View source for John Wanamaker Store

{{Short description|Former department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
{{about|the flagship store|the department store chain|Wanamaker's}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox building
| name = John Wanamaker Store
| image = Wanamaker Building.jpg
| image_size = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Exterior of the John Wanamaker Store (2022)
| coordinates = {{coord|39|57|5.98|N|75|9|43.81|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| former_names = 
| alternate_names = 
| status = Closed
| building_type = [[Department store]]
| architectural_style = [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]]
| location = 1300 [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States
| current_tenants = 
| years_built = 1910&ndash;1911
| opened_date = {{plain list|
* {{start date and age|1911}} ([[Wanamaker's]])
* {{start date and age|1995|9|3}} ([[Hecht's]])
* {{start date and age|1996|7|15}} ([[Strawbridge's]])
* {{start date and age|1997|8|6}} ([[Lord & Taylor]])
* {{start date and age|2006|8|2}} ([[Macy's]])
}}
| inauguration_date = 
| renovation_date = 
| closing_date = {{plain list|
* {{end date and age|1995|8|28}} (Wanamaker's)
* {{end date and age|1996|7|15}} (Hecht's)
* {{end date and age|1997|2|1}} (Strawbridge's)
* {{end date and age|2006|6|1}} (Lord & Taylor)
* {{end date and age|2025|3|23}} (Macy's)
}}
| cost = 
| ren_cost = 
| client = [[John Wanamaker]]
| owner = 
| landlord = 
| floor_count = 12
| floor_area = 
| architect = [[Daniel Burnham]]
| architecture_firm = 
| public_transit = 
| website = 
| embedded = {{Infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| name = John Wanamaker Store
| nrhp_type = nrhp
| nrhp_type2 = nhl
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| locmapin = Philadelphia#Pennsylvania#USA
| designated_nrhp_type = June 2, 1978
| designated_nrhp_type2 = June 2, 1978
| refnum = 78002459
}}
| references = <ref>[https://archive.today/20120723173039/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1786&ResourceType=Building Listing of John Wanamaker Store] at the [[National Park Service]]</ref><ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
}}

The '''John Wanamaker Store''' is a [[department store]] building and [[National Historic Landmark]] on [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]] in the [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]] district of [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. It was designed by [[Daniel Burnham]] for [[John Wanamaker]], and opened in 1911; it replaced the first store on the grounds founded in 1876. It was the flagship store of the [[Wanamaker's]] department store chain, was acquired by [[The May Department Stores Company]] in 1994, and converted to the May-owned [[Hecht's]], [[Strawbridge's]], and [[Lord & Taylor]] between 1995 and 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mcall.com/1995/09/04/wanamakers-faithful-flock-to-hechts-department-store-begins-its-two-month-transition/|title=Wanamakers' Faithful Flock To Hecht's Department Store Begins Its Two-month Transition|date=September 4, 1995|publisher=The Morning Call|last1=Jackson|first1=Kimberlly L.|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> May itself was [[Acquisition of The May Department Stores Company by Federated Department Stores|acquired]] by [[Macy's, Inc.|Federated Department Stores]] in 2005, and converted to the Federated-owned [[Macy's]] in 2006. Macy's closed the store without replacement in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riordan |first=Jake Blumgart {{!}} Michelle Myers {{!}} Kevin |date=2025-01-09 |title=Center City Macy’s, located in iconic Wanamaker Building, will close in March |url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/macys-philadelphia-center-city-store-closing-layoffs-20250109.html |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.inquirer.com |language=en}}</ref>

It contains the [[Wanamaker Organ]], the largest functional organ in the world.

== History ==
=== Wanamaker's (1910&ndash;1995) ===

In 1910, [[John Wanamaker]] replaced his existing Grand Depot in stages, and constructed a new, purpose-built structure on the same site in Center City Philadelphia. The new store, built in the Florentine style with granite walls by Chicago architect [[Daniel H. Burnham]], had 12 floors (nine for retail), numerous galleries and two lower levels totaling nearly two million square feet. The palatial emporium featured the [[Wanamaker Organ]], the former [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|St. Louis World's Fair]] pipe organ, at the time one of the world's largest organs. The organ was installed in the store's marble-clad central atrium known as the Grand Court. Another item from the St. Louis Fair in the Grand Court is the large bronze eagle, which quickly became the symbol of the store and a favorite meeting place for shoppers.  All one had to say was "Meet You at The Eagle" and everyone knew where to go. The store was dedicated by President [[William Howard Taft]] on December 30, 1911.

