Hutzler Brothers Palace Building, building in the United States of America
The Hutzler Brothers Palace Building is a historic department store in Baltimore, Maryland, constructed of Nova Scotia gray stone with Romanesque Revival design features. The five-story structure with three distinctive bays was built in 1888 and later expanded with a southern section, then updated in 1931 with an Art Moderne ground floor facade.
The Hutzler family began a small shop in 1858 at the corner of Howard and Clay streets, which brothers Abram, Charles, and David expanded into a major department store. The current Palace building opened in 1888 and served as the flagship store for over 130 years until closing in 1990.
The building served as a gathering place where shoppers did more than purchase goods. Inside, visitors could dine at restaurants, visit a beauty salon, or use shoe repair services, making it a social hub beyond retail.
The historic building sits on North Howard Street in downtown Baltimore and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors can admire the exterior facade and observe the architectural details from different periods that reflect the structure's evolution.
The store pioneered a one-price policy in 1868, where customers paid a fixed amount without bargaining. This revolutionary practice made shopping fairer and more transparent at a time when price negotiation was common.
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