The J. N. Adam & Co. / AM&A's Department Store - Table of Contents

Exterior - The J. N. Adam & Co. / AM&A's Department Store
385 Main Street, Buffalo, NY

AM&A's partners: Robert B. Adam
Herbert A. Meldrum
Original partner: Alexander Whiting
Later partner: William Anderson
1886 distinction: First business in the city to use electric lights
1947 distinction: First department store to open a branch, in the University Plaza on Main Street, the first suburban shopping center
Original location: Across the street on Main Street, now the site of the Main Main Place
1960 location: 385 Main Street
AM&A's building closure:
1994
Status:
The J. N. Adam-AM&A Historic District is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places

Unless noted otherwise, photos taken in 2013


Main Street facade



Main Street: engaged piers which echo classical engaged columns.




Scalloped lintel   ...   Art Moderne decoration around Main Street entrance


NE Main and Eagle Streets   ...   1935 Façade is International style   ...   Also pictured: Rand Building (tallest), Tishman Building, Rapid Transit rail station






2016 photo   ...   SE elevation at Eagle and Washington Streets   ...   Starrett and Van Vleck, architects   ...   M&T Building to the left.



2016 photo   ...   SE view  ...   Lower right building with partial terra cotta cladding is the former AM&S's warehouse at 369 Washington Street which was connected to the department store through an underground tunnel   ...   Ellicott Development Co. renovated the warehouse as loft apartments (Website in April 2018).






Entrance on Washington Street



2016 photo   ...   East elevation on Washington Street   ...    The AM&A's building is actually a combination of 4 buildings. Architects:
Left: 1946-1948 Starrett & Van Vleck
To the right: 1909 Esenwein & Johnson
To the right: 1891-1892 Green & Wicks
To the right: 1895-1896 Green & Wicks
To the far right is the Brisbane Building







Washington Street   ...    Built 1909   ...    Esenwein & Johnson   ...   Egg-and-dart molding on capital of the pilaster   Bottom: Guilloche




Left: Esenwein & Johnson, 1909. Roman brick pilaster.

Right: Green & Wicks, 1892   ...   Egg-and-dart  ...   Acanthus-decorated modillions supporting the cornice   ...   Leaf-and dart molding   ...   Pilasters with acanthus leaves on capitals   ...   Keystone




Washington Street   ...    Green & Wicks   ...   Acanthus-decorated modillions supporting the cornice    ...   Roman brick  ...   Leaf-and dart molding   ...    Pilasters     ...   Keystone



Washington Street   ...    Green & Wicks   ...    Acanthus-decorated modillions supporting the cornice   ...   Leaf-and dart molding   ...   Keystone    ...   Pilasters




Left: 1891-1892  Green & Wicks  ...   Egg-and-dart    ...    Acanthus-decorated modillions supporting the cornice   ...   Leaf-and dart molding   ...   Pilasters with acanthus leaves on capitals   ...   Keystone

Right: 1895-1896 Green & Wicks   ...   Stylized triglyph



Color photos and their arrangement © 2016 Chuck LaChiusa
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