CRYSTAL COURT enclosed an 8-story space beneath a stunning array of plastic and glass skylights. The highest of these were suspended 121 feet in the air. The complex had Skyway connections with four adjacent department stores and office buildings.
Photo from the Hennepin County Library
The IDS CENTER Woolworth's included a Harvest House Restaurant. There was also a Snack Bar in the store's basement level,
Photo from the F.W. Woolworth Company Annual Report 1973
The Downtown Minneapolis Dayton's was completed in 1902 and expanded in 1947. The chain, in operation for nearly 100 years, was converted to the Marshall Field's brand in August 2001. All stores were "Macy-ated" in September 2006. Macy's shuttered the 1,276,000 square foot flagship in March 2017.
Photo from Wikipedia / Bebak Ha 'Eri
CRYSTAL COURT was also linked with the L.H. Donaldson Glass Block Store. This structure was completed in 1884, expanded in 1904, and was something of a turn-of-the-century merchandising marvel.
Photo from http://www.lileks.com/ / James Lileks
The same building, with a Late Moderne facade. This was added in 1947. Donaldson's abandoned this store in 1982, moving to smaller quarters in the new MINNEAPOLIS CITY CENTER mall across the street. The abandoned original Donaldson's burned to the ground in November 1982.
Photo from http://www.lileks.com/ / James Lileks
Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall, an open-air, city street promenade and transitway, was created in 1967. It extends for 12 blocks and runs along the west side of CRYSTAL COURT.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Hephaestos"
The Downtown Minneapolis Dayton's was completed in 1902 and expanded in 1947. The chain, in operation for nearly 100 years, was converted to the Marshall Field's brand in August 2001. All stores were "Macy-ated" in September 2006. Macy's shuttered the 1,276,000 square foot flagship in March 2017.
Photo from Wikipedia / Bebak Ha 'Eri
CRYSTAL COURT was also linked with the L.H. Donaldson Glass Block Store. This structure was completed in 1884, expanded in 1904, and was something of a turn-of-the-century merchandising marvel.
Photo from http://www.lileks.com/ / James Lileks
The same building, with a Late Moderne facade. This was added in 1947. Donaldson's abandoned this store in 1982, moving to smaller quarters in the new MINNEAPOLIS CITY CENTER mall across the street. The abandoned original Donaldson's burned to the ground in November 1982.
Photo from http://www.lileks.com/ / James Lileks
Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall, an open-air, city street promenade and transitway, was created in 1967. It extends for 12 blocks and runs along the west side of CRYSTAL COURT.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Hephaestos"
