When Carson Pirie Scott department store abandoned its landmark Louis Sullivan building on State Street and Madison in 2007—one of the most significant American architectural achievements not just in Chicago but probably all of the US--it was in decay. A private entity spent years restoring the building (the upper floors now contain offices and the design department from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago). But there was no one to occupy the iconic lower floors. A local super-upscale, uber-expensive specialty food market, Fox & Obel, was going to go in there, but then the recession hit and they backed out. Target finally came along to scoop up the lease. The city won't let them put signage up, except for some red to identify it, and the building will finally be used. And also, there will be a supermarket in the Loop.
I don't shop for food at Target, or really much of anything else. I used to when I lived in the store's home site of Minneapolis, and when it was owned by the Dayton family, and when they really were unique. But I'm not going to diss this opening of a vacant space in a historical building. Let's hope they do a better job of sourcing local: it's up to us to pressure them.
Carson Pirie Scott, pre-Target:
About to open Target:
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