The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-14
q DRY GOOD s.. 4
WHOLESALE AN D RETAIL
Watt, Rettew &c Clay !.


In In. every city, some one establishment
by reason Of its progressiveness, enter
prise and general popularity with the
/ public and especially with the most gen
e:ous patrons. the ladies. FORCES to the
front and Is known ra1. and widcsand in
It's own locality as 1.-The dry goods store
oftthe city, &Isafs6. ~ 81 E@sfg sIer'-a,
Such an establishment is that Of Watr
Rettew & Clay, the big dry goods house
OF Norfolk, established here in 1886. q
store room 25XS0 feet III dimension.
After three months they found their
quarters too small to meet the demands
or their growing business and enlarged
1t by adding 40 feet, thus having a store
25x126 feet. .3{}; ~ z 1.l1 =.
They continued In this room three
years when their business had taken
on such proportions that larger quarters
were imperative. They then took an adj
Joining room OF equal size and removed
4 middle wall that divided the building
into two rooms, giving them a stori.
50Nls0 feet in size.
L MS however, soon proved inadeQuate
Tor success had stamped i.self upon the
popular IL: ms efforts, and q Year later
.heH auded an annex. 25NT5 feet, afford
ING q llGo" space of 1876 square feet
III 1888 more conmcuious as well IA
more mcuern quarters were necessary
~ the metropolitan pro portions OF their
business and il was then they pur
chased the big building corner. Main and
- is.tlpS street: rms building has four
Eoors OF equal dimensions measuring
2eXl3o feet all OF which is occupied nv
them for their large Wholesale and ~.
tail trade.
me first or main floor is most admir-
itoiy arranged, beth for display and con
,tHifhce, ana contains tile nlui! line. OF
cry goods. such as silks, dress goods
r,n u
doom department, gloves. trimmings et,
ne second floor constitutes the cloak
ara suit department.. muslin underwear
!auies waist and wrappers, lace cur
Jams, rugs and furnishings. ard her
also are located the general offices o.
the firm.
The ensise third floor is utilized rot
the Wholesale department Of the bust
moss
The entire building l.: modern is eve,g
,e5pect and colnpars fnvurahiy Mech
ny ~ the LARGE establishments Of :.rfi-
t#snOlitan cities
"ho2n,ps find every conv ntrnca Ia
y" Big Store, spch us ciectllr ii,,lls
5tc2An heat. fast elevator saIvi;.{,i ANA
ASH carrier s.s .l.ll
Tile stock 81 Goods carried c1lnpr'a<.s
everything! in Tho line of dr., cd1tss iron,
he very iiiast and hj@h ST yr-cuG Invel.
sirS 10 In" cheaper SlGl,!rs ard IL with.
+.
tan in the cilr
EesidtE the lnrncrsn establishment il,
his CITY. tho finn !!slve d very ficul;sh
lnT Branch store in oar siStsr GIN a.,
Roanoke. which hi:is Fair 10 repca; .he.e
+ ne phenpmenat success obtained here
II Norfolk. They also maintain a
hc&d4ua,ttrs in New York city. in
nharE@ q an e:iparienced buye,, Nn the
GHi WY n: jtli times fJl. novelties. and
~ touch with the market.
Natt. lEeiteW :; Clay IS the household
Wprd IN Norfolk ara the success .,.I,iai0
cd by the firm is We'll ,l.Saryld the
pnhlie have perfect confidence in lis
inetnotiS and the crowded l0brs t@s,if4
.!o4uenily tie limsnse Popularity the
iil,n has gained.
The individual members cf THO firm,
are David +. Watt William II. Ret,ew
and Alfred Clay Iaey came To No,.soIi,
from Pennsylvania, Where they wcrt.
id&ntiiiSd With the dry goods business
III the city uf Lancaster Since Their,
residence in Morrolk tl,ey INV.
thoroughly Identified themselves WI,
every forward movement !noEint, /, a.
wards the city's material prcgrt.as and
lend heir aid literally TO every enter
prise tulthtring that end.