5545 Chene Street
Kroger Supermarket, A&P Supermarket, Nowak Brothers True Value Hardware, Computer & Electronics Enterprises Company
This structure hasn’t worn many hats in its lifetime; however, it’s much younger than many of the buildings that I typically document. There wasn’t a structure here until the 1940s, and today, it’s one of the only active businesses on Chene Street. Yeah, this place is still open. We’ll get there, though!
This structure was completed in the Fall of 1941. It was Kroger’s 75th Super Market in the area, and it opened to much fanfare. Chene Street and Poletown East were strong communities then, with numerous family-owned grocery stores, meat markets, and Chene-Ferry Market. However, stores like Kroger and other factors would cause most of those to close in the next three decades.
According to the 1950 Sanborn Map, a restaurant was down Chene Street from the Kroger. Uptown sat Max’s Jewelry Store, an institution well-known in Poletown and Hamtramck.
Kroger wouldn’t last here long. By 1958, the supermarket had built a larger store at 2259 East Palmer Street, leaving their old one on Chene Street around the block empty. According to Andy Brogowicz, a local historian and friend of this page who worked inside this structure between 1959 and 1960, A&P moved into the building pictured here the same year (1958) that Kroger moved out.
In 1960, J. T. Taylor, 42, was arrested at 5545 Chene Street, pictured here, for stealing a bottle of wine valued at 87 cents.
The A&P Grocery remained open until the early 1970s, not long before the new Kroger on East Palmer abandoned the city. After that, the Nowak brothers purchased the structure and moved their hardware store from 5706 Chene to the former grocery store. The Nowak’s invested a ton into Chene Street in the 1970s and 1980s when nearly nobody else was.
Nowak Brothers True Value Hardware remained open at this location until the late 1990s. It was one of the very few remaining hardware stores in the neighborhood and was a Mac-O-Lac Paint Dealer.
At some point in the late 1990s, the Computer & Electronics Enterprises Company moved into the space. Much of their signage remains on the structure; however, it’s been closed since around 2005. Before the business closed, the company handled computer installations, electronics repairs, DJ and party equipment rentals, and table and chair leases for parties and events. After that, it became an event space, which isn’t that harsh of a transition.
In 2006, Governor Jennifer Granholm attended a community gathering here after stopping at eight churches in Detroit and Leo’s Coney Island in Royal Oak.
Though it doesn’t look like it, this structure is still used as a rental hall. Though I wish the exterior were cleaned up, I somewhat understand why the owner wants it to look like this. According to people who have been inside, the interior is nice, there’s a large kitchen, and people throw parties here.
I’ve seen the owner here occasionally, including when I shot these photographs. He didn’t seem too keen on someone photographing his building, so I did my best to stay out of his way. I’m thankful that he’s maintained the structure, and even though it isn’t architecturally significant, I’m happy this one is still standing.
