Lake View Store
A historic commercial complex in Duluth, Minnesota, recognized as the first modern indoor mall built in the United States.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Lake View Store was a purpose-built commercial complex in Morgan Park, Duluth, Minnesota, developed by United States Steel for the company town associated with its local operations. Built in 1915 and opened ceremonially on July 20, 1916, it is described as the first modern indoor mall constructed in the United States. Rather than functioning as a single conventional shop, the building brought a broad range of retail, professional, financial, and community services together under one roof. This arrangement made it an early example of the integrated shopping and services centers that later became common in American commercial architecture. The building was designed by the Chicago firm Dean & Dean, with construction carried out by George H. Lounsberry of Duluth. It occupied the northeast corner of Edward Street and 88th Avenue in Morgan Park. The two-story structure included a full basement, and shops originally operated on all three levels. Most businesses were arranged around an interior mall space, although some could also be entered from outside. Contemporary descriptions emphasized the building's size and modernity: it was approximately 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, and the Duluth News Tribune characterized it as the most modern store in Duluth. Construction reportedly cost $75,000 in 1915, a substantial expenditure for the period. The first floor combined a pharmacy and department-store functions, including groceries, a butcher shop, clothing, hardware, furniture, and general merchandise. The second floor expanded the complex beyond retail with a bank, dental and medical services, barber and hairdressing facilities, a hat shop, billiard room, and auditorium. The basement contained a shoe store and an ice-making plant capable of producing eight tons of ice per day for the complex and Morgan Park residents. United States Steel owned and operated the building and department store, while several individual businesses, including the pharmacy, bank, barber shop, hair salon, and dentist, were privately operated. Lake View Store also served as a civic and promotional center. About 10,000 people reportedly toured the complex on its opening day, and the building received attention in The Minnesotan in 1916 and American Architect in 1918. In 1929, its hardware department won first prize in a United States window-display competition and third prize worldwide, among 11,672 entries. The winning display depicted a camping scene with a cabin and was created by hardware-store manager Walter B. Neipp. The complex's internal layout later changed. A remodeling removed the arrangement in which shops opened onto an interior balcony and walkway, making the individual businesses accessible from outside and creating additional second-floor space. A 1935 Duluth city directory records a varied tenant mix, including Lake View Lodge, Morgan Park Company Real Estate, Lake View Department Store, Morgan Park Market, Dahl Barber Shop, Doctors Ryan & Elias, Schaefer Dentistry, Gjessing Tailor Shop, Tahtinen Shoe Rebuilder, and Park Pharmacy. The building remains standing and has continued in mixed use, with reported occupants including a hair salon, offices, retail space, and apartments.
History
Lake View Store emerged from the development of Morgan Park, a company town in Duluth associated with United States Steel. The project was intended to consolidate the commercial and service needs of the community in a substantial, centrally located building rather than dispersing them among small independent premises. Construction took place in 1915. Dean & Dean, an architectural firm from Chicago, prepared the design, while Duluth contractor George H. Lounsberry handled construction. The reported building cost was $75,000, a large sum in the economic context of 1915. The completed structure stood at the northeast corner of Edward Street and 88th Avenue. It was about 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, with two main stories and a full basement. Its original arrangement placed businesses around an interior mall or walkway, with selected shops also available through exterior entrances. This internal circulation plan distinguished the complex from an ordinary department store and contributed to its later description as the first modern indoor mall in the United States. The grand opening took place on July 20, 1916. The building operated from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and an estimated 10,000 people visited on the opening day. The first floor was devoted largely to everyday shopping. It included a pharmacy and a department store offering groceries, meat, clothing, hardware, furniture, and general merchandise. The second floor contained a bank, dental and medical offices, barber and hair salon services, a hat shop, billiard room, and auditorium. The basement added a shoe store and an ice-making plant. The plant reportedly produced eight tons of ice daily for the building and nearby Morgan Park households. Ownership and operation were divided between the company and outside merchants. United States Steel owned the building and operated the department store, while the pharmacy, bank, barber shop, hair salon, and dentist were among the privately run concerns. This combination of company-operated retail and independent service businesses made the complex a practical commercial hub for the surrounding community. The building attracted contemporary attention beyond Morgan Park. The Duluth News Tribune presented it as an exceptionally modern local store and described the scale of the planned commercial premises. The complex was featured in The Minnesotan in November 1916 and American Architect in June 1918, helping document its architectural and commercial significance. In September 1929, the hardware store's display won first place in the United States and third place internationally in a competition with 11,672 entries. Manager Walter B. Neipp created the prize-winning display, which showed a cabin and camping scene. By 1935, the Duluth city directory demonstrates that Lake View Store remained a multi-service destination. Listed occupants included a lodge, real-estate office, department store, market, barber, doctors, dentist, tailor, shoe rebuilder, and pharmacy. Over time, the interior was remodeled. The former balcony and long interior walkway were removed or altered so that each store could be entered from outside, while the change created more usable second-floor space. The building survived after its original company-town retail arrangement changed. It continues to exist in Morgan Park and has been used for a combination of commercial and residential purposes, including a hair salon, offices, retail space, and apartments. Its importance rests less on a continuing consumer brand than on its pioneering building type: an early enclosed, multi-tenant shopping and services complex that anticipated the modern American indoor mall.
- 1935
Documented multi-tenant operation
[1]The Duluth city directory lists retail, medical, personal-service, real-estate, and lodging businesses operating at the complex.
- 1929
Internationally recognized window display
[1]The hardware store wins first place in the United States and third place worldwide in a window-display competition involving 11,672 entries.
- 1918
Coverage in American Architect
[1]Lake View Store is featured in the June 1918 issue of American Architect.
- 1916
Grand opening
[1]The complex officially opens on July 20, 1916, with reported attendance of approximately 10,000 visitors on its first day.
- 1916
Coverage in The Minnesotan
[1]The newly opened complex receives coverage in the November 1916 issue of The Minnesotan.
- 1915
Construction begins
[1]United States Steel develops the Lake View Store building in Morgan Park, Duluth. Dean & Dean designs the structure and George H. Lounsberry serves as contractor.
Interior remodeling
[1]At an undocumented later date, the interior is remodeled so that stores are accessed from outside and additional second-floor space is created.
Products and positioning
An early company-town commercial center designed to provide Morgan Park residents with retail, professional, financial, and community services in a single modern indoor complex.
Department store · 1916
Lake View Department Store
The principal company-operated retail unit offered a broad mix of household and everyday goods, including groceries, clothing, hardware, furniture, and general merchandise. Its breadth helped make Lake View Store a consolidated shopping destination for Morgan Park rather than a single-purpose shop.
Grocery and food retail · 1916
Morgan Park Market
The market served local household needs within the Lake View Store complex. The original first-floor retail plan also included a butcher shop, giving residents access to groceries and meat in the same commercial center.
Pharmacy · 1916
Park Pharmacy
The pharmacy was one of the privately operated businesses housed in the building. It formed part of the complex's broader service model, combining health-related retail with groceries, clothing, hardware, and professional offices.
Utility and household service · 1916
Ice-making plant
The basement contained an ice plant reported to produce eight tons of ice per day. Its output served both the Lake View Store and residents of Morgan Park, extending the building's role beyond retail.
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