Watt & Shand
Encyclopedia
Watt & Shand was a department store
that operated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
from 1879 to 1992.
Soon after Thompson's death, Peter Watt and James Shand changed the store's name to Watt, Shand and Company. In 1880, the store moved into a building located at 8-10 East King Street in Lancaster. In 1885, the store name was shortened to Watt & Shand, and the store was expanded to include space in the building at 6 East King Street. In 1889, the store added a ladies' ready-to-wear department which included coats, suits, dresses, and underwear.
In 1905, Watt & Shand acquired three adjoining buildings at 23 Penn Square, eventually absorbing Rohrer's Liquor Store, Shenck's Hotel and Marshall and Rengier's Hardware Store. In January 1959, Watt & Shand acquired Appel & Weber, a jewelry store, and in June 1968, it acquired Hager’s Department Store. In August 1984, the downtown store completed a $1 million, three-year renovation. By 1991, the downtown store was 220000 square feet (20,438.7 m²), cobbled together from seven different buildings.
In 1970, a second Watt & Shand store opened at Park City Center
as one of the anchor tenants, which enabled the company to survive the exodus of large department stores in downtown Lancaster. By 1991, the Park City store generated 65% of sales, and virtually all of the company's profit.
The Bon-Ton
purchased Watt & Shand in 1992, for about $10 million, and the downtown Lancaster store officially closed in March 1995.
Today, the building is now home to the Lancaster Marriott
at Penn Square, and immediately adjacent to the Lancaster County Convention Center
.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
that operated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
from 1879 to 1992.
History
Mercantile apprentices Peter T. Watt, 28, Gilbert Thompson, 32, and James Shand, 29, of Hartford, Conn., opened the predecessor of Watt & Shand, the New York Store, on March 9, 1878. The New York Store featured lines of foreign and domestic dry goods as well as upscale merchandise. The first item sold was a 100% wool plaid shawl for $5. Known for their customer service, the New York Store was said to have an unwritten policy of remaining open until the last customer had finished shopping. During the New York Store's first year of operation, partner Gilbert Thompson died.Soon after Thompson's death, Peter Watt and James Shand changed the store's name to Watt, Shand and Company. In 1880, the store moved into a building located at 8-10 East King Street in Lancaster. In 1885, the store name was shortened to Watt & Shand, and the store was expanded to include space in the building at 6 East King Street. In 1889, the store added a ladies' ready-to-wear department which included coats, suits, dresses, and underwear.
In 1905, Watt & Shand acquired three adjoining buildings at 23 Penn Square, eventually absorbing Rohrer's Liquor Store, Shenck's Hotel and Marshall and Rengier's Hardware Store. In January 1959, Watt & Shand acquired Appel & Weber, a jewelry store, and in June 1968, it acquired Hager’s Department Store. In August 1984, the downtown store completed a $1 million, three-year renovation. By 1991, the downtown store was 220000 square feet (20,438.7 m²), cobbled together from seven different buildings.
In 1970, a second Watt & Shand store opened at Park City Center
Park City Center
Park City Center is a large shopping mall located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is the largest enclosed shopping center in South Central Pennsylvania. It is situated at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Harrisburg Pike. The shape of the mall resembles a snowflake, with its stores occupying...
as one of the anchor tenants, which enabled the company to survive the exodus of large department stores in downtown Lancaster. By 1991, the Park City store generated 65% of sales, and virtually all of the company's profit.
The Bon-Ton
The Bon-Ton
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. is a regional department store company based in York, Pennsylvania, chiefly operating 275 stores, including 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states throughout the northern United States. Stores carrying its namesake nameplate serve the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of...
purchased Watt & Shand in 1992, for about $10 million, and the downtown Lancaster store officially closed in March 1995.
The Watt & Shand Building
The Watt & Shand building is on the southeast corner of Penn Square in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Done in the Beaux Arts style, the building is four stories of buff brick with elaborate terra cotta and marble ornamentation. The oldest section of the building, facing East King Street, dates from 1898 and was designed by C. Emlen Urban. In 1916 and 1925, major additions extended the building toward South Queen Street. In 1999, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.Today, the building is now home to the Lancaster Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
at Penn Square, and immediately adjacent to the Lancaster County Convention Center
Lancaster County Convention Center
The Lancaster County Convention Center is a publicly owned convention center in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. With initial site preparation in late 2006 and completion in the summer of 2009, the Lancaster County Convention Center is one of several projects intended to help revitalize...
.