Loeb Arcade opened and viewed by many!
Minneapolis’ first building of this kind build edicon of $750,000
Stores along corridors fill demand for lower rents in retail district.
The Loeb Arcade at Hennepin in 5th Street was formally opened yesterday with a musical program during the day. Thousands of people passed through the wide corridors inspecting the latest addition to the Minneapolis retail district. The arcade was just completed and already quite a few of the stores are under lease. Pending the expiration of leases in the building which occupies the corner space the arcade will remain as it is. Later it will be added onto by the construction of a building a similar architecture on the corner.
Stores in demand.
In a fastly growing metropolises such as Minneapolis, there results an almost mad scramble for certain sectional business locations, which so materially affect’s rental valuation that in instances to the smaller merchant they become almost prohibitive. Responding actively to a correction of this congestion the arcade idea has healed these bruises by plane application of conservation of space. Exemplifying the response in support of the arcade idea Cleveland has to date five such places tenanted by the most exclusive and substantial organizations in the city and a continuous list waiting for entrance, which in years cannot be appeased. Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and numerous other cities have found these institutions more advantageous. In analysis of the seemingly amazing popularity of such a building bears manifold reasons. The primary one is the outgrowth of popularity of the institution as a whole resultant from individual publicity of afforded by the hundreds of Mercantile institutions immediately interested. The accessible convenience as a further potent rector and in as much space is also conserved a lesser expense to the store owners should be entailed resulting in an advantageous savings to shoppers.
Cost is 750,000
With reference to the Minneapolis arcade this structure is pleasing in its modern architectural beauty and represents an investment need bring $750,000. Four stories in height of modern fireproof steel and concrete construction the exterior is done in a brown Terra-cotta. Spacious entrances on Hennepin Avenue and 5th Street respectively admit into a equally spacious corridor of mosaic flooring presided on either side, according to the arcade idea, by he continuous chain of storerooms appointed in mahogany and white marble basing the corridor some eighteen feet in width leading from street to street affords a convenient meeting place or shelter from the weather and is a shortcut to those passing through. An upward glance discloses a tastily conceived color scheme of striking white and camel Terra-cotta with rich green and brown Three large balconies completely circling the corridor on either side and bridged at the center of the building permit the comparison of a beautiful amphitheater lighted by a continuous skylight at the top of the structure. A most modern lighting system proves the building is successfully lighted by night as by day.
Details in harmony.
Mounting to the second third and fourth floors the beauty of the surroundings the harmony of each and every detail, the individuality produced in shop store or office increases in design. Restrooms are arranged for the visitor on each floor in 2 electric elevators in addition to an enclosed fireproof staircase lead to all floors being so located they are accessible from any portion of the building. The hardware and electric fixture appointments are of conventional design, liberally apportioned. The rooms are supplied with every detail for their patrons’ comfort; a perfect vacuum steam heating plant, a complete system for vacuum cleaning hot and cold running water In addition to the commodious laboratories and freight elevator within easy access to emphasize that no justifiable expense has been spared the builders carefully studied modern construction of every character and the complement of their efforts is complete in every detail it’s Caisson foundation to its topmost pinnacle. Upon a visit to the new Loeb Arcade one finds virtually a city within a city, a rendezvous of man woman and child where the world’s products from a needle to an automobile are on sale. Corridors are streets, balconies sidewalks and as many storerooms are encountered with in this building is into ordinary city blocks.
-Minneapolis Tribune
November 8th, 1914
The Loeb Arcade was completed in 1914 and Demolished in 1967.