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49-456: Land for the mall (19 acres (7.7 ha)) was purchased for $ 125,000 from a farmer and groundbreaking occurred in 1965. Zollinger's opened before the mall on August 15, 1966, with the rest of the mall opening on September 26, 1966. The mall had 52 stores including Sears , Weis Markets , Woolworth's , and Zollinger's. Whitehall Mall expanded in 1973, and in 1978 Leh's opened, replacing the closed (bankrupt) Zollinger's. Kravco become co-owner of

98-801: A Princeton University graduate, lived in France early in his career. He is credited with creating a demand for French luxury goods in Philadelphia and the United States that persists to this day. Rodman was credited with the artistic quality that gave the Wanamaker stores their cachet. He was also a patron of fine music, organizing spectacular organ and orchestra concerts in the Wanamaker Philadelphia and New York City stores under music director Alexander Russell. Wanamaker died on December 12, 1922. His funeral

147-408: A "grapefruit-domed" lobby with a decor of antique brass, mirrors, greenery and wing-backed chairs. The main floor and basement were developed into retail spaces, while the upper floors were turned into forty-two private office suites. Sovereign later went into financial difficulties and the building was sold at a sheriff's sale on September 22, 1989. The Zollinger-Harned Company Building was added to

196-516: A $ 15 million renovation in 1998, where it was almost totally demalled, except for a portion near Kohl's. Retaining the traditional mall look was determined to not be cost effective. Sears was expanded during this time. Three additional buildings were added to the mall's grounds during the renovation. Weis Markets closed during renovations that almost doubled its space. Plaza Theater closed in June 1999 due to having only two screens and being obsolete. The theater

245-454: A Philadelphia-based newspaper. He irritated his father by publishing regular columns to radical intellectuals, including Henry George, Jr. , socialist Henry John Nelson, who later became Emma Goldman 's lawyer, and socialist Caroline H. Pemberton. The younger Wanamaker also began publishing a Sunday edition, which offended his father's sense of keeping the Sabbath holy. His younger son Rodman ,

294-418: A century to come, failing to anticipate the effects of trains, the automobile , and related truck vehicles. During World War I , Wanamaker publicly proposed that the United States buy Belgium from Germany for the sum of one-hundred billion dollars, as an alternative to the continuing carnage of the war. Wanamaker was a presidential elector in the 1888 and 1920 presidential elections . Wanamaker

343-550: A chain of department stores. In 1926, the store expanded again by purchasing 605 Hamilton Street, which it incorporated into its existing building. As part of the expansion, the store was remodeled into a seven bay wide building with Classical Revival style influences. It featured architectural terra cotta panels and richly detailed bronze display window surrounds. This remodeling was completed in 1926. Nathan Polwell passed ownership over to his nephew Charles E. Polwell, who retained ownership until 1960. At that point, ownership

392-429: A fellow Republican. In 1890, Wanamaker commissioned a series of stamps that were derided in the national media as the poorest quality stamps ever issued, both for printing quality and materials. When his department store ordered advance copies of the newly translated novel The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy , the deadline was missed, and only the regular discount was offered by the publisher. He retaliated by banning

441-566: A fierce opponent of unionization. During an 1887 organizing drive by the Knights of Labor , he fired the first twelve union members who were discovered by his detectives. Wanamaker was the first retailer to place a half-page newspaper ad (1874) and the first full-page ad (1879). He initially wrote his own ad copy , but later hired the world's first full-time copywriter John Emory Powers . During Powers's tenure, Wanamaker's revenues doubled from $ 4 million to $ 8 million. Wanamaker supposedly said "Half

490-408: A visit in his pretty Toyland, you had better come soon. Santa remembers every little face, you know, and he says there are some chubby little folks on his list he hasn’t seen yet. Bring your letters and put them in the letter box in his cave." W. R. Lawfer died suddenly on September 11, 1900, and the store was taken over by his three sons, J. Harry Lrawfer, John N. Lawfer, and Alvin W. Lawfer. They ran

