The history and architecture of the Hannah Lay Building, built in 1882-3 to house the Hannah Lay Mercantile "Big Store", the first big box store in Northwestern Lower Michigan. It was the first brick building in downtown Traverse City, and dominated the retail scene for many years, until finally closing in 1928. The structure has been remodeled many times, and is currently undergoing another remodeling. Techniques and some materials have been updated since it was first built, but the bricks and mortar on a foundation is still sound building practice today. It may last hundreds of years, with proper maintenance.