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In 1906 people thought Lew Tuller, a newsboy turned developer, was crazy when he built his hotel on Grand Circus Park. The curvy edifice was too far from the center of things to possibly succeed. But Tuller would have the last laugh as his hotel became such a success that it was expanded in 1910, 1914, 1923, and 1929. The complete hotel totaled nearly 800 rooms.

Lew Tuller's curvy original 1906 building.	Extra floors and an addition have been added.	By 1929 the Tuller had become a massive landmark.

The building was quoted as resembling "a half-ironed pair of pants" with boxy additions added to the original structure. Exteriors aside, inside the Tuller was beautiful. Inside patrons found a variety of breathtaking interiors to enjoy. A richly furnished lobby was decorated to the taste of the time. Behind the lobby was a writing room of soft blues and creams. The Rose Room offered cafe services and was a popular spot for ladies to take afternoon tea. Grander still was the Cascade Room which offered Cabaret and a waterfall fountain. These ground floor rooms were joined with a wood paneled "peacock alley", named after a famed space in New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Below, in the basement, a Grill was added in later additions. High on the upper floors were situated a bright roof garden and large ballroom and four smaller conference rooms. Yet, the crown jewel of the Tuller's interiors was the wood-paneled Arabian Room. This became the preferred venue for Duke Ellington. During the years of the Jazz Age the Tuller would be known as the "Grande Dame of Grand Circus Park". With such a fine collection of public spaces it is easy to see why.

Cascade Room	Rose Room	Writing Room	Peacock Alley

However, as the twenties wore on the Tuller became increasingly obsolete. It had difficulty competing with the new modern Book-Cadillac and Statler. In 1928 the end appeared to be near. The Biltmore company planned to build a 34 story, 1400 room Detroit-Biltmore Hotel on the site. The Stock Market crash proved the Tuller's salvation. Rather, the Tuller was modernized and expanded in 1929.

Lobby	Arabian Room	Roof Garden	The Grill

The Tuller spent much of the 1930's in the hands of the growing Albert Pick Hotels chain, which would later operate the Fort Shelby. Business slumped throughout the depression. In an attempt to revitalize the hotel, extensive modernization's were begun in 1943. In the process much of the original decor and public spaces, save the Arabian Room, were removed. In their place when slick new 'art moderne' interiors for the postwar age. Ultimately these renovations did not help the Tuller regain its lost glory nor help prevent a deadly fire in 1949.

The Grand Ballroom	The Tuller in the 1930's.

The Tuller survived through the 1950's and 1960's serving increasing numbers of senior long-term residents and traveling groups. As profits declined the once posh hotel became more and more run down and obsolete. Business slumped in the 1970's and by 1976 the Tuller was a shabby haunt for prostitutes, panhandlers, and female impersonators. Citing rising operating cost and lack of profits the owners closed the Tuller in that year. Ironically, its dependence on lower clienteles in later years had allowed it to actually outlive the more modern Statler.

The Tuller by the 1960's.

A number of renovation schemes for the "ghost hotel" were floated. These included a plan to turn the Tuller into the Golden Harp Castle, a 250 room hotel, 250 apartment complex with a 14 story atrium and Jazz Age theme. Nothing ever came of these or other plans. The Tuller was finally pulled down by the City in 1992 as it was considered "beyond saving". Perhaps more tragic then the lost of Lew Tuller's hotel is the scar Grand Circus Park now bears. The lot is a currently an unpaved parking lot.