539-503: Is a historic department store building on Hamilton Street in the Center City section of Allentown, Pennsylvania . Zollinger-Harned was founded as Lawfer & Steckel by William R. Lawfer and W. R. Steckel in 1866 in Allentown , at the corner of Church and Hamilton streets, at 626 Hamilton Street. The store carried a large stock of dry goods, notions, and groceries. The business

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588-697: The Benjamin Harrison administration from 1889 to 1893. Wanamaker was born in the Grays Ferry section of South Philadelphia on July 11, 1838. to John Nelson Wanamaker, a brickmaker and native of Kingwood, New Jersey , and Elizabeth Deshong Kochersperger, daughter of a farmer and innkeeper in Gray's Ferry. His mother's ancestors came from Rittershoffen in Alsace , France, and from Canton of Bern in Switzerland. At

637-559: The National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The building now operates as an office building with an owner who resides in Philadelphia . John Wanamaker John Wanamaker (July 11, 1838 – December 12, 1922) was an American merchant and religious, civic and political figure, considered by some to be a proponent of advertising and a "pioneer in marketing". He served as United States Postmaster General in

686-583: The Postal Service . He was the first to make plans for free rural postal service in the United States, although the plan was not implemented until 1896. In 1890, Wanamaker persuaded Congress to pass an act prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets through the mail, and then he aggressively pursued violators. Those actions effectively ended all state lotteries in the US until they reappeared in 1964, partly as an effort to undermine organized crime. Wanamaker's tenure at

735-542: The Eagle" became a popular Philadelphia catchphrase. In November 1955, the store tapped lighting designer, Frederick Yost, to create seasonal displays. Yost designed the "Holiday Light Show" for the Grand Court, creating a more-contemporary display than previous years. Since then, the light show has become an annual tradition for generations of Philadelphians. In the 21st century, the light show has been modernized, but has retained

784-456: The Post Office was riddled with controversy. He fired some 30,000 postal workers under the then common " spoils system " during his four-year term, as it was customary for a change in political administrations to lead to new appointments for their own supporters. The changeover of so many employees caused severe confusion, inefficiency, and a run-in with civil-service crusader Theodore Roosevelt ,

833-467: The Zollinger Department store the 1880s. The new owners tore down the amalgamation of separate storefronts and erected a single large three-story building at 607-613 Hamilton Street that wrapped around to the right with a double storefront at 14 to 16 North Sixth Street. While still at Wanamaker's department store, Lawfer began decorating his own store as early as Christmas in 1904. Lawfer's

882-757: The age of 19, Wanamaker was hired by the Philadelphia YMCA , and served as the first corresponding secretary in the YMCA national organization. In 1861, Wanamaker opened his first store in partnership with his brother in-law Nathan Brown. The store, called "Oak Hall", was located at 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia , adjacent to the site of the residence and offices of George Washington during his presidency . Oak Hall grew substantially based on Wanamaker's then-revolutionary principle: "One price and goods returnable". In 1869, he opened his second store at 818 Chestnut Street , and, capitalizing on his own name due to

931-625: The book from the US Mail on grounds of obscenity. He was ridiculed for this action by many major U.S. newspapers. In 1891, he ordered changes in the uniforms of letter carriers, and was accused of arranging for all the uniforms to be ordered from a single firm in Baltimore, to which he was believed to have financial ties. In 1893 he made a public prediction at the Chicago World's Fair that U.S. mail would still rely on stagecoach and horseback delivery for

980-470: The business for the next several years until 1903 when J. Harry Lawfer retired from the firm, turning his share of the business to John N. Lawfer. John N Lawfer subsequently sold his share to Alvan Lawfer prior to starting his own carpet and drapery store at 709 Hamilton Street . In 1906, the business was sold to Nathan Polwell of Philadelphia, who sent his nephews W.C. Harned and C.J. Early to manage Allentown's first department store. The establishment's name

