The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-04-10
Fred Kron's Formal Opening of His
New Store Occurred Thursday
Night.
A VERITABLE JAM OF PEOPLE.
Something About fiis Handsome
Quarters and the Arrangement
of His Stock
A PROUD ESTABLISHMENT.


announcement that Fred Kron's new
stOre-The Leader-Would be formal
ly opened to the public throughout the
evening after 700 o'clock brought out
great throng of people. They be-
gan arriving before the appointed
hour for opening the doors and by
1880, at which time the large front
doors were swung open, not less than
one thousand people had congregat-
ed about the corner The sidewalks
were blOckaded and more than half
the street in front of the store was
occupiedby throng of people packed
| in as closely as sardines in box.
Only small percentage of those
waiting an opportunity to enter could
gain admittance at one time. The
store was filed and then the doors
locked. The crowd was allowed to
/, take look at the pretty DECORATIONS
and handsome5 articles on display
found on the three floors and after Sc
curing souvenir from the basement
in the shape of dinner plate with
picture of the store building hand
somely emblazoned thereon, exit to
the street from rear stairway lead
| ing from the second floor was made.
This modus operandi was repeated
several times until the anxious sight
seers were all accommodated and it
was about ten o'clock when the last
of the crowd was finally disposed of.
1t is doubtful if any such jam as
that witnessed last night ever before
occurred in the city. The counter
where the souvenirs were being dis
tributed contained seething mass
of humanity from opening to clos
ing, and many ladies came out of the
jam a; good deal the worse for the
squeezing" process.
Mr.. Kron has a beautiful. store
building as well as splendid stock of
goods. The large, handsome Front
street entrance is exceptionally at
tractive, and when Illuminated is not
eXcelled in appearance by any estab-
lishment in any city. The basement
is large, airy, well lighted and cheer
full, and is filled with large and
choice line of crockery, glassware and
groceries. The main floor is filled
with splendidly selected stock of
dress goods, notions, gents furnish
ing goods, shoes, ETC., and so arranged
as to lend cheerful attractiveness to
the eye. The second floor is none the
less attractive, being we'll supplied
with millinery goods, carpets and the
the like.
The decorations were extensive and
elaborate, but unfortunately much of
the pleasing effect which would
otherwise have been noticeable was
sadly marred by the failure of the
electric lights to operate. Directly
over the opening in the second floor
was arranged superb decoration of
incandescent lights strung on arches
and surrounding an improvised dome
which, had the lights in their various
colors worked, would have been
strikingly beautiful. This was the
only drawback to the complete sue
cess of the. occasion, and Mr.. Kron
keenly felt the omission.
Mr.. Kron's long residence in Man
kato has given him wide acquain-
lance. The many years that he has
been in the mercantile business and
the fair and honorable manner in
which he has always ttreated his GUS
TONERS has gained for him large and
lucrative trade, and his new and ele-
CANT quarters will add new customers
and make for him new friecds.
In common with the entire COM
munity, THE FREE PRESS joins in
congratulations to Mr.. Kron over his
past success and future prospects. He
is thoroughly deserving business
man.