Despite its size, the organ was deemed insufficient to fill the Grand Court with its music.  Wanamaker's responded by assembling its own staff of organ builders and [[Wanamaker Organ#History|expanding the organ]] several times over a period of years. The "Wanamaker Organ" is the largest fully operational pipe organ in the world, with some 28,750 pipes. It is famed for the delicate, orchestra-like beauty of its tone as well as its incredible power. The organ still stands in place in the store today and free recitals are held twice every day except Sunday. Visitors are also invited to tour the organ's console area and meet with staff after recitals.<ref>[http://wanamakerorgan.com/events.php Friends of the Wanamaker Organ schedule for recitals] Retrieved 2010-12-24</ref> Once a year, usually in June, "Wanamaker Organ Day" is held, which is a free recital which lasts most of the day. The New York store also housed a large organ; it was sold at auction in 1955 for $1,200 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=1200|start_year=1955}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) after the New York store closed the year prior.<ref>"Events of the Year 1955 in the Organ World in Review" (PDF). ''[[The Diapason]]''. '''47''' (2): 6. January 1, 1956.</ref>

In October 1987, the Wanamaker Building was sold to developer John Kusmiersky for $50 million.<ref name=sothebys /> The historic Wanamaker's flagship store was reduced to the building's first five stories, leased back from the new owners.<ref>{{Cite web | title=How Macy's arrived in Philadelphia — and announced its Center City departure | url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/inq2/macys-center-city-philadelphia-history-timeline-20250111.html | access-date=2025-12-30 | website=www.inquirer.com}}</ref> The upper stories were converted to offices. The Juniper Street side became the office building lobby, and the former basement budget "Downstairs Store" became a parking garage. The Crystal Tea Room restaurant was closed and eventually leased to the Marriott Corporation for use as a ballroom. Personal effects of Mr. Wanamaker from his until-then preserved office on the eighth floor, and the store archives, were donated to the [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]. Beloved huge Easter paintings ''Christ before Pilate'' (1881) and ''Golgotha'' (1884) by [[Mihály Munkácsy]] that had been personal favorites of Mr. Wanamaker and were displayed every year in the Grand Court during Lent were unceremoniously sold at auction in 1988.<ref name=sothebys>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-sothebys-to-a/163613918/ |last1=Solis-Cohen |first1=Lita |title=Sotheby's to Auction Wanamakers' 19th-Century Art |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |pages=51, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-sothebys-to-a/163614005/ 56] |date=February 22, 1988 |access-date=2025-01-21 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

The Wanamaker's flagship store, with its famous organ and eagle from the St. Louis World's Fair, was designated a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1978. In 1992, a nonprofit group, the Friends of the [[Wanamaker Organ]], was founded to promote the preservation, restoration and presentation of the famous pipe organ.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wanamakerorgan.com/|title=Friends of Wanamaker Organ}}</ref>

=== Hecht's, Strawbridge's, and Lord & Taylor (1995&ndash;2006) ===
Parent company [[Woodward & Lothrop]] collapsed in bankruptcy, filing for Chapter 11 on January 17, 1994. The Wanamaker's chain was sold to [[May Department Stores|May Department Stores Company]] on June 21, 1995. Wanamaker's Inc. was formally dissolved, and operations were consolidated with May's [[Hecht's]] division in Arlington, Virginia. After 133 consecutive years, the Wanamaker's name was removed from all stores and replaced with [[Hecht's]]. The building closed for renovation and refurbishment in 1996, which saw the retail space reduced in size again to three floors, with two more upper floors converted to commercial office space. The flagship structure was sold again in early 1997, to Amerimar Realty. The retail portion reopened in August 1997 as a branch of New York-based [[Lord & Taylor]], another division of [[May Department Stores]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=How Macy's arrived in Philadelphia — and announced its Center City departure | url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/inq2/macys-center-city-philadelphia-history-timeline-20250111.html | access-date=2025-12-30 | website=www.inquirer.com}}</ref> In August 2006 the store was converted to [[Macy's]], operated by the Macy's East Division of Federated Department Stores Inc., now [[Macy's, Inc.]], which acquired May in late 2005.

