The Black
A Piece of History in Downtown Fargo
HISTORIC MEETS LUXURY
Since several hundred people gathered to watch its cornerstone be placed on November 17, 1930, downtown Fargo’s Black Building has captured the imaginations of North Dakotans. The 8-story art deco tower, wrapped with banks of large windows in intricate cast iron frames, would serve as the bustling center of commerce of Fargo for decades. George M. Black, proprietor of the Black Building, was an experienced merchandiser, having grown up in the business. His father, Leslie Black, had emigrated from Ireland in the 1860s and set up his first store in Parsons, Kansas. As a young boy, George worked long hours in the store cleaning, stocking shelves, and taking care of customers. When he and Leslie decided to seek new locations in which to set up a chain of stores, Fargo happened to be a train stopover.
“A beautiful day in May 1912,” reads the autobiography of George M. Black. “Lots of women out shopping. I visited the stores Herbsts, deLendrecies, and Moody’s. They were busy. Prices were good. It was an exhilarating experience.”
On June 12, 1912, The Black Store opened at 112 Broadway. Black ran a successful store and continuously expanded its footprint along Broadway. He became well known for throwing turkeys off the roof to celebrate Thanksgiving, originating a one-cent sale, and the unique Gold Dollar Sale, in which each purchase came with a free dish of ice cream. As the depression of the 1920s intensified, more stores were consolidating or closing. Black was in New York on October 29, 1929, to witness the stock market collapse, an experience that prompted him to sell The Black Store in Fargo to Sears, Roebuck. He would use the proceeds of the sale to build the Black Building. The lower level, first and second floors of the new building would be home to Sears.
The remaining six floors would be the most modern, professional office space the city had seen. The top floor was the showpiece home of WDAY Studios. As part of their lease agreement, WDAY would sign on to the airwaves with “This is WDAY in the Black Building. Fargo.”
T.F. Powers & Co., the Fargo construction company, called the Black Building its masterpiece. Other superlatives were used to describe the structure as a center of activity that was flooded with merchandise, the pride of Fargoans, and a veritable cathedral of business activity. Today, as the building nears 90 years in age, Kilbourne Group begins the most extensive renovation the Black Building has ever seen. The vintage structure was added to the National Registry of Historic Places, ensuring its care for decades to come. Historic details include ornate elevator doors, terrazzo flooring, and marble baseboards. Smart re-use of the building’s infrastructure to suit the needs of today’s retailers and business professionals, along with care and attention to historical details, will once again draw thousands of people into the building each day and add to Fargo’s vibrant downtown.
Kilbourne Group’s vision is to return the Black Building to its rightful place in Fargo’s history as a destination unto itself and an anchor of the downtown Fargo restaurant and retail district. The Black Building will again be a celebration of unique, local, authentic offerings and uniquely Fargo experiences.
A NEW Downtown FARGO
In the past 10 years, the building has undergone extensive renovations yet remains true to its historical and architectural art deco charm. As living in downtown Fargo has grown in popularity, we are excited to welcome home folks to the top three floors of such an important building in Fargo’s history.
A new downtown Fargo remains a center of commerce as George Black envisioned it to be, but also is home to families, parks, culture, and community, among the central business district in The City of Fargo.
