Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-09
Grand Opening Of a Model Gro
Gerry House.
Oliver, Finnie & Co. at Their Old
Stand.
An Elegant Place and a Delighted
Crowd, ETC., Etc.

Wholesale and retail grocery merchants,
has for many years been the synonym Of
commercial integrity and brilliant sue.
cess. By strict attention to business, a
thorough knowledge of all its details and
fair dealing the house has grown up
steadily in the course of years until in
its special line it is without a rival in
Memphis and has no superior in all the
country. With the steady growth Of
trade at the old stand on Main street
came the necessity for larger and more
complete and modernized accommoda-
tons. A few months ago Mr.. r. G.
BrinkleY agreed to rebuild the entire
corner on the northeast side Of Main
and Madison, including the premises so
long occupied by this firm. They moved
out temporarily and a building was
erected according to their plans and d.
rections.
The new store was designed by Mr.. E.
G. Jones, of the firm of Jones & Bald
win, architects. 1t has q front Of 3S
feet in the clear on Main street, running
back $50 feet to an alley. Yesterday it
was occupied and taken possession of by
the firm, and last night, upon invitation,
the public poured through every depart.
menL from seven o'clock until eleven to
inspect and admire the admirable ar
rangements, beautiful goods and bril-
liant display Of the aesthetic and orna-
mental. The friends of the firm, their
patrons and the public at large we're
there in force. While the ladies did not
%outnumber the gentlemen, it neyerthe.
less conveyed the idea of q fashionable
dry goods or millinery opening rather
than OF a staple and fancy grocery
house.
, The visitors we're surprised and de-
! lighted, and no one pretended to have
ever seen anything in that line to com
pare to it. The gas-light fell .all and
clear upon an elegant throng OF our best
c people who came aud went and fingered
long to give expression to their admira'
ton. All seemed to feel a personal pride
in it as an outgrowth Of Memphis and
sub tantial and a beautiful evidence Of
what can De accomplished by an enter
j p%rising spirit united with brain-work and
: a judicious investment of capital. From
{ a comparatively small beginning we see a
large and prosperous house, with abuu'
dance of c.pital for carrying on all its
> business and an increasing wholesale and
retail trade.
: The first feature that arrests attention
on entering from without IS the mas
sive glass doors reaching from the floor
to the ceiling and across the entire front.
These can be opened and closed at will,
transoms and all, as the state Of the
weather may suggest. On the right, for
4 a distance of sixty.eight feet back, is the
q retail department, the most snowy and
!, attractive feature in the house. On the
end Of the counter is an elegant glass
showcase, containing a variety Of fancy
articles, displayed with tasteful effect last
night by Mr.. G. N. Paine, who has charge
of this end of the department. The
shelving is elegant in style and finish
: Two rows of bins for sugars, %cofees, teas
and other articles, run the entire length
! at the base of the shelving. The lower row
q has a revolving lid, a very ingenious in
! v%entioD, by Mr.. Jones, which combines
A utility, simplicity, and the greatest con
venience and economy Of space. HI
4 ought to take a patent on it. The seconC
> row Of bins has cylinder glass lids, show
ing off to fac effect and is used for crack
= ers, teas, and various staple aud fancy
: articles. The shelves reach two.thirds o
. the way to the ceiling, and are used tt
!, hold pickles, canned goods of every va
riety almost, fruits, etc. In the cente
4 of the shelving rises, tower-like, an in
mense show case, with glass from
and a clock with gilt figures and hands
1t is a model of art, an arehitec
} tursl triumph. All this is of solid pol
ished walnut, highly finished and carved
The counter is of the same material. Ii
front there are a dozen crimson toppe,
revolving stools for the comfort auC
convenience Of lady customers. In ad
dition to all this display last night i
was set off By baskets Of fruits and flow
ers exquisitely arranged and temptingly
within reach.
Turning from this attraction, wher,
the ladies and the many bright-eyed
beautiful children loved to gather. tb
RS cashiers desk, also Of polished walnut
is seen in the middle OF the main floor
presided over by Mr.. E. j. Barinds, al
nl accomplished young business man. d
ar the opposite side there is an inclosur
some fifteen by ten feet, with glas
ne doors, marked "jobbing salesroom
From this on back, above and below
everything is devoted to the wholesal
business. Where the retail departmeu
o. ends midway of the bulldog, q stairwa
re leads above to the front, where the mai
he office is, and two short stairways reach
gallery running back on each side an
he oorooa the middle Tho elevator wbic