Between the World Wars, Sears built 10 giant centers around the country. The one-to-three million square foot fortresses served as department store, regional office and fulfillment center for the catalog business. As Sears’ business dwindled in the early 1990s, the centers were closed. Most sat idle for years. Three were eventually demolished. The one in Seattle became the headquarters of Starbucks. Some turned into condos. The one in Memphis turned into the most interesting adapted use project in America.
1350 CONCOURSE AVE • MEMPHIS, TN • 38104 • 901.203.8300