Sears Roebuck & Company Mail Order Plant, Bounded by Lexington & Grenshaw Streets, Kedzie Avenue & Independence Boulevard, Chicago, Cook County, IL

Significance: The Merchandise Building was one of the first buildings completed for the Mail Order Plant in 1905-1906. It was designed by the nationally-known architectural firm of Nimmons and Fellows, with additions designed by successor firms George C. Nimmons & Co. and Nimmons & Co. The Merchandise Building was the largest building and housed the majority of the company's employees at the Mail Order Plant. In a bustling complex, the Merchandise Building was the center of activity. All incoming and outgoing goods passed through the Merchandise Building. All of the other building at the site provided support administration, manufacturing, and other support functions. The Mail Order Plant and its central Merchandise Building have been described as "a hug, finely tuned machine for receiving and holding merchandise and for filing and shipping orders,"
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N168
Survey number: HABS IL-1187
Building/structure dates: 1905-1906 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 78001129