. LAZARUS CO., Front & Rich streets, Columbus, Ohio
opened 1961
5 stories + roof deck
demolished 2008
1962
FAMOUS-BARR CO., Sixth, Seventh, Olive & Pine streets, St. Louis
announced 10.31.60, opened 10.10.62
Schwarz & Van Hoefen, architects
10 stories + roof deck., 269,000 square feet
extant (9.00)
10