AM&A's
Encyclopedia
Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Company (AM&A's) was a chain of department stores based in Buffalo, New York
. It was an institution to generations of shoppers in the Buffalo area. The company remained family owned until its sale to The Bon-Ton
in 1994.
In 1876, William Anderson joined the company after Whiting departed and it was renamed Adam, Meldrum & Anderson. In 1886, the company pioneered the use of electricity at a commercial enterprise in Buffalo with the installation of a Westinghouse
generator. The company incorporated in 1892. In 1896, it joined the Syndicate Trading Company, a retail joint purchasing company based in New York City
. From 1925 to 1956, it operated the Adam, Meldrum & Anderson State Bank, which merged with M&T Bank
. In 1942, Robert Adam III, grandson of the founder, became President and served in that capacity until 1980; then serving as Chief Executive Officer until his death in 1993. The chain was purchased by The Bon-Ton
Stores Inc. in 1994.
. A $500,000 expansion of the store occurred in 1924, adding 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) to the original location. In 1932, the store expanded northward with the purchased of the Hudson's store at 410 Main Street. From the 1940s until its closing, the store was known locally for its elaborate Victorian Christmas windows. In August 1960, the chain moved its flagship across the street to 389 Main Street in the building formerly occupied by J. N. Adam & Co.
After expanding warehouse space in adjacent buildings, a major remodeling of the store occurred in 1966; it was remodeled again a decade later. The store also had a restaurant, the Yankee Doodle Room, which operated from 1960 until 1993; then reopened for a short time as a gourmet market and deli. The flagship store operated as a Bon Ton until 1995. It reopened for eight months in 1998 as Taylor's, an upscale ladies department store. Since that time it has been vacant and is currently threatened with demolition. On February 20, 2009, the former flagship store complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places
as the J.N. Adam-AM&A Historic District
.
and Thruway Plaza in Cheektowaga. In October 1952, they took over the former E. W. Edwards & Son location at L.B. Smith Plaza, later Abbott Road Plaza, in Lackawanna
; it closed in 1971.
During the 1960s through 1980's, many major malls were erected throughout suburban Buffalo and AM&A's expanded to most of them. An 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) store opened at Southgate Plaza in 1961, expanded to 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) in 1964. In 1966, a store opened at Thruway Plaza, later Thruway Mall. That location would close in 1990, when the Walden Galleria
location opened in a store originally constructed for B. Altman. The Eastern Hills Mall location opened in 1972, Lockport Mall store in 1974, and Olean Center Mall in 1976. A store opened in 1979, as part of an expansion to the Summit Park Mall. After the closure of the local Hens & Kelly chain in 1982, AM&A's moved into its former location at Northtown Plaza
. The McKinley Mall
Location opened in 1985. All branch locations operating in 1994, became branches of The Bon Ton.
In addition to the retail locations, AM&A's operated a bedding and furniture warehouse in the former Pierce Arrow Automobile Manufacturing Facility
on Elmwood Avenue @ Great Arrow Street in Buffalo. Customer orders from the retail stores were sent to the warehouse where the items were pulled from stock and inspected for damages. Any scratches, dings, or dents in wood items were corrected by a team of two furniture refinishers. Orders were then set out for delivery to the customers home.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. It was an institution to generations of shoppers in the Buffalo area. The company remained family owned until its sale to 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...
in 1994.
History
The company was founded in 1867, as Adam, Meldrum & Whiting, at 308-310 Main Street. Co-founder Robert Borthwick Adams, was a brother of the founder of J. N. Adam & Co.J. N. Adam & Co.
The J.N. Adam & Co., commonly referred to as J.N.'s was a department store located in Buffalo, New York. It was founded in 1881 by James Noble Adam, a brother of Robert B. Adam, a founder of AM&A's, another Buffalo based department store. The co-founder of the store was William H. Hotchkiss who,...
In 1876, William Anderson joined the company after Whiting departed and it was renamed Adam, Meldrum & Anderson. In 1886, the company pioneered the use of electricity at a commercial enterprise in Buffalo with the installation of a Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
generator. The company incorporated in 1892. In 1896, it joined the Syndicate Trading Company, a retail joint purchasing company based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. From 1925 to 1956, it operated the Adam, Meldrum & Anderson State Bank, which merged with M&T Bank
M&T Bank
M&T Bank is an American commercial bank that was founded in 1856 in western New York, and today remains headquartered in Buffalo at One M & T Plaza...
. In 1942, Robert Adam III, grandson of the founder, became President and served in that capacity until 1980; then serving as Chief Executive Officer until his death in 1993. The chain was purchased by 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...
Stores Inc. in 1994.
