Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-02
OMAHA'S GRAND OPENINGDAY
Frandsis, Courtney and o'DonshOs- Red
msud-EOrmils Vie with At-ssr- Ben.
DEDICATE THEIR fist NEW QUARTERS
Thousands Of People Pour In and
Out OF These Immense Marts
OF Commerce Dur
Ing Day.

Monday WAS grand opening day in Omaha,
IN name ane in fact; grand opening day IN
a way. for King Ak-sar-Ben. for Il opened
the week during which he will make his
advent and, with his consort queen, ascend
his throne. But more-it was grand open
ing day for three great commercial firms,
which. reaching out in their bold enter
prise TO make Omaha indeed the peerless
city Of the west. established themselves In
their new quarters. J. l.. Brandeis & Sons
took possession of the first floor Of their
immense, biock-long structure at Sixteenth
and Seventeenth streets on Douglas street
md dedicated II TO public patronage AMID
a whirl and din Of impressive circum-
stances. And simultaneously Courtney 4
Co were Installing themselves In their
new quarters, the three-story and base
ment building at Seventeenth and Douglas
streets, and then south on Sixteenth street
where stands that other handsome, mas
sive structure on the corner OF Howard.
into which O'Donahoe- Redmond NorInile
company has moved. this progressive firm
was receiving vast throngs as u inau-
guratcd It's entrance into a wider realm OF
commercial activity.
When the new Brandess building was
thrown open to the public Monday morning
an epoch was marked in the retail business
Of Omaha. The immense throngs which
waited in front OF the building for the
opening OF the doors, expected to see some
thing beautiful. They looked on fairy land.
From the show windows through the new
building; into the Courtney grocery store;
through the arcade into the old building; a
rnasteyVhand had arranged the decorations;
q PLASTER hand had displayed the goods for
sale: master hand had looked after the
smallest details Of the opening; everything
had been done to make a display in keep
ing with the reputation for progressiveness
OF this enterprising firm and to leave a
lasting impression upon the thousands who
crowded Through the doors.
In the store Arthur Brandeis. Emil
Brandeis Hugo Brandeis, mingled with the
people and looked to their comfort and
pleasure. Numerous floor walkers, r. H.
Manley advertising agent and hundreds OF
uniformed sales women did the same thing
Founder of the House.
An appropriate feature Of the opening OF
this magnificent place of business was the
memorial room. builded in honor of the late
j. L. Brandeis. founder OF the Brandeis
store. In the rear OF this small room was
an oil painting OF the merchandise prince,
a pioneer of Omaha. who twenty-five years
opening. Surrounding the picture were
numerous floral pieces contributed by
friends OF the late head OF the firm and
Of the living sons. In the rush of bust
ness the sons had not forgot the grand
man. who had with their assistance builded
80 well. Many OF the floral pieces were
sent from New York and Chicago by bust
ness friends OF the Brandeis Conspicuous
in many parts of the store were numerous
floral horse shoes. each containing the In
scription Success" over the entrances the
same significant inscriptions were sus-
pended.
The decorations In the new building were
fashioned after an old time garden and
consisted Of sheaves of wheat, holly hooks
peoples and 'garlands OF oak leaves. These
were secured around the immense white
pillars. which support the building. Di-
rectly In the center of the building Is the
Immense sky light extending from the
tourth-story Around this were oak leaves
\ most pleasing sight. incidentally this
great light IL one Of the features Of the
new building and makes II one of the
1ghtest stores In the country.
The arrangements In the new building
are on the same order as Macey's in New
York and Marshall Field. The entire in
side Is OF mahogany. The old building
which the people o. the west know b,
heart was made to look like new and the
decorations there were OF asparagus and
June rose buds. In the balcony surrounded
by flowers until invisible an orchestrs
played throughout the day.
t Courtney 4 Co.'s store.
Courtney Co.'S grocery store. which will
occupy three stories and the basement o