White House Department Store and Hotel McCoy, building in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
The White House Department Store and Hotel McCoy is a seven-story 1912 building constructed with reinforced concrete and faced with marble and terra cotta in the Chicago School style. The ground floors featured large open shopping spaces with tile floors and impressive display windows, while upper levels housed hotel guest rooms.
The building opened in 1912, after the original White House Department Store that debuted in 1900 under Felix Brunschwig had thrived for a decade. This larger seven-story structure allowed the business to incorporate a hotel and significantly expand its merchandise offerings.
The building was the heart of shopping life in El Paso for decades, drawing people from across the region. It served as a social gathering place where families came together to browse the latest fashions and goods, making retail part of the city's daily rhythm.
The building is located downtown in El Paso at a central spot easily walkable on foot. Its distinctive Chicago School design with tall windows and clean lines makes it easy to spot and explore from the street.
An escalator in this building was the longest of its kind in the country when installed in the 1940s and was brought by Jake Miller, an immigrant from Philadelphia who rose to become store president. This innovation made shopping easier and signaled the city's forward momentum.
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