The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-04
JOINT BUILDING IS
TO FORM ONE UNIT
Work Will Be Rushed To
Completion AS Rapidly
AS Possible
MARKS EXPANSION
ALL DEPARTMENTS
Will Form One OF Largest And
Most Complete Department
Stores In South

Louis Pizitz will spend 81, 800, 900 in
the early construction of replica OF
his new department store on the sits
of the old Pizitz, building at Nineteenth
street and Second avenue.
This important news, enthusing the
large Pizitz organization and inspiring
Birmingham real estate and business
circles generally, was announced SAT-
urday in the following brief but cons
vincing telegram from Mr.. Pizitz In
New York, where he has been for sey~
era1 days past with Mr.. Smoiian, vice
president and general manager of tbs
Pizitz store:
Have arranged to build corner
building to match present new
building as soon as plans can be
finished. Work will be rushed 70
completion" 'e>S,-,-
The magnificent store of seyen
stories, with basement and sub-base-
nent, which was completed and ercss
pied last Octsbef. Aill be dup1ieak9d IN
toto, forming one mammoth building o.
"a cost Of So lOO0, 600 one Of the largest
In making public the interesting am
nouncement contained in Mr.. PizitEs
telegram, officials of the store de-
clared that he, was following the det-
mite plans originally mapped out by
him and announced when the first unit
of the vast new store wac begun.
The old Pizitz store, which adjoins
the recent new building, win be kept
in use until the construction plans are
completed. 1t then viii be wrecked
to make way for the modern new struc-
ture.
Continued growth of business, con-
drming the vision of Mr.. Pizitz when
he acquired the ground and announced
the first unit, is the reason for the early
execution of big expansion program, Of
ficials of the Pizitz store said.
Mr.. Pizitz began business in Bir-
mingham in 1898 in a small store on
First avenue between Twentieth and
Twenty-first streests. From this mod
est beginning, the business grew until
in short time, it was necessary to
acquire somewhat larger quarters at
Nineteenth street and Second avenue.
This store had frontage of 1S feet on
Nineteenth street and was vacated by
Ferd Marx, who removed to what Is
now the Woolworth location on Sec
ond avenue. That was 25 years ago
this June.
By lease, Mr.. Pizitz acquired the adj
joining % feet on Nineteenth street
and later an additional 25-foot frontage
on the same street His next expansion
was the 65-foot frontage of the old
Burton hotel, first by lease and later By
purchase of all the space occupied.
Over a period of several years Mr..
Pizitz added to his holding on Second
avenue until he had acquired 200 feet on
that thoroughfare and this, with his 40
feet on Nineteenth street, gave him spacel
200 by 40 feet on one of the most desir
able business corners of Birmingharni
he shortly thereafter announced hi
plans for the first unit of what waB
ultimately to be one Of the south's great
est department stores. This was speed
lily completed and was occupied Octo-
Der 16, 1923.
Now six months later, comes the def
mite announcement of the early reali-
zation of the whole plan as originally
shaped and given to the public.