Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-14
REEDS & HUGHES.
|Thousands of People Visited the New

emporium of the Reid x Hughes Dry Goods sso n the Commercial building on Bat k street took place yesterday af ternA@m AaAd evening and attracted thousswwA 0i people. From the mo- ment the doorA of the store were thrown open al 2:30 yesterday after noon until they were closed at about 10:SO last night a steady stream Of hu- < manity flowed into the place.
 3 Though hundreds of people were in s kheSplace at the same time last night 4 the store was not crowded, there being @ plenty of room for all so large is the z store. Never in the history of this S progressive city has the opening of business house attracted so many peo- pie. It looked as If all Waterbury was headed for this beautiful store. They had heard much of it's beauty, they an ffcipated very much, but their hopes were more than realized. They could * hardly believe that Waterbury pos sessed such a magnificent business es- Establishment. The new Commercial building Is considered the finest of the new buildings erected. So may the store of the Reid & Hughes Dry Goods company be classed as the finest not only of the new, but of all the Etores in the city.
 Long and earnestly, zealously and in- dustr1ally have the members of this progressive and up-to-date firm labor led in preparing the store and various departments for the grand opening. Partly were their labors repaid by the Congratulations which poured in upon them from all sides like an avalanche. Magnificent, beautiful, grand, brilliant, unsurpassed, were the adjectives which tho visitors used in describing the Apartments. Everybody was pleased and everybody was delighted and that ls saying much. A representative of khe New York Journal paid visit dur ing the evening For the time he thought Aa Efs H New York. It re- minded h&HSf zAArge places of bus hess in W 1sS@4l metropolis of the United StaAaA 2he store is metropoli Ian in sverS e@spect, in size, appear Rnce, stock. prices and last but not least sn regard to its clerks. It would be hard to find so many pretty and ebliging yougn ladies and genial young nen under one roof.
 Of course tue store is not completely Finished yetsnor will 1t be for some weeks. The work was delayed by the farpenters strike. But each and every Department is well arranged and un- Ter capable management and custom prs may be sure of receiving the most Courteous treatment.
 As one enters he is at once impressed with the beauty of the store. His eye is immediately attracted to he handsome ribbon department in the middle aisle. Nearby may be purchas- ed the finest of ladies' neckwear and handkerchiefs. A little further down #r1ay be purchased pretty laces and 8utterick patterns. On the opposite tide there is fine stock of merino un- erwear and ladies' underwear. Near By is handsome glove cabinet. Be- Aind tue display windows to the right the entrance is the mems furnishing department, which is bound to prove 3ne of the most popular departments the store. Adjoining is the wash oods department. On the left of the ntrance is department which will rove a big attraction to the ladies. Here is an excellent line of perfumery nd toilet articles. On one side of the enter counter notions and art ware nay be purchased, while on the oppo- ite side there is splendid display of rtware. The finest of silks and dress pods and Things may be bought at the outh side of this floor. The rear is evoted exclusively to linens and do- nestics.
 One of the most attractive places in he entire building will be the base nent, where there is magnificent oda fountain in charge of John Me arthy, the we'll known dispenser of aixed drinks. A fountain Is indeed a ovelty for a local dry goods store. -n enormous soda water business was one last night, MT McCarthy requiring lx assistants to attend to the trade. here Is large assortment of candies hand. Displayed to fine advantage
 the basement are bags, trunks, china
 ockery and kitchenware. The cash 8sk is also located here.
 On the second floor are the off3cos op ne company, the millinery ana cloak apartments, also corsets, cotton un- erwear, shoes and infanfs' wear pach one of these departments has cen considerably enlarged, but as stat. above there is plenty of space. TY9e ressmaking, fitting room and the cus pmers' reception room are also on tbis DOT. The latter is another novelty pr local store. Tn the recentfon room
 i'll be chairs, desks, paper and pens.
 that the customers may go in there nd rest themselves while waiting or
 ay do some writing.
 The fourth floor is occupied by the
 ampson-Sellew Furniture Go. Any erson in Reid & Hughes store who de
 e to go into that place may do so by
 king the elevator to the fourth floor
 the fifth floor are the stock and
 ork rooms
 A feature of the first floor will be a snera1 information bureau which will
 in charge of young lady. Here lamps will be sold and it will be a
 rt of sub postal station, in addition
 bureau of information. This bu- eau will be located to the right of the bar of the first floor.
 The store is brilliantly lighted, so
 fliiantIy in fact at night time that 1t
 i'll be known as the Daylight Store Y
 n the first floor there are no less than
 sfrty-three arc lights. Tn the hand. Dme display windows which are forty eet long there are 200 or more incan-
 11-NA KN-