The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-01
DRENNENS OCCUPY THEIR NEW HOME
 -- Nearly All Stock Is Moved. Will Have Opening
 Day Soon

The realization of the dream of the Drennen Co. for the past 12 years was realized yesterday morning with the opening of the doors of their day light store" on the corner of Twen- tieth street and Second avenue. On this corner in 1869 the first Drennens, Will liam and J. W, laid the foundation of the department store business which after AZ years of growth has become one of the most substantial and hand somely housed retail stores of Ala- bama upon It's removal from the former stand on Second avenue near Twenty first street Monday night.
 The moving, which was done In five hours, beginning at o'clock Monday evening, made a record in Birmingham for rapid transferring of stock This was effected by an organization of eacl, department, an enlarged force of labor and a systematic checking of every article. A small army of men were busy carrying long wooden stretchers laden with the stock which was taken from the shelves of the old building and arranged in place in the new store within very short time. Every man wore on his sleeve letter of the alpha bet to correspond to the department he was moving and in this way all confusion was eliminated and no man was allowed to intercept with anothers task.
 The display furniture of the day light store" was shipped from Grand Rapids yesterday. will be entirely of glass and will represent $1s.ooo worth of showcases. The plans alone for the interior fixtures. which were designed by a decorator of New Fork city. cost 5000 and there are 1000 mazda tung- stems scattered over the building. There are three main stories with two meg zanines or balconies, which gives the floor space of practically four stories. The basement Is new departure for Birmingham stores and will be usea
 for the miscellaneous department un- | til the holidays when "Toyland" will 1 be installed there Every inch of tbe I first floor will be used for selling space, the first mezzanine is occupied ! with the shoe department, the second floor will be devoted to the ladies ready to wear, millinery and rest rooms, the second mezzanine Is the bus iness office, where the central receiving station for all the cash is located and the third floor is stocked with furni- ture The premium room of the Green Trading Stamps company is also on this
 floor which is reached by two of tho largest passenger elevators in the city.
 The street windows are an
 copy of the Marshall- Field stor> Chicago and were built by Birmlt ham people of Birmingham materl in keeping with the remainder of tt& store which is strictly a Birminghsm IT, furniture
 Felix Drennen, secretary of the firm, said yesterday while he paused to en. joy the sight of throngs of shoppers making their first purchases in the ney building:
 We are especially proud of the cah inet work which we consider very beautiful In finish and design, as it was done by a Birmingham concern, the Evans Constructing company Es- cry bit of the polished oak woodwork, window partitions and other wooden {, furniture was supplied by them. l
 We will have a formal opening dav as soon as it is possible and invite all Birmingham to visit Us and see our new home" ft
 The hardware department was moved from the adjoining building into the store vacated Monday night anu the grocery department will be re moved to the new store the later par nf isfaa