Gem and Century Building (Detroit, Michigan)

 restaurant, theatre

The Gem and Century buildings are of the oldest buildings in Detroit. The Century Building was built in 1903, and the ajoining Gem Theatre was built 25 years later.
The Gem and Century buildings have faced many extinction crises, including disbandment due to the Great Depression, real estate ownership of the two separated by foreclosures, and destruction of these facilities to make way for the new sports stadiums.
After laying dormant for around 25 years, the Gem and Century buildings were purchased separately in the early 1980's by Chuck Forbes, uniting the two after 50 years of owner separation. Later, in 1997, these historic facilities faced demolition as the city planned to construct new stadiums. Forbes and his family prepared to physically move the 5.5 million pound historic structure.
On November 10, 1997, the building completed its five-block, 1,850 foot journey, setting a new Guinness Book World Record as the heaviest building ever moved on wheels.
During the week of the NFL Super Bowl XL, Jimmy Kimmel taped his show from this building.

www.gemtheatre.com/