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Kaiser's (Racine, Wisconsin) facts for kids

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Kaiser's
Kaiser's Racine,WI.jpg
Kaiser's (Racine, Wisconsin) is located in Wisconsin
Kaiser's (Racine, Wisconsin)
Location in Wisconsin
Location 218 6th Street
Racine, Wisconsin
Architect Frank J. Hoffman (facade)
Architectural style Art Deco
NRHP reference No. 80000176
Added to NRHP November 25, 1980

The Kaiser's building is a special old building in downtown Racine, Wisconsin. It used to be a men's clothing store owned by Maurice and Helen Kaiser. This two-story building is famous for its cool Art Deco style front, which was updated in 1928 by an architect named Frank J. Hoffman. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.

The Kaiser's Building Story

This building has a long history! It was first used as a hardware store way back in 1887. Later, a company called United Woolen Mills Co. was there.

Kaiser's Store Opens

In 1914, the Kaiser's clothing store opened its doors in this building. It sold clothes for men for many years. The store stayed open until 1957.

A New Look: Art Deco Style

In 1928, a designer named Frank J. Hoffman gave the building a fresh, modern look. He created a new front, or "facade," for the building. This new facade was built in early 1929. It used a cool style called Art Deco. Art Deco is a design style that was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It often uses geometric shapes and fancy decorations. The facade was made from glazed terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay.

Becoming a Historic Place

By 1980, the building's front still looked almost exactly as Frank J. Hoffman designed it. Because of its unique Art Deco style, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1980. This list helps protect important historical buildings across the United States.

What's There Now?

When the building was listed as historic, a jewelry store called Trauger's Jewelry was inside. They had a big neon sign. Today, a different jewelry store, Brandt Jewelers, is in the building. The large Trauger's sign has been replaced with a smaller sign for Brandt Jewelers.

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