Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

The metamorphosis of @ street into a
thriving business thoroughfare may be
chiefly credited to A. Lisner, pro-
prietor of the Palais Royal. In his
view the present development of this
street and the indications of still more
rapid growth in the future make 1t
seem quite logical that G street must
be. geographically and rightfully. one
of the main arteries from the new
Union station to the uptown district.
as 1t Is already the short cut between
the great government buildings.
Very different was the opinion when
Mr.. Lisner determined. about fifteen
years ago, to change his place of bust
ness from Pennsylvania avenue to the
present site. Formerly Mr.. Lisner oc-
cupied the entire building once used by
the pension office. now the site Of the
Raleigh Hotel. His best friends told
Mr.. Lisner in 1898 that it was sui
eide to forsake the historic Pennsyl-
vania avenue for sleepy G street. Some
of them went so far as to suggest In
half-indignant manner that he might
as we'll move out to the suburbs and
start a department store where there
was plenty of room.
Had Courage to Go Ahead.
But Mr.. Lisner had the courage to
support his theories with deeds. and
the Palais Rcval. at the northeast cor
ner of G and 18th streets. was the
outcome. The land and the building
cost within a fraction of half a mill
lion dollars. G street came to life as
business thoroughfare with the open
ing of the Palais Royal October 1. 1893.
1t soon became apparent that the
vast number of residents in the north
west section of the District favored the
change In the location. and the new
Palais Royal was a demonstrated sue
cess from the beginning. Women en-
gagged In the government offices also
found this G street establishment the
most convenient for them. Sleepy G
street was fully awakened. never to
sleep again. Today the Palais Royal
corner is one Of the busiest in town.
So great is the traffic at the inter-
section of 18th and G streets that a
special police officer is permanently
stationed to control the street traffic
and see to the safety of pedestrians. 1t
is when the great offices of the gov
eminent set free their army of at
taches that G street swarms with
humanity. 1t is then the popularity OF
the Palais Royal is made conspicuous
ly evident. That the entrances of both
18th and G streets are amply large Is
true. but it is generally we'll known
that the building itself has grown con-
siderably too small for its vast
patronage.
Invites Enormous Trade.
Those conversant with department
stores credit the Palais Royal with the
largest business in proportion to its
size-a business greater than in many
larger establishments of bigger cities.
Some idea OF it's volume is cleaned
from the investigation of the Herald
reporter. who learned that the sales Of
women's waists. in one day. amounted
to $500. sold only from a compare
lively small table. occupying a space
measuring but 6 by 10 feet. When 1t
is considered that the Palais Royal
building is 40 by 100 feet and that
every inch of its five floors is utilized.
some idea Is realized Of the vast bust
ness concentrated there.
Mr.. Lfsner's success did not begin
and end with the selection of To-
cation that has developed so marvel
ously. One little straw-those waists
proves it. We men who have mothers.
wives and sisters know that the home
talk OF late has been nothing but
waists! We have all heard. until we
are tired. that the Palais Royal is hav-
INK d "OuVcfiui SdIe. ana tndJ dreams
of waists are to be had for a song
If it is not waists it is this garment
or that which is a bargain. so that the
Palais Royal becomes household
word. Women know. and II their ver-
dict is that this G street establishment
is the best and most economical shop
ping place. one can be very certain
that 1t is really so. 1t can be taken
for granted that G street Is the right
location. and the Palais Royal the
right store.
The growth of G street since the ad-
vent of the Lisner building is perhaps
the most marked in the obliteration Of
st. Patrick's Orphan Asylum. on the
site of which now flourishes the "Bos-
ton House. 1t would only need the
erection of another great department
store on the northwest corner to make
G street a shopping center unequaled
in many much greater cities.-The
Washington Herald. September I.
1907.