The morning call., 1892-07-12
A DRY-GOODS ROMANCE.
Remark able History and Growth
Of the Firm of Hale Bros.
How They Established Six Big Stores, and a
Description OF Their Immense Estsb-
lishment on Market Street.

Business and romance seldom &c hand in
hand, but San Francisco has at least one
mercantile firm among the many who ask
for public patronage which has a history so
remarkable that il deserves to be brought
before the public.
At the beginning of the present year in
corporation papers were filed by Hale
Brothers. A brief notice in the newspapers
announced that o. A. Hale was the presi-
dent OF the new company. e. c. Hale the
manager and r. B. bale the secretary, and
that the purpose of the company was to do
a dry goods business in this State.
INN ediately after the fling OF these pa
pers the people of the city were astonished
to witness the opening of an emporium in
the various dry7goods lines at the premises
OF 937-939 Market street such as they had
never beheld before.
1t was revelation in that line. Every
thing was new and bright, and when the
doors were thrown open r big crowd
ihronged the place to see, test and TO pur-
chase.
Hale Brothers fame soon spread through
out the city, and notwithstanding their
great competition the stores they occupied
became in short time known as ''the shop
peTs' paradise"
Such a remarkable success excited CON-
il was that old-estabished houses were
neglected by their customers aud compara-
tive strangers were literally patronized.
Investigations were made and IL was soon
learned that the name of Hale was by no
means new one In the dry-goOds world Of
California, although heretofore no one Of
that name had invaded the San Francisco
field.
1t was ascertained that there are six big
dry-goods stores operated by seven brothers
lsls. IN &fof ha rarth u ha.- .-s,,1
been founded in 1876 in San Jose.
Branches were established I'm Salinas and
Petaluma in 1878. and during tie year fol-
lowing large stores were opened in Sacra-
mento and Stockton. followed in 1888 by a
splendid establishment in Los Angeles.
This showing convinced the sxeptical and
enyi0us that the firm which opened in San
Francisco in 1892 was well known through
out the State and that their success at the
start was due 10 the reputation they had
gained for themselves elsewhere.
Having so large and varied connections
of course puts the firm on a footing with
wholesale houses as far as prices and ad.
yantages In buying are concerned. Besides.
NJ. Hale. one OF the brothers, is a resident
buye- in New York. and is always on the
alert 20 secure bargains for the California,
especially the San Francisco house.
A CALL reporter, attracted by the rumors
OF clearing sale" visited hale Brothers
store yesterday and was shown about the
pidCt ny H. ID. ma z, the youngest OF the
seven dry-gOods princes.
The shelves were all full. Goods of every
description filled every available nook and
corner, and while the various departments
were separated each one OF them equaled
the other in the iullnesS Of its equipment.
The counters were not only laden with
every kind OF domestic and foreign materi-
ais, but The space underneath was utilized
as shelves for goods.
The store, large and well ventilated as it
IS. was full ot buyers, who were examining
the many special bargains offered Just now
by the firm, because they are in the second
week OF their semi-annual clearing sale.
I'VE have made it our business to hold
sueh sale every six months, because the
crowded condition of our shelves makes It
necessary that we dispose Of our summer
stock before the fall and winter goods
arrive explained Mr Hale, and then he
said that the firm as usual bought full lines
oil summer goods for the season and that a
good deal OF the stock Is still on their hands.
Rather than carry it over TO next season
they sell II of at nominal prices.