It is said that George M. Black looked around Fargo while changing trains en route from Crookston to Minneapolis in May 1912 and liked what he saw. He leased (for $135 per month) the space at 112 Broadway. Black fixed the space up and opened the Black Store one month later on June 12, 1912.

Within a few years, Black purchased the property at 112 Broadway and added the dry goods store at 114 Broadway and the jewelry store building at 110 Broadway.

The image above right is from 1914-1921. The view is the west side of Broadway looking south from Second Avenue to First Avenue. In the lower left one can see the sign for the original Black's store.

On the corner of Second Avenue, where Merchant's Bank was to move in 1921, is the Economy Drug Store. Moving south, we have a cafe ["Lunch"], an eye doctor, a jeweler, Black's, and the Garrick theater.

The advertisement for Black's is from July 1927.

In 1929, Sears, Roebuck and Company, interested in opening business in Fargo, offered to buy Black's properties. Black accepted the offer and used the proceeds from the sale to help finance construction of the Black Building.

The new building, seen in the postcard to the lower right, provided a lower level, balcony and second floor for Sears and six stories for offices.

Comparing to the two postcards to the right, one can see which buildings were replaced by the Black Building.

The new building was once mentioned in Ripley's "Believe it or Not" newspaper feature because the Black Building was white.

For more information about the Black Building, please continue here.

West side of Broadway looking south from Second Avenue (1914-1921)