1029-531: The day. John Wanamaker purchased a bronze bird sculpture by August Gaul , following the sculpture's exhibition in America in 1904 at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition . The 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) sculpture is a focal point of the store's Grand Court. The sculpture is placed above a steel beam because of its weight. Known as the "Wanamaker Eagle", it became a famous meeting place and "Meet me at

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1078-534: The firm grew, it expanded with books, toys, jewelry, kitchen crockery, carpets, and men's and children's clothing. To accommodate the expansion, Lawfer expanded the store by first purchasing two properties at 12 and 16 North Sixth Street, which were merged into an "T" shape with the Hamilton Street buildings extending north to Court Street and the Sixth Street buildings merging into the Hamilton Street building on

1127-603: The last time. The Whitehall Mall store was sold to Leh's . For several years, the flagship store on Hamilton Street in Allentown remained vacant. In December 1982, the Allentown store was purchased by Sovereign Realty and Development. The building was renovated and reopened as the Sovereign Building in May 1984. Renovations included a glass-arched entrance from a pedestrian plaza between Hamilton and Court streets leading to

1176-542: The look and feel of the original. Since 2006, the "Macy's Dickens Village" has been located on the store's third floor, continuing a Christmas tradition that had begun at Strawbridge's in 1985. Wanamaker expanded to New York City in 1896, continuing a mercantile business originally started by Alexander Turney Stewart . He expanded internationally with the Wanamaker European import houses in London and Paris. Wanamaker

1225-800: The mall began to be redeveloped in 2023. Demolition of the former Sears began in June 2023 with Floor & Decor announced as its replacement. Buy Buy Baby and Harmon Face Values would close in July 2023, with Bed Bath & Beyond closing in August 2023. The former Old Country Buffet would be demolished in September 2023 and be replaced by parking. Floor & Decor would open on December 21, 2023. 40°38′07″N 75°29′00″W  /  40.6353°N 75.4833°W  / 40.6353; -75.4833 Zollinger-Harned Company Building The Zollinger-Harned Company Building , now known as The Sovereign Building ,

1274-532: The mall with PREIT in 1977 for 4.5 million. Clover opened in March 1982. Sears interior underwent a major overhaul in 1984. The mall received a lowered tax assessment after settling with the county, township, and school district in 1985. In 1987, a suspicious fire started in the back of the mall that later caused a wall of the Leh's to be demolished. Sears interior underwent another overhaul in 1994 that added 35,000 sq. ft. to

1323-566: The money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half." In 1889, Wanamaker began the First Penny Savings Bank in order to encourage thrift. The same year, he was appointed United States Postmaster General by President Benjamin Harrison ; he was accused by the newspapers of the day of buying the post. Wanamaker was credited by his friends with introducing the first commemorative stamp and many efficiencies to

1372-462: The organ between 1911 and 1917. By 1930, an additional 10,000 pipes were installed, bringing the total number of pipes today to 28,750. The instrument is of the American Symphonic school of design, intended to combine traditional organ resources with the tone colors and beauty of the symphony orchestra. Once a year, usually in June, " Wanamaker Organ Day " is held. This free festival lasts most of

1421-451: The petition was filed, the company abandoned its York store, and its merchandise was eventually sold and the store closed. In October 1977, its Wyoming Valley Mall store was sold to Hess's . Its Allentown flagship and Whitehall Mall stores lasted through the Christmas shopping season of 1977. However, Zollinger-Harned filed for complete bankruptcy on January 30, 1978, and closed its doors for

1470-535: The right side of the property. The present-day Sovereign Building retains this basic design. A second expansion added the stores at 607 and 609 Hamilton Street to the store. Lawfer adverted the store as "Allentown's Big Department Store". Lawfer was friends with John Wanamaker , a Philadelphia -based retail entrepreneur. Lawfer worked for Wanamaker in the 1850s and 1860s prior to opening his own store in Allentown. William Zollinger, who lived in Sandusky, Ohio , operated

