After more than a decade in the making, Bedrock has now completed the retail and office space of Hudson’s Detroit. During a media preview event on Oct. 8, Hour Detroit had the chance to view the 12-story building. It’s the first of the two-structure project to open. Here’s a look at what we saw and a glimpse at what the future of Hudson’s Detroit might look like.
The Legacy of Hudson’s Continues
Hudson’s Detroit sits on the two-acre site of what was once tallest shopping center in the world, the J.L. Hudson Department Store. In addition to the office space, The Detroit EDITION hotel and The Residences at The Detroit EDITION will occupy the 45-floor tower next door. The 227-room hotel will be Detroit’s first 5-star hospitality space, while The Residences will consist of both condos and apartments.
Separating the two buildings is the Nick Gilbert Way, named in honor of Bedrock founder Dan Gilbert’s late son. The thoroughfare connects Farmer St. with Woodward Ave. It will also have a permanent coffee truck occupied by midtown’s Café Sous Terre. The plaza will open on Nov. 6 with a celebratory event and will be the site of activations and holiday-themed events. Gilbert sees the space as an opportunity for people to connect and experience what made the original Hudson’s so unique.
“Ten years in the making, Hudson’s Detroit is elevating downtown and creating space for the community to come together. Whether you are an office tenant, attending an event or shopping at one of the new retailers, everyone can experience Hudson’s,” Gilbert said in a statement. “Through Nick Gilbert Way, we’re delivering a vibrant destination for people to gather, ideas to spark and memories to be made. This is only the beginning for Hudson’s.”
The mix use development will be the new home of the GM’s headquarters and public showroom. The site welcomed Alo Yoga, its first retail tenant to the first floor of the building in August. On Friday (Oct. 10) the western-wear shop Tecovas will host its grand-opening. A restaurant and bar will also be included on the 12th floor, adding to the list of rooftop lounges in the city.
A Look Inside
Occupying the first three floors is The Department, a large-scale event facility and meeting space. This space opened in spring 2025. So far, it has hosted events for Global Citizen NOW, Crain’s Detroit Business Homecoming, and Summit Detroit.
Beginning on the fifth floor are seven floors of office space. In the middle of the space is a glass-domed atrium. Hour Detroit toured the atrium, which will offer casual food options and seating only available to office employees. The atrium features live vegetation and plenty of natural light through the skylight modeled after the headlight cover of a 1954 Corvette.
Attached to the common area is a smaller, more intimate space designed for casual meetings and private conversations. From here, employees can access the office’s unique amenities, like a multi-sport simulator and pickleball courts.
Jonathan Mueller, Bedrock’s senior vice president of development, noted that these offerings were not originally in the building’s design plan.
“When we started building this, we had no confirmed office tenants,” Mueller says. “And then the pandemic rolled around, and the world of office work changed. So, we decided the best opportunity to try and lease this space was to provide offerings that people can’t get from working at home.”
More Information About Hudson’s Detroit
The office tenants include Accenture, Ven Johnson Law, Rock, the Gilbert Family Foundation, and GM. The latter will occupy four floors. The building is also equipped with car elevators, which opens the possibility of the Auto Show being held at the space sometime in the future.
To learn more about Hudson’s Detroit, or find updates on the tower’s construction progress, visit its official website.
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