The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-17
DETROIT NOT READY
FOR DE LUKE PLACE
Hiram w. and Frank D. Mccormick,
Former Proprietors of The Lorraine,
Sink $4,000 in Venture.

Launched a scant two years ago as
q de luxe establishment OF It's kind. Tine
Lorraine, formerly conducted by the
Mccormick Mercantile Co.. at No. 1875
Woodward-ave., will soon be only a
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 a modern
drug store, operated by Gray d Wor-
cester. is 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 for
additional shcw cases and other FIX
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 il will So will the rich wall
decorations, yeritable 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, APP
parently. for the electric signboard
that used To blaze the way for shop
pers and after-the-theater parties has
already been dismantled, and even
artists are at work on the windows.
working out the name OF the drug
firm In letters OF glistening gold
Thus, In less than two years, The
Lorraine. launched under seemingly
auspicious circumstances. has come
and gone, ana with II thousands OF
good American dollars, invested in
good faith and. as was then thought,
With prospects of good returns.
Hiram w Mccormick, a former Bay
City lumberman. financed the propo-
sition. As "A lumberman he had been
most successful. In five years he and
his son, Frank ID. Mccormick, clean
ed up 100000 in the north woods OF
Canada Then they came TO Detroit
and I'm - months sank nearly $70,00O
between them OF this amount III. w.
Mccormick put in about 100000, while
the sons contribution was $4,000.
Broken III health, the senior McCor-
mick is now travelling in the south
with his vile He may resume the
lumber business If his health will per-
init
How do | account for IT," said
Frank Mccormick in response to a
similar query. The simple truth Is
that Detroit is not ready as yet TO
support an establishment conducted on
the lines Of The Lorraine. IL was too
high grade. The Lorraine was an eX-
pertinent. and more costly one than
we had figured on
The failure OF The Lorraine. as orig
inally planned, to make good cannot,
therefore, be charged up 10 poor man.
agement or lack OF merit. The time
was simply not ripe. When Gray 4
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
vantages OF such a location for cut
rate drug store and acted accordingly.
The Lorraine soda and candy depart.
ments are retained. but instead OF con-
shutting the entire stock in trade
they are but adjuncts Of a much
broader enterprise
The lease purchased by Gray &
Worcester has 10 years TO run and
calls for yearly rental of $4,000.
The consideration OF the transfer was
in the neighborhood of $4,000, which
included the Lorraine candy kitchen
and ice cream plant.