First Sanders Shop

01 / The story of this place

Make time for these

German-trained confectioner Frederick Sanders Schmidt, who had lost an earlier candy business in Chicago's Great Fire of 1871, moved to Detroit and opened a small candy and soda shop at the corner of Woodward and Gratiot avenues on June 17, 1875, adopting the shortened name Sanders for his new venture. The little downtown shop sold hand-made candies and, soon, ice cream and baked goods, quickly building a loyal local following. As the business grew, Sanders left this first storefront behind in 1891 to open a larger, more elaborate location, the Pavilion of Sweets at Michigan and Woodward avenues, beginning a decades-long expansion that eventually grew into more than 50 Sanders stores around Detroit. The original Woodward and Gratiot corner where it all began has been rebuilt many times over since the 19th century and today holds none of the original building.

1. Fred Sanders opened his first shop here on June 17, 1875
2. Sanders had earlier lost a candy business in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire
3. The shop introduced Sanders candy and ice cream to Detroit
4. Sanders left for a larger location, the Pavilion of Sweets, in 1891
5. Grew into a chain of more than 50 stores across Detroit