=== Macy's (2006&ndash;2025) ===
With a long tradition of parades and fireworks displays, Macy's took a prominent civic role in fostering historic Wanamaker traditions, especially the Wanamaker Organ and the Christmas Light Show. Beginning in 2006, under [[Macy's]], [[Julie Andrews]] became the show's narrator. Also in 2006, the Santa Express Train at the top of the Grand Court returned.
In 2007, the entire Christmas Light Show was completely modernized and rebuilt by Macy's Parade Studio on new trusses with lighter materials and LED lighting. In 2008, a new and bigger Magic Christmas Tree with LED lights debuted. However, due to safety concerns and logistical issues, the dancing water fountains were retired and sold.<ref>{{cite web |title=Light Show Evolution—with Christmas Display Review |url=https://wanamakerorgan.com/2022/10/beginnings/ |website=Friends of the Wanamaker Organ |access-date=4 March 2024}}</ref>

In 2008, Macy's celebrated its 150th birthday in the Philadelphia flagship store with a concert featuring the Wanamaker Organ and the Philadelphia Orchestra that attracted a capacity audience. At that point, only 3 floors of the building were still being used as department store sales area.<ref>{{cite web |title='Departments at this Store', Macy's Center City Philadelphia |url=https://www.macys.com/stores/pa/philadelphia/wanamaker-building_213.html |website=Macy's |access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>

In September 2023 the building went into [[receivership]] after a substantial loss of its commercial tenants.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rothstein |first1=Matthew |title=Receiver Takes Control Of Wanamaker Building As It Heads To Foreclosure |url=https://www.bisnow.com/philadelphia/news/office/wanamaker-building-heads-to-foreclosure-receiver-takes-control-120715 |url-access=registration|website=BizNow Philadelphia |publisher=Bisnow |access-date=4 March 2024 |date=18 September 2023}}</ref>  As of January 2024 the owners were considering the possibility of converting the building to residential spaces.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Toussaint |first1=Jensen |title=Wanamaker Building Owner Considers Converting Office Space into Residential Space as Occupancy Declines |url=https://philadelphia.today/2024/01/wanamaker-building-conversion/ |website=Philadelphia.Today |publisher=American Community Journals, LLC |access-date=4 March 2024 |date=2 January 2024}}</ref>

On January 9, 2025 Macy's announced that the Wanamaker Building store would be closing in March 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bluegart |first1=Jake |last2=Myers |first2=Michelle |last3=Riordan |first3=Kevin |title=Center City Macy's, located in iconic Wanamaker Building, will close in March |url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/macys-philadelphia-center-city-store-closing-layoffs-20250109.html |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC |date=9 January 2025 |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref> The store hosted a day of concerts on its historic organ on March 22, 2025<ref>{{Cite web | title=Center City Macy’s closes after decades in business – NBC10 Philadelphia | url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/macys-center-city-philadelphia-final-weekend-wanamaker-organ/4140438/ | access-date=2025-12-30 | website=www.nbcphiladelphia.com}}</ref> and closed on the evening of March 23, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Shoppers saying farewell to the landmark Macy's store in Center City Philadelphia - 6abc Philadelphia | url=https://6abc.com/post/shoppers-say-farewell-landmark-macys-store-center-city-philadelphia/16063467/ | access-date=2025-12-30 | website=6abc.com}}</ref>

