Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-21
VISIT
SEARS, ROEBUCK
500 f.+h
Official Opening of Capital
Store Draws Great Throngs
to Building.

The Official opening this morning Of
the local unit of the national chain Of
Sears Roebucss g. Co., Washington
newest large retail department store.
was signalized by the attendance of q
huge throng of visitors that packed to
capacity the wide aisles Of the three
merchandising floors of the building on
Bladensburg road beyond Fifteenth and
H streets northeast.
Doors of the retail store, which is one
Of the new department stores being
opened in various sections Of the coun-
try BY the national organization. were
swung open to the public at o am. to-
DAY and soon the building was filled
with people.
Is Event In Northeast. &C..
The opening of the department store
was an event in the northeast section
of the city. All morning, Bladensburg
road and nearby streets were lined with
automobiles OF visitors coming and GO
Ing and the extensive parking space re-
served for patrons Of the store to the
rear Of the building. with a capacity Of
ABOUT 300 cars, was being given maxi
mum use. A number Of traffic officers
were on hand to direct movement of
traffic.
The building was erected on O FIVE
acre tract which In former years was
part Of favorite ground for circus
organizations. Three and q half acres
OF the site were reserved for the park
ing space for cars. Wide paved run
ways lead along either side of the
building TO this parking area.
Three Merchandising Floors.
There are three merchandising floors
IN the. building-the. basement, the
main floor and the upper fioor-while
the third floor Is reserved for Offices of
the company and storage Of reserve
merchandise
The building Is Of cream color brick,
with limestone ornamentation. The win
dows have been placed at a point above
the wall cases In the store to provide
maximum amount Of light.
There is large tower rising from
the center OF the frontal facade in
which Is housed the 10000 gallon water
tank which is connected with the fire.
sprinkler system Of the building. other
facilities usually housed In penthouses
on store and office buildings are con.
talned in the tower, which eliminated
the need OF this SuDerstructure.
The store Is finished in mahogany
ana ivory with white walls. Fern
NNS' ALo'C OcCIl on the main
moor and artificial flowers and SPRAYS
are used in the interior decoration
scheme.
Wide Stairways for Customers.
There Is an elevator In the building
out 1t has been the experience of the
company. Its officials saw. that it's
patrons prefer to walk up or down the
TWO Nights of stairs to do their shon-
ping. Inc StairWayS are wide and are
covered with rubber tile.
The floors are of the new construc-
ZION OF the so-called floating floor
type. The concrete slab which forms
the noor base was covered with drv
sand to thickness of one inch and on
this was laid two by-six- inch planks
over these building paper was laid and
on this the maple flooring. Thus. it is
explained, the floor floats" on the
sano. since the super flooring Is not
base
The store this morning was under
the direct management of Stirling viii
son, operating superintendent Of the
retal department store of ScarS-Roe-
DUCK q Co. in Washington. Other
omcialS OF the concern here for the
opening are Alvin E. Dodd assistant
TO the president Of the national con-
Germ; Leasing J. Rosenwald, senior vice
president OF the company: James M
Barker, Eastern regional manager, whose
jurisdiction includes Washington, and e.
p. Brooks, national merchandise man
ager.