Flagship store
The original store was located on Main Street at the current site of the Main Place MallMain Place Tower
The Main Place Tower is located at 350 Main Street, in Buffalo, NY. The skyscraper is the fourth tallest building in the city, and home to a large number of technology and communication firms, as well as the law firm Cellino and Barnes. The tower is connected to the Main Place Mall, downtown's...
. A $500,000 expansion of the store occurred in 1924, adding 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) to the original location. In 1932, the store expanded northward with the purchased of the Hudson's store at 410 Main Street. From the 1940s until its closing, the store was known locally for its elaborate Victorian Christmas windows. In August 1960, the chain moved its flagship across the street to 389 Main Street in the building formerly occupied by J. N. Adam & Co.
J. N. Adam & Co.
The J.N. Adam & Co., commonly referred to as J.N.'s was a department store located in Buffalo, New York. It was founded in 1881 by James Noble Adam, a brother of Robert B. Adam, a founder of AM&A's, another Buffalo based department store. The co-founder of the store was William H. Hotchkiss who,...
After expanding warehouse space in adjacent buildings, a major remodeling of the store occurred in 1966; it was remodeled again a decade later. The store also had a restaurant, the Yankee Doodle Room, which operated from 1960 until 1993; then reopened for a short time as a gourmet market and deli. The flagship store operated as a Bon Ton until 1995. It reopened for eight months in 1998 as Taylor's, an upscale ladies department store. Since that time it has been vacant and is currently threatened with demolition. On February 20, 2009, the former flagship store complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the J.N. Adam-AM&A Historic District
J.N. Adam-AM&A Historic District
J.N. Adam-AM&A Historic District is a national historic district located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. The district resulted from the agglomeration of commercial structures over many years of commercial growth and still reflects conscious decisions made by the original planners of the J. N....
.
Branch stores
AM&A's opened the first branch location of a downtown department store in 1948, when it opened a 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) store at University Plaza. Shortly after they opened branches at Sheridan Plaza in TonawandaTonawanda (town), New York
Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
and Thruway Plaza in Cheektowaga. In October 1952, they took over the former E. W. Edwards & Son location at L.B. Smith Plaza, later Abbott Road Plaza, in Lackawanna
Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...
; it closed in 1971.
During the 1960s through 1980's, many major malls were erected throughout suburban Buffalo and AM&A's expanded to most of them. An 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) store opened at Southgate Plaza in 1961, expanded to 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) in 1964. In 1966, a store opened at Thruway Plaza, later Thruway Mall. That location would close in 1990, when the Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
location opened in a store originally constructed for B. Altman. The Eastern Hills Mall location opened in 1972, Lockport Mall store in 1974, and Olean Center Mall in 1976. A store opened in 1979, as part of an expansion to the Summit Park Mall. After the closure of the local Hens & Kelly chain in 1982, AM&A's moved into its former location at Northtown Plaza
Northtown Plaza
Northtown Plaza was one of the first shopping malls in Houston, Texas, built in the year 1959 and remodeled in the 1980s. A major fire took place at the center in December 1999. The center is currently owned by UK-based Centro Properties Group....
. The McKinley Mall
McKinley Mall
McKinley Mall, which opened in 1985, is a shopping mall south of Buffalo, New York, USA. The mall is located in the Town of Hamburg at the intersection of McKinley Parkway and Milestrip Road immediately east of the New York State Thruway. McKinley Mall services the Southtowns of Erie County...
Location opened in 1985. All branch locations operating in 1994, became branches of The Bon Ton.
In addition to the retail locations, AM&A's operated a bedding and furniture warehouse in the former Pierce Arrow Automobile Manufacturing Facility
Pierce Arrow Factory Complex
Pierce Arrow Factory Complex is a national historic district consisting of the former Pierce-Arrow automobile factory located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. Located over a site, it consists of a three story, Administration Building and an assortment of automobile manufacturing and assembly...
on Elmwood Avenue @ Great Arrow Street in Buffalo. Customer orders from the retail stores were sent to the warehouse where the items were pulled from stock and inspected for damages. Any scratches, dings, or dents in wood items were corrected by a team of two furniture refinishers. Orders were then set out for delivery to the customers home.
Further reading
- Sibling retail rivalry forms part of the history of chain's growth, Buffalo News, May 17, 1994.
- Robert Adam dies, Buffalo News, September 12, 1993.
- Bon-Ton Department Store Chain Extends Lease at West Seneca, N.Y., Plaza, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, April 23, 1999.
- Rizzo, Michael F. (2007) Nine Nine Eight: The Glory Days of Buffalo Shopping Lulu Enterprises, Inc.; Morrisville, North Carolina. ISBN 978-1-4303-1386-1.
- Elvins, Sarah (2004). Sales & Celebrations: Retailing and Regional Identity in Western New York State, 1920-1940. ISBN 0-8214-1549-2.