The Diamond (Department Store)
Encyclopedia
The Diamond began in 1906 as a small shoe store in Charleston, West Virginia
, founded by Roane County
native Wehrle B. Geary on the belief that "the recollection of quality remains long after price is forgotten". The shoe business prospered. It moved from its original location at 215 Capitol Street and was expanded to become the city's leading shopping center by 1920. Additional expansions followed. In 1949, The Diamond completed a $1,250,000 expansion and modernization project which included five elevators and a set of escalators that reached from the basement "Budget Store" to the fifth floor. The Diamond eventually became West Virginia's largest department store with 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²) of space. The fifth-floor cafeteria was a destination for businessmen and shoppers alike. The store was acquired by Associated Dry Goods
in 1956. During the 1970s, Hickory Farms
had a location in a portion of the basement of the store. The Diamond opened its one and only branch location at Grand Central Mall
, Vienna, WV in 1972. Associated sold off the stores in 1983 because of limited expansion room. Near the beginning of the 21st century, the state of West Virginia purchased the former department store and transformed it into state offices. The original facade of the downtown store (on the corner of Capitol and Washington Streets) remains largely unchanged.
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, founded by Roane County
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
native Wehrle B. Geary on the belief that "the recollection of quality remains long after price is forgotten". The shoe business prospered. It moved from its original location at 215 Capitol Street and was expanded to become the city's leading shopping center by 1920. Additional expansions followed. In 1949, The Diamond completed a $1,250,000 expansion and modernization project which included five elevators and a set of escalators that reached from the basement "Budget Store" to the fifth floor. The Diamond eventually became West Virginia's largest department store with 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²) of space. The fifth-floor cafeteria was a destination for businessmen and shoppers alike. The store was acquired by Associated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods was a chain of department stores that merged with May Department Stores in 1986. It was founded in 1916 as an association of independent stores called American Dry Goods, based in New York City.-History:...
in 1956. During the 1970s, Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms is an American specialty foods company based in Maumee, Ohio. The company was established in 1951 when founder Richard Ransom began selling hand cut cheese at local fairs. By 1959, the company added summer sausage and opened their first retail store outside Toledo, Ohio...
had a location in a portion of the basement of the store. The Diamond opened its one and only branch location at Grand Central Mall
Grand Central Mall
Grand Central Mall is a regional shopping mall in Vienna, West Virginia, near the larger city of Parkersburg. The mall opened in 1972 and is the only enclosed mall within seventy miles of its region. It features more than ninety tenants, including a food court, a movie theater and five anchor...
, Vienna, WV in 1972. Associated sold off the stores in 1983 because of limited expansion room. Near the beginning of the 21st century, the state of West Virginia purchased the former department store and transformed it into state offices. The original facade of the downtown store (on the corner of Capitol and Washington Streets) remains largely unchanged.