The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-25
r cent Purchases Indicate
Thoroughfare to Be Rich
mond's Fifth Avenue.
STORES SECURE SITES
Miller & Rhoads Deal Believed
to Be Only the Beginning of
Movement for Extending Re-
tail District.

Recent purchases of Grace street
property by several progressive
Broad street merchants point newt
ably in the opinion of the most con-
sentative leaders in business thought,
Ito the conclusion that Richmond has
outgrown the period of a two-retail
|streets town.
For several years the growth west
ward must continue. this is unesc1p-
able say those who have watched
events in the past and who have the
Ieapacity to judge of movements OF
the future. but far out on West Broad
must continue for quite while to lie
the grouping place of certain we'll
esta biished lines.
The retail district OF the highest
class will stick closer TO the financial
the hotel and the Office building
|area. Perhaps in twenty-five years
say some. Richmond's best merchants
may venture far away from these his
toric blocks, but during the lifetime OF
ANY going concern the only conclusion
before handlers of property is that the
stores of the better class will cluster
the outer rim being no, much further
on Broad than the three or four humid
|red block west
- r he best Indication OF the approach.
ttS tfidHEF Is IL De ma from Tedi
deals already consummated by men
who have given long years TO the
study of the situation. bearing ia mind
always their own particular interests.
The intended purchase by Miller
and Rhoads of the Grace street front,
north side, between Fifth and Sixth
streets, had been we'll known to the
stree, for some months The actual
transfer of the million dollars worth
|of property, embracing several for
mer mansions of the Richmond Of
twenty years ago. was a matter Of de-
tail only.
Pending for months also was con
sideration OF a Grace street move by
the Kirk Parish store. appealing to
the highest class of mems trade, and
like Miller and Rhoads, able by its
own we'll known name and reputation
tracks and sort OF people who are per
tfectly willing to be divorced from old
stands on familiar old streets.
Howell Brothers have also pur.
chased at the southeast corner OF
Firth and Grace. A recent transfer
fof three large properties in the same
district could not have been made
with residence future in mind Only
the dominating thought in business
circles that Grace street is 10 be the
Fifth avenue of Richmond influence
these purchases. and how much Jus
tihcation the buyers had must be
proved by time. but opinion appears
TO be general that the tendency of an
ALREADY highly developed trade is TO
get ground hold on what is TO be
eventually about as high priced
property as will be found in the city
pf $50 Ann peopin IN
The Kirk Parish people may make
alterations in. certain properties within
a short while and move from their
present location. Nothing official rel
atire to their position il given out by
Mr.. Kirk. except that he announces
himself more than pleased that ne has
acquired property on the future re-
tail street de luxe whenever he gets
ready "a take possession.
Miller and Rhoads have made no
statement about remodeiing buildings
recently purchased between Fifth and
Sixth streets up to the line of their
present holdings on Sixth, but the
Owners and managers OF this great de-
partment store did not calculate on
laying out n million dollars without
some early action.
Ground room has been obtained by
a well known catering firm on Grace.
.and II Is stated on the street that a
arm OF florists are negotiating for
a Grace street stand
From Fourth or Fifth street cas-,
on Grace 1t Is confidently expected in
real estate circles that other big buys
will be announced later, since ii is
known that owners OF high class
places now operating on Brood streets
are looking with appraising eyes to the
movement OF things toward Grace
and the studied effort that will be
made to convert the street into A high
class, executive retail district. reach.
ing as far east as Seventh OF
Eighth.