Evening star., 1941-11-12
Ceremonies Toniuht
1o0pen Additionto
Hecht Co. Store
Structure to Add About
40% Of Merchandising
Floor Space

=
Floor Space
A new seven-story addition to
the Hecht Co store at Seventh and
F streets NV, enlarging its floor
space by approximately 40 per cent
and supplying a main entrance on
E street, will be opened to the pub
lie in formal ceremonies tonight at
8 o'clock.
Thousands of persons. including
hundreds of representatives from
the leading manufacturers of the
Nation, have been invited to at
tend. The guest of honor will be
Mrs. Henry A. Wallace, wife of the
Vice President.
Mrs. Wallace will sell a $4,000
series G Defense bond to Alexan-
der Hecht. president of the COM
pany, as high light of the pro-
gram.
A booth where defense bonds and
stamps will be sold will be located
on the third floor of the store. AL
though the store will not be open
for business, the merchandise will
be on display.
Historical Items on Exhibit.
Music for the occasion will be
furnished by two nationally known
orchestras. One of the features of
entertainment will be an exhibit
of historical items, among them
Russian crown jewels and dis
play of rare perfume containers.
Built of structural steel as the
major item of a S2000000 improve
ment program recently put into
effect by the firm, the new part of
the store has total floor space Of
100000 square feet. 1t was con-
structed to relieve congestion, Off
cials explained, in several important
departments and not as an accom-
modation for new lines of mer-
chandise.
The addition gives the store
depth of the entire block between
E and F streets. It has window
space and two doors of modern
design on the E street side, and is
equipped with twin elevators that
operate between the basement and
top 1oos.
Building Is Air Conditioned.
INSIDE arrangements have been
made in such a way as to give the
greatest visibility from almost any
point on the floor. Fixtures are
low and arranged for the con-
venience Of customers. and each
has been slenderized through the
use of chrome steel in place of the
old-style wood railings. Equipment
also permits quick interchange Of
interiors without the use of tools.
Showcases are of plate glass con-
struction without front rail. The
entire building is air conditioned
and illumination is obtained from
f1uorescent lights which play both
upward and downward.
On the first floor have been
located the mems clothing and the
radio departments; on the second,
infants and children's apparel; on
the third, women's and girls high
grade apparel; on the fourth, bed
room and dining room furniture and
similar items; on the fifth, executive,
sales promotion, maintenance and
advertising Offices; on the sixth.
curtains, draperies and affiliated
lines, and on the seventh, home
wares and major utility lines.
The store planning was handled
by the Grand Rapids Store Equip
ment Co. The contractor was James
L. Parsons, jr., of Washington. and
thee architects, Abbott & Merkt Of
New York City.
Founded In 1896.
Founded on March 20, 1896. by
four brothers, Emanuel, Albert,
Alexander and Moses Hecht, the
Hecht organization was started In a
small building at SIS Seventh street
NV. Seven years later a new build
ing was erected and in subsequent
years the store took over the old
Federal Building next door and the
old Garrick Theater. which adjoined
the Federal Building.
The present main building on the
corner Of Seventh and F streets was
opened on November II, 1925. Then
on July q Of this year the corner
stone OF the new seven-story addi-
tion was laid.
Two Of the four brothers who
originally founded the Washington
store as branch of the Hecht store
In Baltimore are alive today. Alex
ander Hecht is president of the
Hecht Corp. Of Maryland, Of which
the local company is a member, and
Moses Hecht is chairman of the
board of the corporation, which also
has member stores in Baltimore and
New York
Charles B. Dulcan, ST., is vice
president and general manager of
the store, George M. Quirk is vice
president and store manager and
Harry Davidow, also vice president.