The progress-advertiser. (Lexington, Miss.) 1902-1903, 1903-02-26

AANiNSh osNSh VI 6OVup PNANsoS
3, there by Messrs Lewis & Barrett q
& this city, this purchase apply illus
y trates the enterprise Of these tw
/. gentlemen, who are among our bes
+ business men, though we have learne
d nothing definite, we venture to pre-
S dict that the bargain hunters o
n Lexington will soon have this i'm
: mense stock to select from.
"The biggest mercantile deal eve
made in the city of Helena, and ON
of the largest ever made in the stat
of Arkansas, was closed late yester
day afternoon.
By the deal Messrs Morris Lewi
and W. O. Barrett, of Lexington
Miss, become the owners of the re
, tail business of Seelig, Bruen and Co
and while the exact purchase figures
are not given out by the new owners
the consideration will be in the neigh.
borhood of 100000
Dave Dreyfuss, formerly of this
city, but now of Shreveport, La,
where he is engaged in the broker
age business, engineered the transac-
tion, having arrived in this city sew
eral days ago for the purpose, being
accompanied by Messrs Lewis and
Barrett. The deal was put under way
at once and rushed through, being
completed just before dark last night,
at which time an agreement was
reached as to the figures
Some months ago Mr.. S. Seelig SEN
ior member of the firm of Seelig,
Bruen & Co., announced that the re-
tail business was to be sold out and
discontinued, Mr.. Seelig to retire
from active affairs for a time. He
has made a comfortable fortune out
of the establishment, along with
other interests, and has felt that he
was entitled to a long rest. Several
weeks since Mr.. Bruen sold out his
interest in the business, and has
started a business on his own account,
so that Mr.. Seelig had the closing
out of the immense establishment.
A World reporter last night inter-
viewed Mr.. Lewis in regard to the
transaction, and from him learned
that the deal had actually been closed
and that it was the present intention
of himself and Mr.. Barrett to sell the
goods right here in Helena. This
will be done at a sacrifice, in order to
realize on the big investment as quick
ly as possible. When asked if it was
their intention to remain in business
in Helena permanently Mr.. Lewis re-
piled that it was not at present, but
a good deal depended upon results.
The big establishment will be closed
all of next week to arrange the stock
for an immense sacrifice sale, the ex-
act terms of which have not yet been
arranged, and these sales will be con-
tinued from time to time until the
goods have been disposed Of.
The task of taking the immense
stock has been hard one, and has
not yet been completed, there being |
three floors filled with clothing, dry
goods, shoes, furnishings, carpets,
mating, millinery, etc. Everything
will be sold and the business wound
up as rapidly as it can be done.
Messrs Lewis & Barrett will begin
early next week to advertise their
plans in earnest, and they expect to
make things hum as never before at
the old stand. They are both young
business men of proven ability, Mr..
Lewis being member Of the firm
Of Lewis, Herman & Co., and Mr..
Barrett being of the Pickens-Barrett
Co., both large mercantile establish
ments iu Lexington, Miss. They have
bought the stock in this city on
speculation, and bought it at figure
that will enable them to dispose Of it
at rediculously low prices to the re-
taller and yet make fair margin Of
profit.
In speaking Of the transaction to a
World representative last night Mr..
Lewis stated that he and Mr.. Barrett
we're considering proposition look
ing to the acquisition Of the Seelig
business also, but that this
deal has not yet been consumated,
The passing Of the retail store Of
Seelig, Bruen & CT. marks an epoch
in the business history Of Helena, for
IL G.. L.. kono ono ~ kho n1doot