Smyrna times., 1896-11-25
Opening of Wanamaker's New York
Store.

John Wanamakers New York store
was opened for business Monday morn
ing. Small signs bearing the inscrip-
ton ''John Wanamaker, formerly A.
I. Stewart & Co.," are the only out
ward indications of change in the old
block, but the store within is a monu-
ment to the mercantile skill of Wana-
maker. The store was filed with
shoppers of both sexes, and there were
many expressions of delight in the
confidence that the glory of "Stew-
arts" was revived in "Wanamaker's. "
The store occupies the entire block
bounded by Broadway, Fourth avenue,
Ninth and Tenth streets, and no one
today could devise better store build
ing than this, erected by A. T. Stewart
thirty years ago. In short, it is un-
surpassed by any other in the world.
This statement, sweeping as it is, is
absolutely correct. In the black goods
section this fact is particularly appre-
ciated, while the space set apart for
silks and vevets in the rotunda has an
environment that gives it dignity and
agreeableness thoroughly i'll accord
with the goods displayed. A soft rich
green carpet responds luxuriously to
the tread, while the open circle extend
ing to the roof, allows the light to fall
with mellow truth-telling persistence
upon the color and quality of the rich
fabrics on the counters
From this central point radiates the
various well-known sections that are
to be found in the parent Philadelphia
house. The offices formerly occupied
by A. I. Stewart are now used by Mr..
Ogden, the member of the John Wan
amaker firm who will represent 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 bookkeeping 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 monument of industry, marvel of
enterprise.
Within the last fourty-fve days
stocks aggregating at retail value three
millions of dollars have been gathered
for this New York store-the combined
stocks of the Philadelphia and New
York stores today amounting to six
million, eight hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars. The revival of this great |
business meant work for factories that !
otherwise would have 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 a 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 |
living tie to Philadelphia. Father
Knickerbocker and William Penn can |
cement their friendship through ties
of trade.
Neither of the Wanamaker stores can
be considered as a branch-both are |
great and complete in themselve, each |
helpful to the other-the two houses
working together in perfect unison as
do the two lungs of a healthy man.
The New York store is a success be-
yOnd peradventure. Opening day
proved that. And think of the army
of people who find employment in these
two Wanamaker stores! The number
will reach eight thousand before the
holidays.