Building History

Bloomfield Hills, MI-based architect Minoru Yamasaki (1912-1986), a native of Seattle, designed the exterior of this second store for Littler. Littler began operations as a menswear retailer, but by 1976 sold menswear and womenswear. It had operated since 1931 in the White-Henry-Stuart Building which previously stood on this site. Alan Gerard Design, Incorporated, of Seattle, produced the interior design plans. The Glad Company of Seattle served as general contractor.

A 1976 news article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencerrelated details about Littler's history: "Littler, the retail clothing store on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Union, will move to new quarters next spring. Although the move will put the store in the center of the block, Littler will remain a 'corner' store. The illusion was created by Minoru Yamasaki, architect of the Rainier Bank Tower and its surrounding Rainier Square. The new Littler will be extended toward the street and will have a portal effect, visible down Fifth Avenue. The special treatment was intentional, according to a spokesman for UNICO Properties, Inc., managers and developers of the University of Washington's downtown Metropolitan Plaza. They didn't want to lose a tenant, he said. Littler is part of what's left of the White-Henry-Stuart Building now being chewed away by construction of the 40-story tower. Larry Fry, son-in-law of the original owner A.A. (Bob) Littler, said the announcement that the WHS Building would be torn down caused some consternation. He though [sic] the store would have to be moved--and received several offers for new locations--but was reluctant to give up a prime corner location. Littler has occupied the WHS Building since 1931. UNICO--which wanted Littler to stay as the primary tenant in the new shopping complex--began negotiating with Fry to stay. Fry consented and later had a hand in developing plans for the store. The new Littler store will be on two levels with womenswear upstairs and men's clothing downstairs. A large staircase will connect the floors. Space will be expanded and Fry said the store plans to expand inventory as well. As a result of the Rainier Square construction, sidewalks on the Fifth Avenue side of the store will be extended. The street will lose one lane of traffic but will gain a loading area in front of the new store. Littler will have entrances on the street and also will be approached via underground tunnels from parking areas to the east. One entrance will be from the atrium, a garden area planned for the landscaped shopping area." As noted in the article, Littler hoped to complete its move by 03/15/1977 and did not expect to close it White-Henry-Stuart location during the transition. (See "Littler to Move to New 'Corner,'" Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/17/1976, p. E2.)

PCAD id: 25868