Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-11-21
A BIG STORE.
John Wanamaker Captures all
New York.

w" W ~
John Wanamaker's New York store
was opened for business Monday
morning. Small signs bearing the
inscription John Wanamaker, former.
" 4. I. Stewart Il Co.," are the only
outward indications of change in
the old block, but the store within is a
monument to the mercantile skill of
Wanamaker The store was filed
with shoppers Of both sexes. and there
were many expressions of delight in
the confidence that the glory of
Stewards" was revived in "Wana-
makers"
The store occupies the whole block
bounded by Broadway, Fourth ave
nue., Ninth and Tenth streets. and no
one to day could devise a better store
building than this. erected by A. T.
Stewart thirty years ago In short. it
is unsurpassed by any other in the
world. This statement, sweeping as
il is, is absolutely correct. In the black
goods section this fact is particularly
appreciated. while the space set apart
for silks and velvets in the rotunda
has an environment that gives it a
dignity and agreeahleness thoroughly
in accord with the good- displayed.
a soft rich green carpet responds
luxuriously to the tread, while the
open circle. extending to the root,
allows the light 10 fall with mellow
truih-telling persistence upon the color
and quality of the rich fabrics on the
counters.
From this central point radiate the
various well-known sections that are
to be found in the parent Philadel-
phia house. The Offices formerly oc-
cupied by A. T. Stewart are now used
by Mr.. Ogden, the member of the
John Wanamaker firm who will rep.
resent the house in New York. The
electric plant, the women's waiting
room, the accountants quarters. the
invoice and fur storage departments
are all in their way deserving the
praises bestowed upon them, for no
matter whether one finds himself on
the top floor amid the system OF book
keeping and mail orders, or in the
basement bewildered by the wealth of
toys, and china, and glass, and silver,
and housekeeping goods, the impression
is the same: the store is a monument
of industry, marvel OF enterprise.
Within the last forty five days stocks
aggregaiing at retail value three mil
lions Of dollars have been gathered for
this New York store-the combined
stocks of the Philadelphia and New
York stores to-day amounting to SIX
million, eight hundred aud City
thousand dollars The revival of this
great business meant work for fac
tories that otherwise would be shut
down; meant occupation for thousands
who otherwise would have been idle,
and It means that in The face of all
the grumbling about hard times there
has been one man so well convinced
of renewed prosperity that he takes
unto himself duplicate business of
one whose astonishing proportions
would stagger the average merchant.
The establishment of "Wanamaker's"
in New York is bringing to that city
a living tie with Philadelphia.
Father knickerbocker and William
Penn can cement their friendship
through ties of trade.
Neither of the Wanamaker stores
can be considered as branch-both
are great and complete in themselves,
each helpful to the other-the two
houses working together in perfect
unison as 10 the two lungs of a healthy
man.
The New York store is success
beyond peradventure. Opening day
proved that. And think Of the army
Of people who lind employment in
these two Wanamaker stores The
number will reach eight thousand be-
fore the holidays.