Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-11
CROWDS VISIT
HAMBURGER'S
ATTENDANCE PUT AT OVER
EIGHTY THOUSAND
HUGE TRADE TRANSACTED WITH
cLocKWoRK PRECISION
Moving Stairway and Many Other In
genious Innovations Excite the
Admiration of Vast Throng
of Customers

The seasoned Angeleno has turned
tourist this week, making the trip to
the city of Hamburger at Broadway,
Eighth and Hill streets. More than
$4,000 persons visited the new location
of A. Hamburger & Sons at the open
ing yesterday, and visitors will prolong
the Opening" of the largest retail
store west of Chicago through the re-
mainder OF the week.
The big building, with it's 30.1 acres
of floor space, is really fifty-seven va
rleties of stores in one, for there are
that many selling departments, in adj
dition to twelve non-earning depart
ments. They make up city of 1000
employees, with every feature that
might be called for to make up a city,
except, possibly, sleeping facilities, and
the Hamburger Realty and Trust COM
p-ny, which has offices on the fifth
floor, might be included to furnish that
feature.
The visitors to the new store began
coming as soon as the doors opened at
o'clock yesterday morning, and were
still seeking admission when the doors
were closed in the evening.
Never in the history of Los Angeles
have there been such crowds on
Broadway as we had today" said d.
A. Hamburger. 1.-THE reception that
has been given us has gone away be-
yond the expectations of any of us. 1t
is a splendid testimonial, and we are
heartily grateful to the people of Los
Angeles"
In his address at the dedicatory ex-
ercises Mr.. Hamburger voiced the same
sentiment.
I'VE dedicate this establishment to
the people of Southern California" he
said. Our policy since the first days
of our store has been, in every way we
could, to forward the interests of this
community. AS you doubtless know
we have maintained our force of en-
ployes through the hard times; we have
favored local business men wherever
possible and all the courtesy and good
will we might command have been given
to Californians whenever opportunity
offered.
This policy has been wonderfully
successful; if there were any doubt Of
that the generous reception you are
extending us today is ample proof. To
establish ourselves in this new build
ing mas been the achievement we have
been looking forward to as the great
event of our lives, and it is certainly
pleasant to receive so noble a response.
l cannot tell you how deeply all of us
appreciate the kindly way in which Los
Angeles has treated us in the twenty
seven years we have been established
here. We shall endeavor to deserve the
many kind things that have just been
said of us, and this store and all in it
we wish considered a monument of
gratitude to the people of this section"
Mayor Harper Presides
Mayor A. c. Harper, as presiding
officer at the dedicatory exercises. had
introduced Mr. Hamburger, first calling
attention to the Importance of the event
to the city and congratulating A. Ham
burger & Sons upon their success in
giving Los Angeles the largest depart
ment store in the west
1.-THE entire city should mark this as
a great achievement" said Mayor Har-
per, zone which stands for the enter
prise and go-ahead policy of our bust
ness interests The opening of this
great store today is something of which
all of us may be proud. 1t is a testi-
monial to the initiative and sagacity
of the owners-more than that, it
stands as mark of the progress in the
building up of Los Angeles"
Senator Frank P. Flint made an adj
dress on similar lines, speaking, as a
Californian, of the pride the whole
state should feel in so great an estab-
lishment He paid a high compliment
to the ability displayed by Hamburger
& Sons in building up business which
made necessary so great a building,
and on behalf of all California he con-
graduated the members of the firm.
Niles Pease, president of the city
council, in following Senator Flint,
spoke particularly of the initiative dis
PLAYED by the Hamburgers in moving
IN SO far from their old location.
"It will be the broadening of the
business district almost the making of
a new district" he declared, "for in
ten years this great store will be in
the very center Of the business sec
ton"
The exercises opening and dedicating
the new store were held on the fourth
floor, and nearly all of its $1,000 square
feet of floor space was needed to ac-
commodate the crowds which gathered
to hear them. Many prominent bust
ness men were in the audience, includ-
ing the city officers. the officers OF the