The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-14
LUCAS STORE
STARTED HERE
"a YEARS AGO
Celebrates Anniversary With
Birthday Party Every
Afternoon at Store

"a w. Lucas company are CeleuH"S-
ing their twenty-fourth anniversary.
Much interesting history of the
store and of the city of Bismarck
can be recalled by the citizens who
have lived here for an equal length
of time.
Many can recall the little store
filled with small stock of goods
the building adjoining the present
store This was in September 1899.
the firm being known then as Lucas
&, O'Hara. The late A. w. Lucas and
VIM. O'Hara ran the entire business
themselves at first, but the growth
of the store was SO rapid that
larger sales force was gradually add
ed.
After a year and half later, in
the spring of 1901 Mr.. Lucas bought
out the interests Of Mr. O'Hara and
continued the business as sole pro-
prietor until 1905 when the business
had grown to such an extent that it
was necessary to take in new men,
bers of the firm.
The business house of A. w. Lucas
company was then incorporated, the
incorporates being A. w. Lucas, G..
H. Kohler, and G. A. Kohler.
In 1905 the organization added
fifty feet to its frontage oneFourth
street making their total frontage
seventy five feet.
In 1908, however, it was found
necessary to extend the. premises
still further. and the corner lot was
added.
This gave them ample room to add
new departing among which was
fine furniture department. To this
was added an Undertaking parlors
and bargain basement. During the
war period the firm went into whole
sailing, doing big business in yarns,
practically supplying the entire north
west with yarns during the great
craze for yarns when knitting had
become the watchword for the women
of the country.
was not the only territory supplied
with yarns from Bismarck, much Of
it was shipped south, west and east.
While this growth was being exber-
fenced in this line the dry goods de-
partments and ready-to-wear DEPART
ment grew to such an extent that it
was necessary to dispose of the
furniture department which was dis
continued in 1919.
As result of this the ready-to-
wear department was greatly ex-
panded in response to the need. Even
more space for this department was
added
In this brief span of "a years the
story of progress was written. From
store Of 500 square feet of floor
space, twenty-four years ago to the
present big store using about $4,000
equare feet and still growing.
T. From a personnel of two in 1899
it grew ia demand the services of
from 35 to As in handling the bust
ness. This was only another instance
of success gained through high ideals
in business, courteous, apd efficient
service in friendly way; merchan-
disc of undoubted high quality at all
times. and willingness to satisfy
and please every customer.
The clientele of the A. w. Lucas
company is not confined to Bismarck
and Mandan alone, but extends over
wide radius from the capital.
A great measure of the success of
the firm is attributed by its founders
to it's persistent advertising, for they
believe in and are great users Of
printers ink' whether it is in news
papers, circulars, catalogs, magazines,
or personal letters. The A. w. Lucas
company Has always believed in
spreading merchandise news through
the medium of advertising.
The anniversary sale now being
advertised throughly will be in the
nature Of birthday party with cof-
fee and cake served every afternoon
from $3.50 to $3.50 o'clock. No doubt,
there will be big crowd for the A.
w. Lucas company never does any
thing by halves.