B and C Grocery Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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B and C Grocery Building
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 417-19 S. Main St., Royal Oak, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Henry Kohner, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000149 |
| Added to NRHP | March 22, 2006 |
The B and C Grocery Building is a cool old building in Royal Oak, Michigan. You can find it at 417-19 South Main Street. This building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it's an important part of history!
Contents
Building History: From Grocery to Restaurant
How the B & C Grocery Started
The B & C Grocery store was created by Joseph Chodoroff, Peter Chodoroff, and Max Bachman. They opened their first grocery store in Detroit in the early 1920s. By 1930, their single store had grown into a chain. They had two stores in Detroit and two in Royal Oak.
Building a New Store
In 1939, the B & C owners decided to build a brand new store. They hired a company from Detroit called Henry Kohner, Inc. to design it. Construction started in 1939 and was finished in 1940. By 1950, the grocery chain had even more stores. They opened two new locations in Berkley and Clawson. However, their two Detroit stores closed by 1954.
A Special Employee: Daisy Warren Roberts
A woman named Daisy Warren Roberts (1916-2012) lived in Royal Oak. She started working at the B & C Grocery as a clerk in the early 1930s. The owners were very supportive of her. They even paid for her to go to accounting school! After her training, Daisy became the company's bookkeeper. She stayed in that job until the mid-1950s.
The Building's New Life
The B & C Grocery closed its doors in the 1960s. After that, the building was used for different things. It became offices, a heart clinic, and even a sporting goods store. Around 1970, the cool Art Moderne panels on the front were covered up.
In 2003, a company called 2mission bought the building. They worked to bring it back to its original beauty. The restoration was finished in 2006. The building then welcomed five new businesses. One of these was a restaurant and wine bar. When the restaurant opened, the owner invited Daisy Warren Roberts. She was happy to give a short speech at the grand opening!
What Does the Building Look Like?
The B & C Grocery Building is a one-story building. It's made of red brick. The front of the building has a wide, low design. This style is called Art Deco. The front is covered with special metal panels. These panels are a pale yellow color. They also have salmon and burgundy accents.
Shiny metal doors and windows stretch across the front of the building. They create a cool band of light. There are two main entrances with double doors. Above these doors are low, stepped "gables." A third entrance is angled on the corner of the building.
This building was very modern for its time. The B & C Grocery was actually the first supermarket ever to have a soda fountain! It was also the first privately owned chain of supermarkets in the U.S. back in the 1940s.
