Penn Quarter Living

Downtown Washington DC/Penn Quarter news and urban commentary

  • About
  • Local Links
  • Condos In PQ
  • Writers
  • Advertising
  • Commenting
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • Comments

History on Foot: 7th Street Shopping

Posted by pqcompass
February 8, 2012

I was driving down 7th Street the other day and noticed for the first time a series of old and modern signs for furniture stores.  Curious to know more, I did some research to find out the significance of this apparent cluster.

According to various sources, 7th Street was the commercial hub of the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Here are just a few examples of the furniture stores and major department stores along 7th Street at that time:

  • 1015 7th Street – Alperstein’s Furniture, 1904 – present
  • 932 7th Street – John Rudden’s New Furniture, 1880s
  • National Furniture
  • 921 7th Street – House & Herrmann, 1886
  • Marlo Furniture, 1963
  • 915 7th Street – Jackson Brothers, 1903
  • 819 7th Street – Samuel W. Augenstein, pre-1891
  • Peter Grogan’s Furniture Company, 1891- 1933
  • Peerless Furniture Company, 1935 – 1968
  • Home Furniture and Appliance Company, May 1969-1972
  • 801 7th Street – John Rudden’s New Furniture, 1899
  • 718 7th Street – Anton Eberly & Sons, 1868
  • Mayer Dodek, Dodek’s Furniture & Clothing,1898
  • 515 Seventh Street – The Hecht Co. Department Store, 1896; re-opened as “Terrell Place” 1925
  • 7th and D – The Hub Furniture Store, 1855
  • 7th and Pennsylvania – A. Saks & Co., built in 1885

I found the extensive information about our neighborhood’s history available on Streets of Washington, DC’s Goethe Institut, Shorpys and Jewish Washington very interesting and helpful.

Related posts:

  1. Shopping With Your Pooch In PQ
  2. History on Foot: Civil War Era
  3. History on Foot: DC Children’s Hospital
Share

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Comments
Comment by a few blocks over on February 8, 2012 @ 8:41 am

Looking at “Lost Washington, DC” Lecture and Book Signing by John DeFerrari Wednesday, February 29, 2012 6:30pm – 8:00pm German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA 719 6th Street, NW Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown

Join DCPL for a lecture by author John DeFerrari as he discusses his writings from his book Lost Washington, DC and blog Streets of Washington,which explores the fascinating stories behind some of the city’s nineteenth and twentieth century buildings and the people associated with them. Many buildings have been demolished or altered beyond recognition, others remain to remind us of the special history and development of our great city.

The lecture will be followed by a reception and book signing with an opportunity to meet the author.

$15 for DCPL Members $25 for Non-members

Click Here To Register Today! Or visit us at http://www.dcpreservation.org

Comment by Jerry A. McCoy on February 8, 2012 @ 2:04 pm

Please do not dismiss the incredible local history resources available at the DC Public Library’s Washingtoniana Division and Peabody Room…just because you have to visit them in person!

Comment by Urbaniste on February 10, 2012 @ 1:57 am

Why was Lansburgh’s Department Store not on your list? It started on 7th Street and then expanded in two phases to 8th Street in the 1900s; its offices (above where Austin Grill now is) were in the Busch Building on E. That building predated the 8th Street expansion. The store’s stable for horses and carriages was across 8th Street in the building between The Lexington and the Pepco substation that we fondly called The Stables Art Center when arts organizations, a photographer, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities moved there during the 1980s.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Search

Archives

  • June 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • Recent Comments

      • Take A 10-question Survey To Tell The Downtown DC BID About Your Vision For Gallery Place-Chinatown
        Terrie Chan said: Chinatown...(more)
      • Penn Quarter CVS In Lansburgh Building Closing This Month (435 8th St NW)
        Natalie said: Oh, CVS, you will be missed by us. Last...(more)
      • Penn Quarter Paul Now Fully Closed (801 Penn Ave NW)
        Jo-Ann neuhaus said: Thank you for being out and reporting on opened and...(more)
      • Residents Meet With DC Council At Roundtable Regarding On-Street Musician Noise
        Joan Eisenstodt said: Woohoo. Sorry I was away...(more)
      • Uniqlo Opening On F St In Two Days (1090 F St NW)
        GalleryPlaceGal said: They are open for 6 months; looking for a larger store...(more)
      • Hen Quarter Restaurant Now Open (750 E St NW)
        TC said: After seeing this posting (thx!) we tried HQ the next day. Have to say...(more)
      • Weschler’s Auctioneers & Appraisers Moving To The Suburbs
        Xena said: This is my old office…we just moved a few...(more)
      • Hen Quarter Plans To Open In Old Austin Grill Space (750 E St NW)
        pqresident said: Thanks @Christina and @Jen for the updates!(more)
      • Hen Quarter Plans To Open In Old Austin Grill Space (750 E St NW)
        Jen said: Yep. They are training the staff all next week...(more)
      • Hen Quarter Plans To Open In Old Austin Grill Space (750 E St NW)
        Christina said: I was told by the crew that was trying to...(more)


Copyright 2006-2023. Penn Quarter Living. All rights reserved.

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Local Links
  • Condos In PQ
  • Writers
  • Advertising
  • Commenting
  • Contact Us