Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-18
PLAN MAMMOTH
GENERAL STORE
EASTERN CAPITAL LAUNCHES
MONSTER ENTERPRISE
Two Million Dollar Project Outlined
for Seventh and Broadway to
BE Known as Ell Emporlo
Reality

Los Angeles Is to have department
store In the near future that will COM
pare favorably with any in the United
States, and according to statements
given out yesterday by those interested
in the deal there will not be an estab-
llshment of its kind west of Chicago
that will equal 1t.
The new store Is to be located at
the northwest corner Of Seventh street
and Broadway, and will be known as
the Eel Emporio. 1t Is expected that
the structure will be stocked with
goods and thrown open to the public
by next October.
1t will be eight stories in height and
the ground (Which has been leased)
and the building will cost at least a
million dollars. The stock will cost an
equal amount.
Those who are directly interested in
the project are F. l.. Besselman of Los
Angeles, Charles Crosse of Chicago, e.
M. McGillen Of Cleveland, and John b.
Schwaegler Of Buffalo, N. Y.
Long Lease
The gentlemen named have secured
II long term lease Of the property at
the northwest corner of Seventh street
and Broadway, having frontage of
142 feet on the latter street and 100
feet on Seventh.
Plans for the building have already
been completed and contracts Will
probably be let in the near future.
This announcement will be received
as further evidence that the business
center of the city Is growing rapidly
towards the south. The location Is be-
lieved by shrewd business men to be
an ideal location for such a structure,
and that it will have the effect of
greatly stimulating the present prices
of real estate in the immediate vicin-
ity is assured, even though desirable
property in that portion of Los An
geles has been rapidly advancing for
several years.
Captains of Industry
Those connected with the large I'M
dertaking are business men of note.
E. M. McGillen has been one Of the
most conspicuous business men in
Cleveland Ohio, for thirty years. I'm
til short time ago he was connected
with the May company of that city
as merchandise manager. He opened
the first department store in Cleve-
land in 1880 and was the first to sell
goods on any but the street floor. Mr..
McGillen is credited with making and
saving million dollars in the dry
goods business before he was SO years
of age.
Fred L. Besselman, for ten years
with the Scotch Syndicate stores of
Indiana, came to Los Angeles in 1896,
and for five years was buyer for A.
Hamburger & Sons. Later he was
general manager of the same institu-
ton for the following five years. Mr..
Besselman is therefore we'll known to
the Los Angeles public.
Charles r. Crosse, one of the heav-
lest stockholders, has had twenty
seven years experience in commercial
enterprises. He was first employed
with Field. Letter e. Co. of Chicago.
Later he engaged in business with his
father at Chebanse, Ill, eventually re-
turning to the Windy City to enter
a large wholesale house for six years.
With capital of but $4,000 Mr.. Crosse
later went into business for himself
In Chicago, laying the foundation for
a fortune, which eventually made 1t
possible for him to engage in deals
of the magnitude indicated by this ar
ticIe.
J. B. Schwaegler, who started his
career as stock boy in the linen de-
partment of Adams Meldrum & An
derson, Buffalo. N. Y, later became
a well known manufacturer of muslin
underwear. He was for years identi-
fed with some of the largest firms
in the middle west. Mr.. Schwaegler
retired from the manufacturing BUSH
ness in 1905.