1916 PAUL STEKETEE & SONS DEPARTMENT STORE on Monroe Center NW.

Text and Image by Pam VanderPloeg copyright 2019

PAUL STEKETEE & SONS DEPARTMENT STORE

This eight-story commercial building was designed with 80 feet of frontage on today’s Monroe Center  in the Chicago Modern style using modern brick, steel and concrete fireproof construction.  Built by Hauser, Owen, Ames Contractors, the building was designed to put the most modern face on the prosperous local retail operation that began before the Civic War as a dry goods store founded by Paul Doornich.  Paul Steketee, a Dutch immigrant who came to the US in 1850, joined the firm in 1862.  During the construction, a 20-foot wide passageway was maintained to connect the new construction to the Fountain Street Store.

Today the building houses the Grand Rapids Blue Cross-Blue Shield Offices.

Architects: Robinson & Crowe