The Sullivan Center building seamlessly blends architectural history, unique design, and Bullseye-branded shopping. Once home to the Schlesinger & Mayer Department Store, the cast-iron-fronted building is now best known for its uniquely designed Target.
Ornate cast iron wraps around the shop’s entrance with dramatic dark colors and details that are often described as goth. Flowing shapes and twisting metal details frame the doors and windows, opening onto a wooden entryway that’s equally striking. The result is a stark and even humorous contrast to Target’s bright ads and products located within this historic building.
Technically, the building’s architectural style isn’t Gothic at all. It reflects its namesake designer’s love of organic beauty. Louis Sullivan drew inspiration from local Midwestern prairie plants, creating patterns of movement and natural splendor when he was commissioned to design the project in 1898.
Over time, as tenants have switched, the building has undergone small alterations. Today, it houses many businesses, with the ground-floor Target being a particularly notable one.
The exterior is where Sullivan’s craftsmanship truly shines. But inside the so-called “Goth Target”, you can also spot small touches, like filigree details atop columns in the toiletries section and plaques about the building’s history by the escalators.
Whether you’re an architecture nerd, a fan of dark aesthetics, or just in need of some groceries, The Sullivan Center’s Target has what you need.