The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-24
A HANDSOME NEW STORE.
Mcssrs- Watt, Rcitew - CIuy SET mn
Example 10 Other Merchants.

rev months past the entcrprisins
ana progressive dry goods firm OF
watt. Rettcw Il Clay decided to in
crease anu enlarge their store capn-
Guy 10 meet the requirements Of their
rapidly growing business. With this
end III view their final conclusion was
10 purchase the Stevens building. ut
the corner of Main and Grauby street.
which is decidedly the best location
for Il dry goods and general notion
store of any place in this city. After
the purchase was completed their next
STEP was to improve the premises so
as to conform to their requirements.
ana as to how well they have succeed
eli the building. which was finished
yesterday, is in evidence.
The building is about fifty feet front
on Main street and runs back 100 feet
on CRANKY street, with basement. which
VIII be ucsd for storage of goods, and
four stories above the street, with en-
trance on Main street. The building
has been entirely renovated and re-
nodded. which work was done under
the personal supervision of MIR L..
Patterson. assisted by MIR \. j. Dun
klec as foreman in charge. The entire
'front.' of this building to the second
Story was removed. all of the old sup
ports being taken out 50 as to admit
of the present arrangement. which
gives SO much better show windows.
ana making one entrance instead of
two in the building as formerly The
diincult ana very particular work Of
uhuerpihhing ana removing The front
was done under the special personal
Supervision Of MIR. Patterson much
OF which work was done at night by
electric lights, as was also much Of
the other interior work
The idea of Mcssrs. Watt, Rettcw &.
cay was TO have an entirely modern
store, and in arranging their work they
have done. o With the intention Of equal
ing stores of n similar character In New
Nork ana Other larger cities
The first floor is laid out with shelves
ana counters down each side and with
three tiers of counters down The centre
These counters. as we'll as The stair
ways, railing. ana ballustradng and
panel work ~ the mezzaninc floors at
the rear OF the store. are all finished
In oak. This oak finish and the general
mill work WAS furnished from the mill
of Mr.. ID. w. Campbell. OF this city.
ana finished in hard oak as it Is. pre-
scnts 4 most beautiful appearance, and
reflects credit on the ability of Norfolk
mechanics.
The second floor will bc used as Il
show room o. sales room for cloalls
etc. and the floors above will also he
used as show rooms for the different
departments.
The second floor will not only be
reached 10y the stairway mentioned
above. but will be made more accessible
by the splendid electric elevator. which
was put III by Messrs. y. G. Wcichaus
q Co, of Lancaster, Pa. 'and is equip
ped by the most modern elevator appli-
anccS.
One Of the most attractive improve
mcnts Of the building is the painting,
which is being done by Mcssrs b. ~
Richardson. x Son, which adds so
much to the exterior of tho building
The building throughout is heated by
steam, with radiators of the most
modern pattern.
The entire building is most admira bly,
.adpted FOR the purpose for which il
is To be used, and Messrs. Watt, Ret
lew &. Clay are TO be conGratula ted
for their enterprise i'm the matter. as
is also MIR, Patterson for the satisfac-
tory and rapid completion Of the work
under his especial care and supcrvi-
sion. The plumbing was done by
SchumuS x Thompson: the steam heat
ing by T.. l.. Rogers; the plaic-Elass
work which by the way cannot be cX-
ccllcd, was furnished by ISnin Il Da-
Wis. ana the galvanized iron work by
the Union Mining and Roofing Com
pany.