The Bon Marché Building of Asheville, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
The Bon Marché Building of Asheville, North Carolina was built in 1923 by E.W. Grove
for the store's owner, Solomon Lipinsky. This was several years before Grove began construction on nearby Grove Arcade, one of Asheville’s most famous architectural landmarks. The Bon Marché building was designed by W.L. Stoddart
, a hotel architect who also designed the Battery Park Hotel
and Vanderbilt Hotel.
This new building served as a larger location for the Bon Marché, originally called Lipinsky and Ellick, which was founded in downtown Asheville in the 1890s. The owner, Solomon Lipinsky, was a prominent Jewish businessman and community leader in Asheville. from the 1890s to 1978, nearly 90 years, the Bon Marché became the longest running department store in Asheville’s history. The name Bon Marché, meaning “the good deal” or “the good market” in French, came from Le Bon Marché
, one of the world’s first department stores located in Paris
.
In a 1938 letter to Solomon Lipinsky’s son, Lewis Lipinsky, in preparation for the store’s 50th anniversary, Asheville author Thomas Wolfe
says “…Bon Marché is such a landmark in Asheville life that if I ever heard anything had happened to it I think I should feel almost as if Beaucatcher Mountain had been violently removed from the landscape by some force of nature. I know that as long as I can remember, at any rate, it has always stood with the women folk at home for the best in merchandise and fashion…”
After The Bon Marché Store moved across the street in 1937, Ivey’s Department Store
took over the Bon Marché building. Ivey’s Department Store became a staple in downtown Asheville during the mid- 20th century.
1985 saw the renovation of the Bon Marché building, which restored it to a more historically accurate condition. This renovation removed some changes made during the 1950s and 1960s, such as a semi-circular awning, which was incompatible with the building’s original style. In that same year, the Bon Marché building became the Haywood Park Hotel.
Edwin Wiley Grove
Edwin Wiley Grove was a self-made millionaire most famous for his "Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic." In this chill tonic, which came out 1878, Grove found a way to bottle a quinine mixture that would eliminate the bitter taste...
for the store's owner, Solomon Lipinsky. This was several years before Grove began construction on nearby Grove Arcade, one of Asheville’s most famous architectural landmarks. The Bon Marché building was designed by W.L. Stoddart
William Lee Stoddart
William Lee Stoddart was an architect best known for urban hotels in the eastern United States. Even though he was born in Tenafly, New Jersey, the bulk of his commissions were in the South. He maintained offices in Atlanta and New York City....
, a hotel architect who also designed the Battery Park Hotel
Battery Park Hotel
The Battery Park Hotel is the name given to two hotels in Asheville, North Carolina. The one standing today is 14 stories tall and was built in 1924 by Edwin W. Grove, during a time of increased tourism in the North Carolina mountains. It replaced a Queen Anne style hotel which stood 125 feet tall...
and Vanderbilt Hotel.
This new building served as a larger location for the Bon Marché, originally called Lipinsky and Ellick, which was founded in downtown Asheville in the 1890s. The owner, Solomon Lipinsky, was a prominent Jewish businessman and community leader in Asheville. from the 1890s to 1978, nearly 90 years, the Bon Marché became the longest running department store in Asheville’s history. The name Bon Marché, meaning “the good deal” or “the good market” in French, came from Le Bon Marché
Le Bon Marché
Le Bon Marché is the name of one of the best known department stores in Paris, France. It is sometimes regarded as the "first department store in the world". Although this depends on what is meant by 'department store', it may have had the first specially designed building for a store in Paris...
, one of the world’s first department stores located in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In a 1938 letter to Solomon Lipinsky’s son, Lewis Lipinsky, in preparation for the store’s 50th anniversary, Asheville author Thomas Wolfe
Thomas Wolfe
Thomas Clayton Wolfe was a major American novelist of the early 20th century.Wolfe wrote four lengthy novels, plus many short stories, dramatic works and novellas. He is known for mixing highly original, poetic, rhapsodic, and impressionistic prose with autobiographical writing...
says “…Bon Marché is such a landmark in Asheville life that if I ever heard anything had happened to it I think I should feel almost as if Beaucatcher Mountain had been violently removed from the landscape by some force of nature. I know that as long as I can remember, at any rate, it has always stood with the women folk at home for the best in merchandise and fashion…”
After The Bon Marché Store moved across the street in 1937, Ivey’s Department Store
Ivey's
Ivey's , a former department store chain, was acquired by Dillard's, Inc. in 1990. Ivey's was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 1900 by Joseph Benjamin Ivey.-History:...
took over the Bon Marché building. Ivey’s Department Store became a staple in downtown Asheville during the mid- 20th century.
1985 saw the renovation of the Bon Marché building, which restored it to a more historically accurate condition. This renovation removed some changes made during the 1950s and 1960s, such as a semi-circular awning, which was incompatible with the building’s original style. In that same year, the Bon Marché building became the Haywood Park Hotel.