B. Altman & Co.

Once upon a time, in New York, there was a real department store. It was elegant, and chic, and at one million square feet, it was enormous. By the 1940's there were over 130 departments including: Ribbons; 1001 Notions; The Pampered Pet; Beach Shop; Porcelain for Collectors; Basket Shop; Handcraft Gallery; Williamsburg Craft House; Rare Documents, and on and on. Think Amazon.com in a stone-and-mortar building.
Benjamin Altman, the son of Bavarian-Jewish immigrants began as a small shop owner in 1840, eventually building his flagship B. Altman & Co. "Palace of Trade" on 5th Avenue at 34th Street in 1906.

An early B. Altman pink slipper, circa. 1860's, Metropolitan Museum of Art

B. Altman's employees traveled the world to find or commission unique products. Furniture was made in England, ladies purses were designed and manufactured in Paris. Countless items, including antiques, were purchased from the Far East. The globe-trotting practice continued through 1989.

Neo-Classical side table made for B. Altman in England.

George III Hepplewhite style dining chairs.

B. Altman picnic set.

1920's dress from B. Altman.

Clock designed for B. Altman.

"Sunsuit" made in Hawaii for B. Altman.

B. Altman ad, 1951

The ground floor sales counters always held light fixtures, during the Christmas season it had become tradition to change the shades. It was a sure sign to employees that Christmas had arrived, when overnight, all of the lampshades were changed to red.

B. Altman ground floor, circa 1980's.

Ferris Megarity had worked for B. Altman since 1947, first in the display department, then as the fashion director, and finally as the director of import merchandising and publicity. By the 1970's he had become a bit of a legend in the New York retail world and his apartment was featured in the March/April 1975 edition of Architectural Digest. Much of the furniture and some of the other items in the apartment had been purchased through B. Altman (no doubt with an employee discount). His apartment is not only a testament to his own good taste, but offers a glimpse of the chic items available at B. Altman.

An early photo of the atrium.

The elaborate B. Altman elevators.

The 8th floor held a tearoom/restaurant like no other department store in NY. A full-size façade of a southern mansion was created for "The Charleston Garden."

B. Altman entrance 1914.

B. Altman & Co. closed in 1989. The landmarked building still exists, but sadly the elegant interior was destroyed by a redesign (to make way for yet more university space). Mr. Altman never married, he left all proceeds from B. Altman & Co. to the Altman Foundation. Its mission is to support programs and institutions that enrich the quality of life in New York City, with a particular focus on initiatives that help individuals, families, and communities benefit from the services and opportunities that will enable them to achieve their full potential. To date, the foundation has given out $235,000,000.