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Four Floors Full

Four Floors Full image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
September
Year
1891
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A person visiting the store of Mack &Schmid to-day would hanlly think that it was the same building in which thcy have been doing business so long. Carpenters, masons and painters have been at work for several months improving the structure. The outside brick has been painted white, a fine bay window has been placed In the south wall in the second story, an entirely new entrance - now the best in the city -has been constructed in front, the partitions in the second and third stories have been torn out, and, lastbut not least, a magniticont PASSENGER ELEVATOR has been placed in position and is now running from the first Hoor to the third. Four stories, including the basement, each 20 x 100 feet in sio, are devoted to one of the largest dry goods stocks in Michigan. A glance at the displays is enough to attract the attention of the most unaesthetic person. A repre8entative of Tin: Register dropped into the establishment the other day and was greeted by VValter C. Mack, the youngest meniber of the flrm, who kindly conducted him through the establishment. Starting from the oflice, where sat the busy cashier and type-writer tiguring up the day's sales, the newspaper man took the elevator, which smoothly gl'ded to the second tioor. Here we found a large, well-lighted room containing a very large display of CI.0 AKS. The merchant informed us that the establishment at the present Urne carries a larger stock of cloaks than any other in Michigan. Miss Nona O'Brlen has charge of this department and is always ready to assist ladies in their choice of garments. The display is a magnificent one, 8o great is the variety that it quite taxes I the ingenuity of the, salesman to remem ber the different 'sty les. The best kinds of trimmings are used. The mink, muñlon, seal skin, cape seal, French cony, astrachan,crimmer, black martin, sabin, silver fox and other fur trimmings especially are to be noted. Ostrich and cock feather trimmings are also to be found. In another part of the room is displayed a large assortment of jackets and long capes. The latter are especially popular with the ladies. The long, tight-fitting sacks, made of the most seasonable materials and trimmed with feathers and furs, are styles for which the flrm of Mack & Schmid have the exclusive ageney. These, as well as the long English walking garments, with detachable capes, je, as Mr. Maek informed us, meeting ppit h much public favor. "Uany fur-trimmed jackets in the room, which have been sold for from $18 to $20, are now beingr closed out at 810. The object of the tirni in making this reduction, is simply to advertise and enlarge this department of the business. " In plushes," said the merchant, "we carey only the "Walker make, and we give a written guarantee with every garment. We are sole agents tor the Sealette plushes, -which are made tightfltting. Every style is manufactured exclusively for us and on each garment we attach a printed euarantee. ' "I suppose by thu time you have Been enough of cloaks; let us step to the other end of the room and look at these blankets. "We sell many grades- from the ten-quarter size at fifty cents a pair to the California 14-quarter at $25 a pair." The reporter glanced admiringly at this stock and then rose to the third floor on the elevator. He found another large room tastely arranged and well stocked with CAEPETS AND DKAI'KIÜKS. This department is under the supervisión of Mr. Morris, a carpet man of long experience. In the carpet department, we are informed, Mack & Schmid have made a greatsuccess. The eyes of a visitor are likely first to alight on a fine assortment of Turkish rugs, made in Central Turkey 200 years ago. These are in all sizes and'serve for many different purposes. It woukl pay any lady to visit the store, even if she saw nothing except these rugs. The Smyrna rugs, soune costing as much as SöÖ, are also worth seeing. The display of carpets is very fine. Monuettes, axminsters, ingrains and Brussels of both varieties are to be found here. Seventy-five pieces of cheap tapestry brussels were opened the day we visited the store. They were bought at a cut pric-c and wlL be sold it cost. They are sure to please all who are about to re-carpet their homes. Af ter taking a glance at some very convenient carpet-sweepers, thenewspaper man was escorted into the drapery room. He found there all of the best varieties of curtains, including Chenilles, Velours, Swiss and Irish Point, Nottingham, Madras, silk and ethers. Curtains are sold both by the pair and by the yard. There is also displayed a large line of curtain loops and fixtures, and a stock of Hollands in all widths, which are adapted to wlndow shades and are madeto match all kinds of wall Íiaper anu painting. iseiore the scnbe ef t the room, his attention was directed by Mr. Mack to some elegant curtains made in Japan and Turkey. 