Smyrna times., 1877-03-21
Jobn Wanamaker's Great Dry Goods
"VAA Oueuiuq!
18Th ST. and New City Hall, Philadelphia.
What the Ne,0 York Tribune says. A
Quaker City Sensation.

PHILADELPHIA, March y, lS77.-For the
past ten days the expectations of the shop
ming community here have been considera-
bly exercised over the promise of an event
that was to mark new era in mercantile
circles in this city. These expectations
were sharpened and kept burning from
day to day by the appearance in our
city newspapers of double column adver
tisements under the facsimile sign
manual of John Wanamaker, announcing
that upon the 18th inst. his "Grand Depot"
the largest clothing establishment in the
world, would be converted into mammoth
dry goods emporium, Ia Stewart of your
city. For some time past it has been
obvious to even casual observers that Mr..
Wanamaker, having reached the acme OF
his ambition in the clothing business, would
not rest satisfied Herewith, but, yearning
for new and more extended fields in which
to exercise his administrative business tact,
would surely drift into the general dry
goods trade. To-day the general expecta-
ton has been abundantly realized by the
Inauguration of opening day, and it can be
said to be quite satisfactory both to visitors
and visited. The immense size of the
building, occupying the whole square
known as Centre-square and covering an
unbroken ground area of 250X373 feet, has
enabled the proprietor and his able corps
of assistants to design and arrange dry
goods store that is really marvelously we'll
adapted for the purpose. The general
idea seems to be taken from the SPIDERS
web. In the centre of the building a circle
of shelving and counters ninety feet in cir
cumferance is taken as the pivotal point
from which range at proper intervals circle
after circle of similar shelving and coun-
ters, dissected at proper distances by aisles
leading from the centre to the outer circle.
This it will be Observed is the very best
plan that could be devised, inasmuch as it
gives most ready access from one point to
another, a matter of no slight importance
in a building of such magnitude, and
affords as we'll a very complete opportunity
of dividing the establishment into appro-
pirate departments. These departments
are classified into sections under alphabet
cal headings, which sections are again
divided into sub-sections. Some general
idea of the magnitude of the concern may
be had from the following data: There are
SO blocks of counters, numbering in all 129.
In front of these are, for the convenience
of shoppers, l,400 stools; length of main
aisles, 1875 feet; aggregate length of aisles,
II miles; area of floor, over 10000 square
feet. In addition there are elegantly fitted
rooms Tor chlldren's goods, ladies finished
suits, and other special departments,
besides parlors, retiring rooms, d c., for the
comfort of customers. In the space en-
closed by the central counter is an
elegantly carpeted and finished dark room,
lighted only by gas, used for showing silk
goods for evening dress, but this is the only
place in which gas is needed, inasmuch as
the entire edifce is flooded with daylight
from tho uumarOuS SEvlivhtS which cOva,
the roof. The entire building in every
department is filled with new and attrac
tive stock of goods. The store No. 1913
Chestnut Street has been purchased and
entirely demolished in order to make of il
a beautiful arcade leading from Chestnut
Street into the great store. This arcade i:
highly ornamented in front and magnifi
Gently lighted with stained glass and elabo
rate chandeliers, tiled with marble, anC
otherwise rendered attractive.
Opening day was great success.