Filene's Department Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Filene's Department Store
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Daniel H. Burnham & Co. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001909 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1986 |
The Filene's Department Store was a famous shop building in Downtown Crossing, Boston, Massachusetts. It was the main store for the Filene's chain of department stores. Today, the building has been updated. It now holds offices for companies like Havas and Arnold Worldwide. It is also part of the Millennium Tower complex. You can also find the clothing store Primark there.
Contents
History of the Filene's Building
Building a Landmark Store
The Filene's building was finished in 1912. It became the new main store for William Filene and Sons' department store, known as Filene's. By 1929, Filene's made the building even bigger. It took over the whole block around Washington, Summer, Hawley, and Franklin streets.
This building was the last big project by a famous architect named Daniel Burnham. It was his only work in Boston. Many people thought this building was a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture. This style is known for being grand and fancy, often with classical details.
Becoming a Historic Site
In 1986, the Filene's Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it was recognized as an important historic site. In 2006, Filene's stores joined with Macy's, and the Filene's name was slowly removed.
Usually, old stores become the new brand. But in Boston, this was tricky. The Filene's building was right across the street from another Macy's store. When Filene's closed, the Boston Landmarks Commission voted to protect two of the old buildings. These included the main 1912 Filene's store and a 1905 building next door. Two newer parts of the store, built in 1951 and 1973, were not protected. They were torn down in 2008.
Changes and New Life
After the store closed, a company called Vornado Realty Trust bought the building. They planned a huge project to redevelop the Filene's site. This plan included a tall tower with a hotel, a restaurant, offices, homes, and shops.
The Landmarks Commission only protected the outside of the historic buildings. This meant developers could remove the inside of the Filene's building. They left only the outer walls standing. But the project ran out of money. The site was left empty inside, with missing walls where the newer buildings had been. The city of Boston eventually stopped the project.
Another company, Millennium Partners, then took over the site. Their plans included new shops on the lower floors. They also added office space on the upper floors. Many of the building's original design details were brought back. The project also included a glass tower next door. This tower has luxury homes and more shops.
On September 10, 2015, the Irish clothing company Primark opened its first U.S. store. It took up the first four floors of the restored Burnham Building. A supermarket called Roche Bros. is in the basement. Companies like Havas and Arnold Worldwide have offices on floors 5-8.
See also
In Spanish: Filene's Department Store para niños
