The Detroit times., 1909-05-12
NEW FIRM TAKES
CHARGE Of BIC
?. & B. STORE
Crowley, Miner & Co. Succeed
Partridge & Blackwell and Plan
Many Changes Looking to In
creased Success.
New Owners Widely Known Bust
ness Membranes Synonymous
With Commercial Enterprise.

The name. Partridge & Blackwell.
50 long identified with the retail busl-
uess In Detroit and familiar to thous-
lnds OF people throughout this section
IL the country, has passed into MS
DRY. and the corporation which con-
iucts the mammoth store at Farmer
ST.. Gratiot and Monroe-aves. Will be
known hereafter as Crowley, Miner q
co. Formal announcement OF the
change was made this morning.
Early last summer Joseph j. Crow
icy. OF the Wholesale dry goods mouse
of Crowley Bros. and w. l.. Miner,
me OF Toledo's best known business
men. bought controlling interest IN
me corporation. They have now ac-
CURED complete control, having pur-
chased the entire interest Of Willard
Z. Partridge and Henry Blackwell In
ne business. Both these gentlemen
lave retired from the company. Mr.
.ailne- Is the new president OF the
corporation and Mr.. Crowley Is vice
president and treasurer.
Since Messrs Crowley and Miner
became interested In the establish
nent numerous reforms In manage
lEent and other changes looking TO the
general Improvement OF the store and
business have been instituted and Will
be pushed more vigorously than ever,
now that the new owners have secured
complete control. These changes have
10 do largely with Encouragement or
the departments, some or which Will
be enlarged and some eliminated. The
grocery meat and liquor departments,
heretofore conducted in the basement,
ave been discontinued. This Will give
ample room for greatly enlarged stocks
Of china and house furnishings ana
FOR sporting goods, toys and trunks,
formerly displayed on the upper floors.
he barber shop has also been discon-
linued and the space will be utilized
Tor an employees entrance and locker
Dom.
The main floor has undergone and Is
still undergoing great changes. Inc
banking department has Deen closed
cut. A large part Of he balcony,
where the bank and general ofhces
we're formerly located, IL being torn
cut and the ofices removed 10 the
afth floor, where there is plenty OF
light and air and great deal more
room. This change was made out OF
consideration for the office employees,
who formerly worked under electric
light and In cramped and poorly ven
,ilated quarters. The moving stair
/, az between the first and second moor
vas taken out some time ago as tho
space was needed for additional coun-
ters.
The company Is now receiving ng-
ures on the installation OF new res
taurant on the fourth floor. which, az
planned, will be one OF the finest store
restaurants In the city. A high-class
man with wide experience in depart
nlent store catering has been engaged
az. manager.
For the benefit OF the women en-
ployes. rest, toilet and luncn rooms are
icing fitted up ON the sixth floor. These
viii give restful and cheerful surround
ings for the employees during the lunch
1our and place TO lie down wnen
hey are indisposed. The furnishings
viii include sanitary couches, reading
facilities and a piano. Meals VIII De
served to the girls at nominal cost.
and the food will be OF the very pes..
Other changes are contemplated
though not fully determined upon as
yet, all looking to the Improvement
OF the establishment and 20 the greater
comfort and convenience OF patrons
and employees alike.
Likewise q number OF changes In or.
ganization are contemplated with
view to greater strength.
I'VE want to make this the strongest
establishment Of It's kind In this Sec
ton" said Mr. Miner. I'VE believe
detroit has a great future In store, and
this company proposes 20 contribute
it's full share to the city's develop
ment and particularly toward building
ND the retail business OF the town. 10
that end the business will be conduct
I'd along modern and aggressive lines.
Mr.. Miner is president and principal
owner of w. l.. Miner Il Co. which
conducts the largest department store
i'm Toledo. He is looked upon as
leader I'm his field and is one OF To-
ledo's staunchest business men.
Mr.. Crowley. previous TO the estab-
lishment OF the wholesale dry goods
house of Crowley Bros. eight years
ago. was a member of the firm OF burn-
ham Stoepel & Co. He served on the
water board from 1901 to 1905 and was
vice president OF the Detroit Board OF
Commerce in It's second year. He en-
Joys a very wide acluaintan~e and In
lis new undertaking has the best
wishes OF host of loyal friends.