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 |
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