Yesterday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an application for establishing a Master Plan at the (former) Bauman Brothers Furniture Store on 14th Street, which is an individual city landmark. Prominent 19th century dry goods merchant James McCreery opened that store after construction was finished in 1880-81. Today, we’d like to share former GVSHP staffer Dana Schulz’s “Then & Now” post on an even earlier McCreery store in our neighborhoods.

James McCreery & Co. Dry Goods, 1869. From the New York Bound Bookshop collection in the GVSHP archives.

The middle of the 19^th Century saw an influx of wealthy New Yorkers moving north of Washington Square.  To cater to this growing population, lavish new developments began to spring up around Union Square.  Gothic Revival religious institutions such as the James Renwick-designed Grace Church and the Richard Upjohn-designed Church of the Ascension (a 2011 GVSHP Village Award winner) served as local landmarks.  For the more informal daily routines of wealthy women, stately department stores became the trend.  Often known as dry goods stores (to distinguish their goods from those carried in hardware and grocery stores) , these large shopping meccas also served as social gathering places where women could mingle with their peers, have lunch, and, of course, spend money.  The original Macy’s store was located on 14^th Street (which was landmarked in 2011) and the A.T. Stewart store was on East 10^th Street and Broadway.  Another important retail presence was James McCreery & Co.

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