Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-23
O'NEIL'S
Grand Opening
Attracted Thousand of
People
TO the Mammoth Store,
Thursday Night.
ExcelIed All Similar Displays
In the City.
Names of Those In Charge Of the
Many Departments.

People who visited the opening of
The NJ. O'Neil & Co.'S mammoth store
Thursday evening, were more than
ever convinced that Akron is the home
of one of Ohios largest department
houses. Certain it is, that no city in
Akron's class can boast of store,
which can in any feature compare with
the establishment, of which Mr..
Michael O'Neil is the head
Thursday evening, the store was
crowded with patrons, friends and well
wishers of this well-known firm. Every
department was open to public inspec-
ton and each one of the five stories
and basement was turned over to the
visitors, to wander through and ad-
mire.
The hours of the opening had been
announced from to 1890 o'clock, and
during that time thousands of people
thronged the store. The jam was ire
mendous and every bit of available
space IN the vast emporium, was filled
by the surging crowd.
The visitors We're admitted at the
north entrance and all those wishing
to go upstairs were told to take the
elevator. A squad Of policemen were
detailed to handle the crowd. 1t was
estimated, that the elevator carried
| 100 people per minute for 2is hours.
After inspecting the upper floors the
multitude was directed to the first
floor and made its exit through the
book and shoe departments. Several
times was 1t found necessary to close
the doors to prevent the jam from be-
coming dangerous. Nothing occurred
to mar the pleasure of all and the man
agement deserves great credit for the
splendid way 1t took care of the guests.
The store had been deliberately de-
corated for the occasion, ana scarcely
can written description, adequately set
forth the beautiful scene.
While palms and cut flowers had
been used profusely, it was a notice.
able fact that the prettiest and most
tasteful decorations were made by an
artistic arrangement and display of the
goods in stock. AS the visitors passed
from one department. to another, il
seemed that each succeeding place
eclipsed the preceding one. In fact
it appeared that the clerks in the var
ious departments had waged a friend
ly contest to see who could most artis
tically arrange his stock.
Upon entering the store at either OF
the main entrances, the visitor fount
himself surrounded by all that is gor
geous and dazzling. In the main aislt
We're three arches of the Dewey type
while another stood at the right, ant
one ut the left. These were trimmed
IN bright colors and a semi-circle oi
electric bulbs gave an added grandeur
to the effect. Ribbons of every hue
dangled from every conceivable place
and the rich and attractive fabrics
conspicuously displayed, converted the
immense room into a veritable fairy
land.
While much of the decorating wat
done by the army of clerks and atten
dants, too much praise cannot be giver
to Mr.. John =. Doyle, who has super.
intended the decorations and has
charge of the general window trim.
ming of the establishment.
Since there are no less than % sep
arate departments, it is useless to at,
tempt Il minute description OF all. II
| uttu ohly Dt Sulu llldL tIit duOTulnellt
of each was especially appropriate to
its department.
During the evening Stickles' orches-
ira furnished delightful music. A
platform had been erected on the first
floor, opposite the entrance for the
musicians. Upon the third floor an
other corps of musicians was station
ed.
10 representative of the Democrat
Mr.. M. O'Neil said: sour clerks de.
manded this opening. They thought
that our stock was fine enough 10 war
rant public display. None of the
goods, shown in any department, are
borrowed or ordered especially for this
occasion. 1t is simply an exhibit of
our every day stock and we are glad