The Detroit times., 1909-04-16
DETROIT NOT READY
FOR DELUXE PLACE
Hiram w. and Frank D. Mccormick,
Former Proprietors Of The Lorraine,
Sink $4,000 in Venture.

Launched scant two years ago as
Lorraine. formerly conducted by the
Mccormick Mercantile Co.. at No Is?
Woodward-ave.. will soon be only
memory as far as the plans of it's pro-
Jectors are concerned. It's passing Is
the final scene In the city's latest bus
mess tragedy; another ideal has been
shattered.
The transformation OF this nigh
class confectionery into modern
drug store, operated by Gray q Wor-
cester. In being carried rapidly for
ward. and will be complete within a
few days. Edward c. Sullivan. real
estate dealer. has purchased the hand
some tablet chairs and other articles
Of equipment installed by the McCor-
micks, Hiram w. and Frank D.. when
they started The Lorraine, and Will
use them In fitting out an elaborate
refreshment parlor on Jenerson-ave.,
opposite the Water Works park gate
Gray a Worcester need the room Tor
additional show cases and other hx-'
lures requisite to the drug business.
The soda fountain, magnificent
combination OF marble. mahogany,
German silver and French plate glass,
will remain. or at least. the greater
part Of II will. So will the rich wall
decorations. veritable works OF ART,
for the present. But In other respects
there will be little resemblance In the
rearranged store to the old Lorraine.
Even the name will be abandoned. ap-
parently. for the electric signboard
fhat IN
pers and afterthe-theater parties has
already been dismantled, and even
artists are at work on the windows.
working out the name OF the drug
arm In letters OF glistening gold.
Thus, In less than two years, The
Lorraine, launched under seemingly
suspicious circumstances, has come
and gone, and with 1t thousands OF
good American dollars. invested In
good faith and. as was then thought,
with prospects OF good returns.
Hiram w. Mccormick, former Bay
City lumberman. financed the propo-
sition. AS fumberman he had been
most successful. In five years he and
his son. Frank ID. Mccormick. clean
ed up 100000 In the north woods or
Canada. Then they came TO Detroit
and In % months sank nearly $7O,OOO
between them. or this amount ii. w.
Mccormick put In about 100000 while
the sons contribution was $4,000.
Broken In health. the senior McCor-
mick Is now travelling In the south
with his wife. He may resume the
lumber business IL his health will per-
nit
How do | account for it," said
Frank Mccormick In response TO
similar query. The simple truth Is
that Detroit Is not ready as yet TO
support an establishment conducted on
the lines Of The Lorraine. II was too
high grade. The Lorraine was an ex-
pertinent, and a more costly one than
we had figured on"
The failure OF The Lorraine, as orig
lnally planned, to make good cannot,
therefore. be charged up to poor man
agement or lack of merit. The time
was simply not ripe. When Gray
Worcester took hold the first thing
they did was to place the establish
ment on a popular price basis with
good results. They realized the adj
yantages of such location for cut
rate drug store and acted accordingly.
The Lorraine soda and candy depart
ments are retained. but instead OF con-
stituting the entire stock In trade