MERCHANT MART CHICAGO 1930 ZIP

The itinerary of this tour may be altered in accordance with health and safety policies and considerations. Tickets go off sale at 4pm the day prior. Due to construction near the main (south) entrance, enter the building from the east (Wells Street) or west (Orleans Street) entrances. The lobby is in the center of the building. The tour meets at the foot of the grand stairs in the main lobby.Environmentally sensitive renovations by management have resulted in the Merchandise Mart's Gold LEED certification in recent years.Īfter the tour ends, linger awhile for lunch and visit Luxe Home's kitchen, bath and building product boutiques, located on Merchandise Mart’s main floor. The interior is filled with sumptuous Art Deco ornamentation, including gorgeous Jules Guerin murals which illustrate commerce throughout the world.Ĭommerce defines what happens in this 'city within a city,' which has its own elevated transit station and houses many shops, restaurants, showrooms, offices and exhibition space. Ever since, it has had a commanding presence on the north bank of the Chicago River. It is the only buildingof its kind in the country with all of those furniture designers under one roof.Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the mammoth Merchandise Mart opened its doors in 1930. Mart officials hope that opening the entire design center showrooms to the public will be a boost for business.

MERCHANT MART CHICAGO 1930 ZIP

At a brief point, the building was so large, it had its own zip code. When it opened in 1930 it was the largest building in the world, with 4,000,000 square feet of floor space.12 The building was once owned by the Kennedy family. The Mart also has a dream home on display on the first floor and, each year, offers sample sales. The Merchandise Mart is a commercial building located in the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Over the last 15 years, the Merchandise Mart's first floor- filled with kitchen bathroom and floor showrooms - has been open to the public. When you are ready to purchase items from any of the showrooms on five floors., an on-site designer will help you close the sale and provide you with a substantial discount. Yes, there is a buying program,' Blumenthal said. 'I think they are worried this is just another way for the Mart to remove them from the business they have always had. 'They have to get through an approval process for the showrooms, and they have to have glowing customer reviews,' said Hubbuch. The Mart has selected 38 designers to work with the consumers. 'I think the reality is that the slippery slope will take effect, and you'll get a divide between consumers who have lost exclusivity and consumers who don't understand the value of the product,' he said.īlumenthal says there are close to 400 interior designers who work with clients at the Mart. Mark Blumenthal of Deaurora has been a tenant in the building for more than 30 years and prides himself on the exclusive furniture they sell and create. 'It's about being more user friendly ,' said Jeff Niedermaier of Niedermaier Furniture. You have to use an interior designer to purchase here,' said Brooke Hubbuch, Mart marketing manager.ĭesigners in the Judy Niedermaier showroom told ABC7 Chicago they support the Mart's decision to go public. The Mart will now have customers work with one of its on-site designers. Officials hope the move will increase traffic and business during the recession. More than 160 showrooms are not open to the public. 'The public is going to really jump at the opportunity to really get to know this building and find out what is inside,' said George Rosenbaum of Leo J. Now, the Merchandise Mart is open to the public. For years, those who wanted to shop at the Mart for furniture had to go through an interior designer to get inside a showroom or prove to the showroom that you were working with a particular designer. It is the world's largest commercial building. The Merchandise Mart opened in the 1930s at 4.2 million square feet. However, the decision is not popular with many designers and decorators who - until now-have had exclusive access to the Mart's showrooms. J(CHICAGO) The Merchandise Mart is opening its designer showrooms to retail customers.

Merchant mart chicago 1930