Ever wonder what it was like to buy a car in the roaring twenties? The Stuber-Stone Lofts building stands before us. It whispers tales of Detroit’s automotive ambitions. This isn’t just brick and mortar. It is a portal to a bygone era.
The Stuber-Stone Lofts started its life in 1916. Developer David W. Simmons built it. Imagine this area buzzing with excitement. It was a prime location for commerce.
Originally, the building had two entrances. It housed multiple tenants. One prominent tenant was Stuber-Stone & Company. They sold Columbia Motors and Abbott-Detroit cars. Edwin W. Stuber, Norman T. Stone, and Otto R. Neumann founded the company in 1917.
Stuber-Stone occupied a significant portion of the building. The Rotary Tire Service Company was also here. Edwin Stuber owned that company too.
By 1919, the Owen Tire and Auto Supply Company moved in. Later, in 1924, the Hupmobile dealership of D. E. Meyer Company replaced Stuber-Stone. The Jordan Motor Cars dealership occupied the space in the 1930s. Automobile dealers and parts suppliers continued to use the building into the 1940s.
Architecturally, the Stuber-Stone Lofts building showcases a Sullivanesque style. It measures 100 feet by 150 feet. The main facade features five bays. Wide bays housed storefronts. Narrower bays contained entrances. The right-hand entrance has an arched opening. Limestone trims it beautifully. Rectangular terra cotta panels flank the entrance.
A wide decorative spandrel divides the first and second floors. On the second floor, each bay has tall windows. The central bay boasts nine windows. The narrower entry bays have four. The outer bays have six. Decorative terra cotta panels sit above and below the windows. The upper panel in the central bay features a circular medallion. It’s in the shape of a wheel. The Stuber-Stone & Co. nameplate is visible.
Each pier has a lion figurine. They sit on their hind legs holding a shield.
Today, Stuber-Stone Lofts is part of the Willis-Selden Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It was designated as a city landmark in 1997.
The Stuber-Stone Lofts has been renovated. It now houses 13 units. These range from 800 to 1700 square feet. Some are two-story lofts. They feature open floor plans and 16-foot ceilings.
The next time you pass by, remember the Stuber-Stone Lofts. It is not just a building. It’s a testament to Detroit’s vibrant past. It reflects the city’s enduring spirit of innovation.