The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-05-24

Chicago, Especially Chicago is to
have a gigantic Merchandise Mart
housed in its own building which
will be twice the size of the largest
business building in the world. This
mammoth structure, two city blocks
In length, IS to % stories high, is
planned for the service and conven-
fence of merchandise buyers of the
United States and to achieve for Chi
cago a still greater prestige as a
Great Central Market, it was de-
clared today. 1t will cost $30,000,000.
Construction will begin Immediately.
The project will be the largest
single development of air rights The
property of the new building except
for caissons begins % feet above
datum"
The big business Of the country
is now done mainly in concentrated
market places, as evidenced by the
Garment Center and Cotton Goods
Center in New York City, automobile
rows in all leading cities, financial
buildings, and the Furniture Mart in
Chicago, where more than 100 furni-
ture manufacturers show their prod
ucts side by side, in the most modern
manner and under ideal conditions.
Business men have learned that the
nearer they are to the centers Of these
market places, the greater is their
opportunity for volume and profit
The establishment of the Merchan-
disc Mart is dramatic development
In the program to make Chicago the
Great Central Market, q movement
which the Chicago Association of Com
nerce started number of years ago
and a goal toward which it has been
devoting it's energies continuously
ever since, under the leadership of
It's Foreign and Domestic Commerce
committee.
Located on River Front.
This great Mart, which will house
sales quarters and merchandise dis
plays of several hundred Of the coun-
try's foremost manufacturers, whole
salers and importers, will be located
In the rapidly developing new river
district, and will occupy distinctly
conspicuous position just across the
river from Wacker Drive at Wells
street, where the southern facade of
the structure will be visible for
blocks. The site was formerly that Of
the Chicago and North Western Rail-
way Company's passenger station The
building will extend 724 feet on Kin
zie street, 577 feet on the river front
and 324 feet on Wells street. with a
diagonal frontage facing Orleans and
FRANKLIN streets. 1t will be set back
from the river about so feet to ac-
commodate broad upper level drive
extending from Wells to Franklin. The
main entrance of the building will
face the river and the drive.
The Merchandise Mart will have a
total floor space of about 100000
square feet as compared with slight
ly less than 100000 square feet,
which is the floor area of the Furni-
ture Mart, the next largest building.
Each Of the eighteen main floors will
have an area Of more than 100000
square feet.
Within the walls OF this huge
edifice the retail merchants of the
United States, Canada and foreign
countries will be able to see, under
one roof, hundreds Of lines of the
worlds best merchandise. The manu-
facturers' exhibits will include tex
tiles, ready-to-wear, toys, laces, gloves,
tcorsets, millinery, silverware, glass,
rugs, knit goods hosiery, shoes, mems
twear, fancy goods, sport goods, art and
antiques, jewery, trunks, toilet articles,
ihouse furnishings, office equipment and
tscc + other merchandise displays.