“America’s First Department Store” Has a Date with the Wrecking Ball

The ZCMI Center-the space that housed the historic Zion Cooperative Mercantile Institute, or “ZCMI”-is set for demolition in April or May, to make way for a new, billion dollar downtown retail/residential project called The City Creek Center. The demolition is part of a major overhaul and renovation of Salt Lake City’s downtown area that lies directly across from the famous Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ Mecca, Temple Square. The church now owns the downtown properties on which the ZCMI Center and Crossroads Mall sit, and the City Creek Center project is under its direction.

ZCMI was instituted by Mormon prophet and president Brigham Young, in an effort of preservation, separation and self-reliance; the looming completion of the transcontinental railroad less than 100 miles north of Salt Lake City, and ensuing outsider, Gentile commerce was seen as a threat to the internal prosperity, and cultural and religious unity of the Mormons. Under Young’s direct leadership, ZCMI was organized by local Mormon community and business leaders, for the purpose of selling goods as inexpensively as possible, with intent to distribute profits among the people; early on, its employees were even paid with store credit. Aptly dubbed “The People’s Store”, ZCMI was founded in 1868, and offered such items as as clothing, textiles, farming and household goods. It has been called “America’s First Department Store.”

The early years of ZCMI were quite non secular. Only church members were allowed to buy and sell. The company “tithed”, that is, they paid 10 % of its profits directly to the church. Until 1920, its signs were emblazoned with a logo which stated “Holiness to the Lord.” Although the store became quite secularized in its public display throughout the years, ZCMI retained its church-owned status for 130 years, selling to the May Co. in 1999.

Growing with the trends and times, 1975 saw the opening of the ZCMI Center, a full scale mall, featuring the remodeled ZCMI department store as its anchor. Although the name ZCMI Center was kept, the May Co.’s buyout was the true end of ZCMI the department store. Meier & Frank took over the store space that ZCMI occupied. The restored, now iconic three story brick and iron façade was kept in place. According to KSL News, the façade is going to be saved and reinstalled later. There is no word on exactly how or where the façade will be displayed once the City Creek Center is completed in 2011. Also according to KSL, With this same City Creek Center project, 1000 bricks from the recently demolished historic Inn at Temple Square were given away as mementos to individuals, and the clock from the original Zion Bank was recently restored.

Reference:

• historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/zcmi.html