The building site is a full block, bounded by SW Fifth and Sixth Avenues and Morrison and Alder Streets.

Frank was very impressed with what he saw, and plans for the building changed into a full-block fully modern department store.

Frank's death in 1910 ended those plans and resulted in the building's construction in piecemeal segments over several decades, which led to anomalous differences between which elevators and stairways reached other floors.

After the acquisition of Meier and Frank by May Department Stores in 1966, the chain became a division which was based out of the former corporate offices.

Santaland, which closed after the 2005 Christmas season, was an annual holiday favorite for generations of Portland families.

Pneumatic tubes were used throughout the store to convey messages and money from upper to lower floors and back again.

The Meier & Frank Building featured the first escalator installation in Portland, and housed the company's own radio station.

[10] Macy's later decided to temporarily close the store, in order to accelerate the remodeling work,[11] and the temporary closure began in December 2006.

[12] The remodeled stored, named Macy's at Meier and Frank Square, reopened on October 26, 2007.

[15] In March 2018, Japanese retailer Muji announced they would be taking over 15,000 square feet in the building to open their first store in the Pacific Northwest.

[16] Meier and Frank also owned and operated two other buildings in the downtown area, namely, the Delivery Depot and Warehouse, both of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.