1519-546: The sales floor, and converted the former second floor offices to store space. Several stores suffered damage due to a large roof leak in January 1990, with all stores reopening after a few days, and the roofs replacement planned for April. Leh's closed in June 1996 due to bankruptcy, with Gallery Furniture taking over its former space in 1997. Clover closed in 1996, with its replacement Kohl's opening in April 1997. Whitehall Mall received

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1568-586: The store, purchased Bears Department Store in York, Pennsylvania and renamed it Zollinger-Harned, making it the third store in the then Zollinger-Harned chain. A fourth store in the Wyoming Valley Mall near Wilkes-Barre opened in 1971. Like many other major department stores in the 1970s, however, suburbanization and the growth of indoor shopping malls led to declining sales of large department stores in Allentown's central business district. In 1975, Zollinger's

1617-478: The untimely death of his brother-in-law and growing reputation, renamed the company John Wanamaker & Co. In 1875, he purchased an abandoned railroad depot and converted it into a large store, called John Wanamaker & Co. "The Grand Depot". Wanamaker's is considered the first department store in Philadelphia. The Wanamaker Building is a large, 12-story granite store in Philadelphia, designed by Chicago architect Daniel H. Burnham and completed in 1910. It

1666-716: The upper office tower was marketed as the Wanamaker Office Building. The Wanamaker Building's most notable feature is its seven-story, marble-clad central atrium, known as the "Grand Court". The Grand Court quickly became a Philadelphia favorite, highlighted by the Wanamaker Eagle and the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ. The Grand Court has been featured in several movies, including Nasty Habits in 1977, Mannequin in 1987, Blow Out in 1981, and 12 Monkeys in 1995. The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

1715-842: Was an avid collector of art and antiquities. He made several donations to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology . Among the donations was a collection of bronze reproductions of artifacts uncovered from the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum , known as the Wanamaker Bronzes, which Wanamaker had commissioned by the Chiurazzi Foundry in Naples for the museum. In 1860, Wanamaker married Mary Erringer Brown. They had six children, two of whom died in childhood: In 1899, Wanamaker's son, Thomas, who specialized in store financial matters, purchased The North American ,

1764-605: Was an innovator, creative in his work, a merchandising genius, and proponent of the power of advertising, though modest and with an enduring reputation for honesty. Although he did not invent the fixed price system, he is credited for the creation of the price tag; he popularized it as the industry standard. He also started the "money-back guarantee" that is now standard business practice. He provided his employees with free medical care, education, recreational facilities, pensions and profit-sharing plans before such benefits were considered standard. Labor activists, however, knew him as

1813-569: Was changed from W.R. Lawfer Co. to Lawford-Harned Co. and later to Zollinger-Harned Co. The "Zollinger" refers to a W.R. Zollinger, who owned a department store in Canton, OH. In addition to W.R. Lawfer Co., Polwell had also purchased Zollinger's store in Ohio and a third store owned by a Mr. Smith in Wilmington, Delaware. Polwell used the "Zollinger" name for all three stores to further his plan of establishing

1862-482: Was constructed on the property in addition to his vast mansion. Part of the former estate became the campus of Salus University . A family trust owned the Wanamaker's store chain, run by a trustee system set up by Rodman Wanamaker's will. In 1978, the business was sold to Carter Hawley Hale, Inc. The 15-store chain was sold to Woodward & Lothrop in 1986, and the downtown store was renamed as Lord & Taylor . Woodies declared bankruptcy in 1994, and with it went

1911-443: Was continued by the original partners until 1874, when Steckel disposed of his interest to George W. Hartzell. Hartzell retired in 1876, and the firm was reconstituted as W.R. Lawfer & Company . Lawfer expanded the business and purchased the larger buildings at 611 and 613 Hamilton Street, combining the structures into one large building, which opened in March 1882. The firm sold a wide number of women's dresses, and coats. As

1960-506: Was dedicated by U.S. President William Howard Taft on December 30, 1911. The store stands on the site of "The Grand Depot", encompassing an entire block at the corner of 13th and Market Streets across from Philadelphia City Hall . The new store, The Wanamaker Building, which still stands today, became a Philadelphia institution. The entire building was initially devoted to the department store and company offices. The building has remained an integral part of Philadelphia culture . In 2018,

