LANSING – In anticipation of the grand opening of the Knapp’s Centre building, 300 S. Washington Square, the Eyde Company and Historical Society of Greater Lansing (HSGL) are asking Lansing residents to share their memories of either working or shopping at the former J.W. Knapp’s Department Store. The top five submissions will receive invitations to attend the invite-only Knapp’s Centre grand opening event on Thursday, Nov. 13, and two tickets to the HSGL silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 15.
“The Knapp’s Centre building is such an important part of Lansing’s history, and we’re hoping people will come forward to help us tell their stories,” said Historical Society of Greater Lansing President Valerie Marvin. “For 75 years it was a focal point of downtown, and many long-time Lansing residents can recall the beautiful Christmas displays, back to school shopping as a kid or having lunch in their cafeteria. We’re hoping to help tell those stories as the building enters the next phase of its history as a new mixed-use retail, office and living space.”
Knapp’s Centre memories will be collected on the Historical Society of Greater Lansing website at www.lansinghistory.org by clicking on “Share Your Knapp’s Story”. The memories will be displayed during the Knapp’s Centre grand opening celebration where the Eyde Company and community leaders will gather to officially recognize the completion of the building’s $36 million renovation. The Historical Society is also looking for artifacts from Knapp’s or items which were purchased there for an exhibit which will be part of the Society’s annual fundraising auction at the Knapp’s Centre on Saturday, Nov. 15. In addition to tours of the building, the fundraiser will feature a silent and live auction featuring trips, one-of-a kind experiences and carefully-curated collectible items; totaling more than 110 packages.
Maintaining the Knapp’s Centre history is also important to the Eyde Company, which received state and federal historic credits to preserve the historical integrity of the building while converting the inside for modern office, retail and residential use.
“The Knapp’s Centre is one of the best examples of streamline modern architecture in the Midwest,” Eyde Company Project Manager Nick Eyde said. “My family has owned the building for 30 years and we are in the process of moving our headquarters here as well. It was important for us to preserve its unique history while also providing modern amenities that will be attractive to a wide range of tenants.”
Local I.T. consulting company Dewpoint, Draper Eyewear and the Runway Fashion Incubator have also moved into the building, and 13 of 23 residential units have been rented.
The Knapp’s Centre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It served as the headquarters of the J.W. Knapp Company until 1970, when the company was sold to the L.S. Good Company. In the 1980s it was sold to the Eyde Company, which leased the building to the state of Michigan for office space. The state vacated the building in 2002 and it remained vacant until the restoration and reconstruction project was launched in 2012.
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