St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-08
HARRIS WAS WRONG.
His New England Furniture Store
Openinp Was Brilliant.

Opening Was Brilliant.
81 don't believe we'll have many pe0-
pie tonight" said w. l.. Harris, presi-
dent of the New England Furniture
company. last night as he rode in from
Kenwood with his partner, MI. Clapp,
referring to the New England's "open-
ing"
What makes you think so?" said Mr..
Clapp.
ION, a woman's reason-because l
feel it."
When he arrived at the big store MIR.
Harris was forced to admit that his
"wuman's reason" did not mold good.
He found the New England Furniture
Store crowded, and more people COM
ing every minute. Twice as many
people visited the store last night as
ever before on the opening night. They
filled every passage in the establish
ment, which covers half block of
I ground. The throng numbered thou
sands. They passed i'll from Sixth
street and from Fifth street. and swept
on past each other in long lines
through the whole store. 1t was an
event with many of the visitors.
They had unlimited opportunity to
feast their eyes Oh everything
that is beautiful or useful in the line OF
house furnishings and utensils. Mean
while their ears drank in the music dis
courSed by the best orchestra Minneap-
oils can furnish. The mammoth store
was ready for all who came. The i'm
mense stock was arranged in park-like
sections. SO that everything could he
seen and at the same time leave plenty
| of room for the visitors.
The career of the New England Fur
niture company has been something re-
markable. 1t began business in the old
| Casino building about six years ago.
| Competitor gave the concern six months
| before the assignee or sheriff should
take charge. MIR. Harris couldn't see
| it. When business in general
| in the city began to decline
he expanded the New England's
business. A competitor put up a
| building next him to freeze him out. In
year or so Mr.. Harris owned both his
competitors stock and building. In
stead of lasting six months, his business
| has not only lived, but grown for six
years. Now the store covers half a
block, 350X115 feet, and is still growing.
I'VE are prepared to furnish the
homes of the entire Northwest" said
Mr.. Clapp last night, land not exert
ourselves. This business is run at a
minimum of expense. We do not tax
our customers to pay rent for
large and snowy. buildings. Our
building is plain, and the custom
ers get the benefit of it in
the stock and prices. We have $50 en-
ployes, and they are all busy all of the
time. | am told by freight men that we
ship to n Northwestern points outSideM in
neapolis more goods every year than all
other Twin City houses in our line COM
bined. For the last three years this de-
partment Of our business has doubled
every year. We have eight experts
constantly at work doing up goods in
burlap for out-of-town shipment. Our
only regret now is hit we haven't
city like Chicago to NO.K on"
The New England is responsible for
extending the business section OF Mill
neapOlis. When it acquired the old
panorama eye-Sore and converted it into
a handsome store, Fifth street was made
business street. Not until after that
was done did S. E. Olson decide to build
on Fifth and First avenue south, and
locate his main entrance directly Oppo-
site the New England. Two other big
retail stores fronting on Nicollet will
soon have Fifth street entrances. Big
business houses like big neighbOrS.
The New England opening last night
was in every way a success. Not only
did more people visit the store than
ever before, but the visitors saw more
than ever before. They saw the most
complete stock in the Northwest of
everything needed IN the house-furnish-
ing line.
The New England has some handsome
windows on the Sixth street side. There
are seen representations of rooms in
the new Syndicate hotel in Chicago,
which is being furnished by the New
England. The Minnesota worlds fair
building is also being furnished by the
New England.