== Flagship store setup ==
[[File:Store Directory, Wanamaker Building, Macy's Center City Philadelphia.jpg|thumb|The store directory of Macy's Center City in February 2024]]
* Ground floor: 2,500-pound "Durana" bronze eagle statue in the Grand Court, made by German sculptor [[August Gaul]] for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exhibition and purchased by John Wanamaker; to this day, Philadelphians frequently agree to "meet me at the eagle" at Wanamaker's.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitphilly.com/music-art/philadelphia/eagle/|title=Wanamaker Eagle}}</ref>
* 3rd floor: Egyptian Hall auditorium behind the executive offices, also a Greek Hall auditorium. As of 2008, the architecture of Egyptian Hall is obscured by the Executive Offices and Dickens Christmas Village.
* 8th floor: Toy department had a ''Rocket Express'' [[monorail]] (from 1946 to 1984) for the kids that traveled around the toy department, camera department, and piano and organ department. The monorail car is a static display at Philadelphia's [[Please Touch Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=John Wanamaker Monorail |url=https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2009/mayjune/curio/john-wanamaker-monorail |website=National Endowment for the Humanities}}</ref>
* 9th floor: Crystal Tea Room
* 10th floor: In-house physician and nurses
* 12th floor: Wanamaker Organ Shop, where the Wanamaker Organ was enlarged by an in-house expert staff
* Sub-floors: The Downstairs Store, post office, [[lost and found]], shoe repair, the Dairy Bar restaurant. This area became a parking garage.
* Radio broadcasting station
* Model house on the furniture floor
* Home of the [[Wanamaker Grand Court Organ|world's largest playable pipe organ]]

=== Crystal Tea Room ===
[[File:The Great Crystal Tea Room at John Wanamaker.jpg|thumb|The Crystal Tea Room, one of the largest dining rooms in the world as of the early 20th century, in 2007]]
Wanamaker's also was home to the Crystal Tea Room restaurant on the 9th floor, which closed to the public in 1995; it was restored as a private banquet hall, accommodating sit-down receptions of up to 1,000 people.  A Wanamaker's guidebook from the 1920s states that the Crystal Tea Room was the largest dining room in [[Philadelphia]], and one of the largest in the world. It once could serve 1,400 people at a time. It served breakfast in the morning, luncheon, and [[afternoon tea]]. The kitchen's big ovens could roast 75 turkeys at a time and the facility was equipped with lockers and baths for the employees. In acknowledgment of John Wanamaker's promotion of temperance causes, alcohol was not served in the Tea Room until after the family trust sold the store. There was informal modeling in the Tea Room.<ref>Nicole C. Kirk, ''Wanamaker's Temple: The Business of Religion in an Iconic Department Store'' (NYU Press, 2018).</ref>

There was also a balcony café, the Terrace on the Court, on the third floor facing the Grand Court, where shoppers could hear the Wanamaker Organ as they dined. Macy's closed this restaurant in 2008.

== Christmas festivities ==

=== Wanamaker Light Show ===
In 1956, the Philadelphia Wanamaker's premiered a Christmas Light Show, a large musical and blinking light display several stories  high, viewable from several levels of the building. Its popularity with Philadelphia parents and children, as well as tourists, ensured a continuous run, even after the building was sold to different business interests.

For decades until 1994, the melodic baritone narrator of the show was [[John Facenda]], known to Philadelphians for decades reporting the news on radio and television and known nationally as the voice of [[NFL Films]]. NFL Films' [[Ed Sabol]] referred to Facenda as "The Voice of God". His wordsmithing and dramatic baritone delivery were highlights of the shows and did much to boost Facenda's stock and mystique. Various announcers narrated the show between 1995 and 2005. The show is currently narrated by [[Julie Andrews]] and has accompanying Christmas carols by The [[Ray Conniff]] Singers.

=== Dickens Village ===
A miniature walkthrough Christmas village takes place on the third floor of the building, with the village themed around [[Charles Dickens]]' 1843 novella [[A Christmas Carol|''A Christmas Carol'']].

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Wanamaker xmas lights.jpg|The original Christmas light show in 2006
File:WanamakerBuilding3.JPG|The Christmas light show in 2013
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}
* [[List of National Historic Landmarks in Philadelphia]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Center City, Philadelphia]]
* [[Please Touch Museum]] (Wanamaker's Rocket Express Monorail)

== References ==
{{ref list}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{HABS |survey=PA-1692 |id=pa1340 |title=John Wanamaker Store |photos=2 |cap=2}}
*[http://wanamakerorgan.com Friends of the Wanamaker Organ]

{{Hecht's history}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1911]]
[[Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:History of Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Macy's stores]]
[[Category:Market East, Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Market Street (Philadelphia)]]
[[Category:May Department Stores]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Wanamaker family]]