White House Department Store

The popularity of the White House exceeded the size of its selling floor, even though in 1905 it had added a space equal to its original size. According to a 1953 Texas Western College history seminar paper by John Guice , the Central Building and Improvement Company, whose members included Felix Martinez, J. J. Mundy, L. L. Mundy and Zach White, began the construction a seven-story building in 1911. Designed by famed architect Henry C. Trost , the building was completed in 1912. The White House leased the first three floors, and the McCoy Hotel occupied the remaining four stories. “Wait for the Opening,” boasted a newspaper ad in March 1912. In this advertisement, management described new facilities, in addition to the much bigger main store. A “toilet articles” department had been added, carrying “Parisian ivory novelties” as well as perfumes, powders and much more. The ad made a point of announcing – especially for the ladies – a corset department, whose “specially designed corset fitting rooms entered into the plans of the new store.” http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=309255&sid=2573139

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: EPMH

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History