Built circa 1901 situated on Michigan Ave in the heart of Corktown - the oldest neighborhood in Detroit founded in 1834, just down the street from some of the most Iconic buildings in America - The Michigan Central Train Station (home to the new Ford Motor Company mobility innovation district Tech Campus) and old Tiger Stadium. The building served as a shoe store - in-fact, the whole block was a showcase for the Western Market. In the 1950’s Isaac Kokorban, a thrifty Jewish entrepreneur, purchased the whole block between 17th & 18th street: his nickname was Izzy, hence the block became known as Izzy’s. In the late 1960’s Joseph Blanco (who immigrated from Malta in the late 1940’s) - relocated his business from Vernor/Scotten to the current premises. Blanco Canvas Works manufactured sail covers, awnings, tarpaulins etc. excelled in speciality products for Tigers stadium, University of Michigan, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Boeing, ATT & Detroit Grand Prix. Blanco Canvas Co. was sold in 2020 & operated in the premises for 50+ years.
A Note from Bennie -
Joseph “Giuseppi” Gomez Blanco migrated from Marsa, Malta (a Police Officer at the time) in 1948, and while originally working at Ford Motor, he was then able to establish Blanco Canvas Co. in 1950 and then sent for his wife, Gelarda, and his then 4 kids to reside with him in the States. They originally lived with my Uncle Salvatore Scibberas who lived at 1744 12th Street – back in the day where you did comply with immigration rules and required a sponsor – the home was raised and was located exactly where the CORKTOWN sign now rests.
He had such a strong American accent. For example, Blanco Canvas had 2 big garage bays in the back where he would bring boats in for making boat covers. He went to say, “I brought both boats,” but what we heard was “I bot bot bots.” Love it and miss it! A product of WWI & WWII (and did you know Malta was the single most bombed location in WWII due to its strategic location smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean because it had a British harbor to countries wished to occupy?), he never went to school, could not write, but he was so intelligent and successful.
Joseph managed to build such great friendships with the affluent of Detroit (i.e., Dr. Zieger of Zieger Hospitals, Dr. Lutwin, Dr. Yarrows, Dr. Siefer of Botsford General, Judge Crocket of Detroit, GM VP [can’t recall his name], etc.). Rest all their souls. I think it’s because my father and I used to smash and ferment olives together to give them to all his friends, plus Maltese Pastizzis (have you ever tried one?)! They are delicious.
I am the youngest of 6 girls and 1 boy. My brother, Johnny, worked with my father since childhood after school and carried on the canvas craft until he retired and sold the business and the building. It broke my heart when the doors closed recently and the Blanco Canvas sign was no more, and is why I ordered custom plaques for my entire family to remember and give thanks to my dad for all he has done for all of us.
Next door to Blanco Canvas, as you know, was Izzy’s, but then it osmosed into a soup kitchen. All the homeless used to peer through the glass window of the shop to see what time it was so they can get in the food line. The two cars parked in front were my father’s 71/72 Bonneville (most likely olive green as all his vehicles were) and my brother’s 68/69 Impala/Ventura custom (azure blue). I’m not sure when this photo was taken, but I thank you for teaching me that the building was erected in 1901; I never knew that. I do know that the Detroit Historical Society wanted to deem it an Historical Building Site, but if you do concur with that, you would have to seek permission to so much as put a nail in the wall, so my dad and brother declined.
I used to visit the shop as a little girl and gleaned many quarters and lots of candy from all of them. I would sit with a tree stump between my knees and impale grommets for roping on my father’s canvas creations for him. I can’t believe he trusted me with that as it had to be perfect or the whole project would be destroyed. My dad had renters on the 2nd story flat of the building, but it became a cumbersome situation for him, so it was short-lived and no one ever lived there again. They used it for storage.
Back in the 50s/60s, a huge community of Maltese resided in Cork Town. You never saw Maltese in unemployment lines. My father’s circle of male Maltese friends, who also gathered at the Maltese Benevolent Society at 1832 Michigan Ave., used to come to the shop frequently toting savory Maltese dishes and they’d gather and have a feast and wine for lunch. We are very proud of our Maltese heritage and our Maltese Cross (British George Cross of St. John the Baptist).
My father’s original Blanco Canvas Shop was on Scotten & Vernor in front of Clark Park and it’s a parking lot now. That blue house in the background was the convenient location of our home at 4114 Bagley. They painted it blue and now they host Jamaican rap concerts in it with cover charges. I do not know the address of the Scotten Blanco Canvas building, nor do I have a much-desired picture of it. I have no idea how to obtain it from Detroit Historical records. It was next door to Foxy’s party store where they had penny candy galore, banana splits, cherry sodas, malts and the spinning comic book stands! Gosh I miss those simple days.
My father was extremely generous in that we had a complimentary account at Foxy’s and he would go in and pay the tab – for 7 kids – every week and I have myriad crowns to prove it! Can you imagine the wait line for the bathroom and hair coifing for 6 girls? He bought us a Salon Hair Dryer chair. One year, he made us a swimming pool made out of waterproof canvas. All the ironing for a family of 9? We had a laundry press. When I asked him for a nickel, he’d give me a $1; if I asked for $1, I’d get $5. My father was rather quiet and, when he spoke, he spoke volumes and I carry the lessons he taught and the work ethic he possessed with me to this day.
It did my heart so good to know that you will retain the name of “THE BLANCO BUILDING.” It means a lot to me that his parting this world in 1984 doesn’t mean he no longer exists.
His name and his memory will live on and I thank you. Schwartz & Co., you have made me very proud. I will tell my family and friends all about you. May it and you be blessed with abundance prosperity!
Thank you sincerely,
Proud daughter of Giuseppi Blanco