2009-591: Was designed by George Ashdown Audsley and built by the Los Angeles Art Organ Company for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair . The instrument had 10,059 pipes, and cost $ 105,000 to construct, equal to $ 3,560,000 today. Wanamaker bought the organ in 1909 and had it transported from St. Louis aboard 13 freight cars. The organ's installation in Philadelphia took two years. It was played for the first time on June 22, 1911, to coincide with England's King George V's coronation. More than 8,000 pipes were added to

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2058-594: Was located on York Road below Washington Lane at ( 40°05′07″N 75°07′52″W  /  40.0853°N 75.1311°W  / 40.0853; -75.1311 ). The original mansion was designed by architect E. A. Sargent of New York City; President Harrison visited Wanamaker at the Lindenhurst mansion. A neoclassic mansion was constructed when the original Victorian Lindenhurst burned in 1907, destroying much of Wanamaker's art collection. A railroad station, Chelten Hills located below Jenkintown , and no longer in existence,

2107-678: Was made sole inheritor of the store businesses. Rodman Wanamaker died in 1928, leaving the businesses with a documented worth of $ 36.7 million ($ 637,097,416 today) in a trust. Rodman is credited with founding the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the Millrose Games . The senior Wanamaker's first son, Thomas B. Wanamaker, died in Paris in 1908. His country estate, Lindenhurst mansion in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania ,

2156-727: Was on December 14, 1922, with a service at the Bethany Presbyterian Church. He was interred in the Wanamaker family tomb in the churchyard of the Church of St. James the Less in Philadelphia . At his death, his estate was estimated to be US$ 100 million ($ 1,820,278,330 today), divided equally among his three living children and granddaughters, Mary "Minnie" Wanamaker Warburton (Mrs. Barclay Warburton), Patricia "Paddy" W. Estelle, and Elizabeth Wanamaker McLeod, who all received substantial stock, real estate and cash instruments. Second son Rodman

2205-621: Was previously operated by Budco, and by AMC from 1987 to 1996. The opening of Gold's Gym in the mid-2000s was delayed due to design changes. Gold's Gym would use the former Leh's store and Plaza Theater. Raymour & Flanigan relocated to the mall in 2012, occupying two vacant storefronts. PREIT sold its 50% ownership of the Whitehall Mall in 2014 to Washington Prime Group , the mall's other owner. Sears closed in February 2020. PA Fitness (former Gold's Gym) closed in January 2022. Portions of

2254-447: Was still profitable, but in 1976 the losses began to mount. In February 1977, Vollmer sold his interest to Allentown clothier Sigmund Levin for $ 1 and other considerations. A month later, Levin filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection from creditors while the company reorganized. Over the next eleven months, the company initiated a variety of tactics to return to financial health, but the financial slide continued. A few months after

2303-487: Was taken over by Allen Theodore Vollmer and Robert V.H. Harned. Allen Vollmer served as president until he retired due to poor health in 1963, when his son Donald Vollmer assumed control. The store operated successfully for decades, and was the first of the Allentown department stores to open a branch at Whitehall Mall in Whitehall Township , an Allentown suburb, in 1966. In 1970, Donald Vollmer, then president of

2352-624: Was the first local department store to feature a separate toy department that it called "Toyland". At the center of the toy display that Christmas was a twenty-four-foot-tall, one-ton figure it called "Santa Claus’ Father." It is not known if this was an attempt to combine the English figure known as “Father Christmas” with Nast's character. On December 9, 1905, local newspapers ran the first announcement of Lawfer's live Santa Claus . "Visit Santa Claus at his Cave in Toyland," it read. "If you haven’t paid Santa

2401-403: Was the last surviving member of President Benjamin Harrison's cabinet. Wanamaker was known for his philanthropy to programs to aid the poor in Philadelphia. He co-founded Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen, in 1878. The Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission has since expanded to provide more services and still supports the homeless population of Philadelphia. He

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