Most of you have probably never heard of Detroit’s Chene Street, but it’s interesting to take a look at how it used to be.
One popular establishment was Max’s Jewelers, a local favorite for decades; the signage reminded us of a movie house, but to most people’s surprise, it never was.
According to eherg.com, Max Rosenbaum lived on Chene Street (named after the Chene family since the mid-1800s), a quiet street populated with Polish and German immigrants. Over a period of time, the street turned into one of Detroit’s most popular shopping districts. By 1913, the Rosenbaum family was operating the Fredro Jewelry Store, located inside the Fredro Theatre down the street. In 1919, five thugs entered the shop and robbed Max of diamonds, rings, and watches, valued at over $110,000 by 2020s standards.
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In 1923, there was a Max’s Jewelry Company on Joseph Campau Street and finally at 5553 Chene Street in 1928…