Garfinckel's Department Store

Garfinckel's Department Store
Location 1401 F Street, N.W.
Nearest city Washington, D.C.
Coordinates 38°53′50.38″N 77°1′55.4″W / 38.8973278°N 77.032056°W / 38.8973278; -77.032056Coordinates: 38°53′50.38″N 77°1′55.4″W / 38.8973278°N 77.032056°W / 38.8973278; -77.032056
Area (less than 1 acre (4,000 m2)
Built 1925-1929
Architect Porter and Lockie, Starrett & van Vleck
Architectural style Other, Moderne
NRHP Reference # 95000353 [1]
Added to NRHP April 4, 1995

Garfinckel's Department Store is an eight-story department store building, erected at the northwest corner of 14th and F Streets, across from the Willard Hotel, which is one block from the Treasury Department and less than two blocks from the White House.

History

Garfinckel's first retail location opened in 1918, and was located at 13th and F Streets, Northwest, Washington, D.C.,

They expanded to the new location, in 1929. The $2,000,000 structure was designed by architects Starrett & van Vleck of New York.[2] By 1936, there were more than 500 employees.[3]

In 1995, the historic Garfinckel's flagship store, located at 1401 F Street, NW, Washington, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. From 1997 to 1999, the property was redeveloped into a modern office building and shopping center that is referred to as Hamilton Square.

Garfinckel's flagship store reputation was not without controversy. It was both widely known and acknowledged that blacks were not welcome at the flagship store and in fact, were not permitted to try on clothing. This may in fact have hurt the store during the latter part of the 20th century; newly-prosperous blacks may have been inclined to ignore the store.

After Garfinckel's bankruptcy in 1990, the store remained vacant. It was redeveloped in 1999.[4] The 2009 property value of Hamilton Square was $136,201,000.

Borders bookstore was a street level tenant. The owner is considering tenants.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://landmarkhunter.com/184688-garfinckels-department-store/
  2. ↑ "Special from Richmond, June 21: Virginia Exports Increased. North Carolina Also Shows Gain Over Last Year," New York Times, June 23, 1929, p. N12
  3. ↑ "Special from Washington, Nov. 6: Julius Garfinckel Dies In Washington - Merchant and Philanthropist Succumbs to Pneumonia in the Capital at 62," New York Times, Nov. 7, 1936, p. 17
  4. ↑ http://shorenstein.com/portfolio/investments/property?id=851
  5. ↑ Missy Frederick, Jonathan O'Connell (December 21, 2009). "Hamilton Square Borders may become a T.J. Maxx". Washington Business Journal.

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