1 laving thoroughly examined the carpet room, Mr. Mack and his companion descended to the ürst floor. The NOTION DEPARTMENT, to which three or four ladies were devoting their attention, was very interesting. Here were displayed handkerchiefs, underwear, corsets, kid gloyes and many other novelties. ïhere is a separate counter at which ladies may tiy on and fit gloves bef ore purchasing. A stock of muslin underwear and yarns was also carefully noted. The underwear department at the rear of the store was visited next. Forty-five feet of shelf room are devoted to this branch of the business. Everything in this line, from a low grade of goods, at flve cents, to the Dr. Jaeger and Lieb garments, was found; beside a fnll assortment of the Ypsilanti and Lewis ribbed UXDEinVEAK, whieh are undoubtedly the best in the country. Mr. Mack assured The Rkgisteu that the firm carries a more complete stock than any store in the state. The whole attention of two ladies is required to look after customers in this department. The display of DBB86 GOODS, which extends over a space of more than fifty feet, excited the admiration of the ñevvspaper man. This department, so he was informed, has recently been doubled in size. French and other foreign novelties, not to be found generally speaking, except in large cities, were kindly pointed out by the merchant. Ainong these were noted some fine Éenrietta cloths, conceded to be the best made, which came from the factory of Friedrick Arnold, in Greiz, Germany. They are of all shades and colors and make a very pretty display. There are three great leaders in this department, in which the firm take especial pride. A l'.t Twill, formerly pricedat .86 to $1.00, sclls fot S .", and a 15 Twill, of the same inake, color and width, formerly sold by all at 75 cents, now sells at 50. "Another leader with us," said the merchant, "is the black goods stock. Wc are agenta for both the Lubins and Priestly goods and, although we meet with a good deal of coinpetition from the large cities, we invariably find our prices lower. I raight mention that wc are paying cash for these goods and .u,' thua enabled to glve jobbers' prices. 11 you will move on a little farther, I will show you our SILK DEPARTMENT. Wc liandle goods from the John D. Cuttei Natchaug factory, also from the Chaffee A: Sons' and the Willimantic factories. We get our goods direct ly from these milis. I am sure we have a mach larger varicty in shades. styles and jirices than you can fmd in this part of the country. Have you seen enough of the süks'? If so, let us pass to the velvets." The reporter did so and was well pli ased with what be saw. Besides velvets he found the best dress trimmings, fancy silks and llnings display ed. The stock of flannels also greatly interestedhiin. The varicty is very great, including at the same time stuffs able for laboricg men's shirts and the Bnest cloaking and imported tiannels. Welearned that the Amana Association furnished almost all of these goods. Cassimeres, suitable for cloaking and skirting. including sonie of the latest novelties, were arranged next to the llannels. They not only were attractive, but appeai-ed at the same time to be very durable. The display of white goods, damasks, talih'-cloths, napkins, etc, is admired by all ladies who visit the store. The pirices are so low that the demand for these goods is very great. Domestics, including a large variety of sheetings, cottons and liannels in all colore, were next to be seen. The stock of ginghains is also to be noted. 80 much did the reporter see that iormed a part of ladies' apparel that he began to wonder lf there was anything at all in the store for gentlemen. Just as hi' was about togoout.Mr. Macktook hold öf his arm and insisted that he should look at the gent's fubnisiiing goods. He did so and was more than pleased with the iine display beforehim. Surely, he thought, no firm ever sold linen collars, cuffs and shirts at such prices as Mark & Schmid offer. But ness is not their sole merit. They are both beautiful and durable and deserve attention on the part of every gentleman. In the center of the room stands a large doublé show case, fllled with jewelry, brushes, coinbs, shopping bags, fancy lacea, fans, purses and other things which it is inipossible to mention in detail. An assortiment of umbrellas - silks, mohairs, wooleni and cottons - is also to be found. Their equal cannot often be seen. Hack & Bchmtd, we are informed, always make it a point to display their goods well on the counters so that customers can see at a glance what the store coutains. The trade of the firin has grown so large that twenty-flve persons are required to attend to customers. All the clerks are experienced and are vaya íound anxious to show goods and f;ivc iníonuation even if, so far as a parchase is concerned, their labor is in vain. The stock of goods, Mr, Mack stated, luis been incrcased so larely, that iX recently became necessary to take out an additional policy for $30,000. As the Keoistkh man took his leave, his attention was directed to a lady Who carne in and asked for a copy of Huttrick's Metropolitan Fashion Sheets. As no inoney passed hands, he expressed surprise. Mr. Mack at once assured him that it was a practice with the linn to deliver this publication free to customers. On an average, he said, 1,000 copies per month were disposed of. 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Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register