Meier & Frank Building
| Company type | Retail and office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (historically department store) |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Founder | Sigmund Frank (co-founder of Meier & Frank) |
| Fate | Acquired by Macy's in 2006; retail operations ceased in 2017; converted to office and hotel use |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
| Products | Department store retail (historically) |
Meier & Frank Building
The Meier & Frank Building is a fifteen-story structure featuring glazed terra cotta, situated in downtown Portland, Oregon, directly opposite the northeast corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square. This edifice formerly served as the flagship retail location and corporate headquarters for the Meier & Frank department store chain, which was acquired by Macy's in 2006. Between 2006 and 2007, the building's bottom five floors underwent renovation to accommodate a Macy's store, while the remaining eleven upper floors were converted into a luxury hotel named The Nines in 2008. Macy's ceased operations in April 2017, after which the lower floors were transformed into office spaces.
Occupying an entire city block bordered by SW Fifth and Sixth Avenues along with Morrison and Alder Streets, the current structure was developed in phases beginning in 1909, with significant enlargements completed in 1915 and 1932. This building replaced an earlier Meier & Frank retail location originally erected in 1898.
History
This project marked the initial significant commission for the renowned Portland architect, A. E. Doyle. Originally intended as an annex to the existing structure, Doyle accompanied the company’s co-founder, Sigmund Frank, on a visit to Chicago to examine department stores. Frank was greatly impressed by what they observed, prompting a shift in plans toward constructing a state-of-the-art department store occupying an entire city block. However, Frank’s passing in 1910 halted these ambitions, resulting in the building being erected incrementally over several decades. This phased construction caused irregularities in which elevators and stairways served various floors. Notably, this building was Doyle’s first use of glazed terra-cotta, a material that later became prominent in numerous Portland buildings designed by his firm and others.
The Meier & Frank chain headquartered its corporate offices within this building. Following the 1966 acquisition of Meier & Frank by May Department Stores, the brand operated as a division managed from these former headquarters.
Over time, the building’s interior underwent modernization, leaving few original historic features intact. Nevertheless, some exceptions remained, including the Georgian Room restaurant and the seasonal Santaland attraction, both located on the tenth floor—the highest retail level in the building. The Georgian Room retained its historic character virtually unchanged for over five decades. Santaland, a beloved annual holiday tradition for many Portland families until it closed after the 2005 Christmas season, featured a "kiddie"-sized overhead monorail circling its ceiling. Installed initially in 1959, this monorail last operated during the 2005 holiday period. Additionally, Santaland included a model railroad display and appearances by Santa Claus figures. Throughout the store, pneumatic tube systems were installed to transmit messages and cash between floors; remnants of this network remain visible in certain stairwells and back areas.
The Meier & Frank Building introduced Portland’s first escalator and also housed the company’s radio station, KFEC, which began broadcasting on October 19, 1922. The station’s studio occupied the fifth floor and doubled as an employee library and reading room. Transmitter towers were mounted atop the building. KFEC remained operational until March 22, 1929, when it was sold and relocated to Yakima, Washington, where it continues today as KIT.
Until August 1962, this 223 feet (68 m) tall structure ranked as Portland’s second tallest building after the Public Service Building. The building includes two main lower levels with an additional service level beneath them. Retail space occupied the first lower level until the mid-1980s, while subordinate levels served storage and seasonal functions. Originally operated by store employees using manually controlled elevators, these lifts were closed to public use after new automatic elevators were installed but continued transporting merchandise out of public view into the 1990s.
At its height, the store offered a wide range of products including a pharmacy and pet store. Notably, actor Clark Gable worked in its tie department in 1922. Several delis and food vendors operated across multiple floors; however, as demand diminished, the store shifted focus during the 1980s toward soft goods like apparel and smaller household items. Portions of several floors were converted into corporate office spaces while others were closed off for cold storage use. This configuration persisted until competition intensified with nearby developments such as Pioneer Place mall and upscale retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, ultimately leading to decline.
In 1982, the building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The May Company was acquired by Federated Department Stores, owner of Macy's and other brands, in 2005. Subsequently, all Meier & Frank stores rebranded as Macy's in September 2006. Prior to this rebranding, a $100 million (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year) renovation commenced late in 2005. This extensive project involved converting the upper nine floors into a luxury hotel called The Nines, affiliated with The Luxury Collection. Renovation work on retail areas within lower floors began first and was ongoing when the store transitioned to Macy's branding in September 2006. Macy's later chose to temporarily close this location to expedite remodeling efforts; this closure started in December 2006. The revamped store reopened on October 26, 2007 under the name Macy's at Meier and Frank Square. The hotel welcomed guests beginning in late summer 2008.
In November 2016, Macy's announced plans to shutter this downtown Portland store by spring 2017 due to declining sales performance. A clearance sale commenced in January 2017 before permanent closure occurred in April of that year. Following closure, the lower five floors were repurposed into office space.
In March 2018, Japanese retailer Muji revealed plans to lease approximately 15,000 square feet within the building for their inaugural Pacific Northwest location.
Other historic structures
Meier and Frank once managed two additional properties in downtown Portland: the Delivery Depot and the Warehouse. Both of these buildings are currently recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Each has undergone conversion to serve new functions.
On August 18, 2010, Vestas Wind Systems, a Danish manufacturer specializing in wind turbines, revealed plans to lease the historic Meier & Frank Delivery Depot located in the Pearl District. Following renovations finalized in 2012, the facility now accommodates the company’s U.S. headquarters within its 172,000-square-foot (16,000 m2) of space.
See also
References
External links
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- Skyscrapers in Portland, Oregon
- Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon
- 1909 establishments in Oregon
- Hotels established in 2008
- Hotel buildings completed in 1909
- A. E. Doyle buildings
- Department stores on the National Register of Historic Places
- Buildings and structures in Southwest Portland, Oregon
- Portland Historic Landmarks
- Chicago school architecture in Portland, Oregon
- Meier & Frank