It was constructed beginning in 1911, with additions throughout the years, before being "completed" in 1946, and named after the company's founder, Joseph Lowthian Hudson.

ft.[3] of retail and office space, included several restaurants and was built in the Chicago School architectural style.

All executive and buying positions transferred to Minneapolis, and other staff moved to space at the Northland Center store in Southfield.

The demolition shattered windows on many then-still-abandoned retail buildings across Woodward Avenue, created a large debris and dust cloud that shrouded many parts of downtown Detroit as far south as Jefferson Avenue in dust (including thousands of people and vehicles) and accidentally damaged a section of the elevated Detroit People Mover.

Many people watched the demolition from Hart Plaza at the foot of Woodward Avenue and Dieppe Gardens in Windsor.

The city constructed a 955-space, four-level underground parking garage at the site using parts of the basement of the demolished tower in 2001.