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||| home ||| ||| The New Emporium and Restaurant ||| This advert for the opening of the Co-operative Building appeared in the Huddersfield Weekly Examiner, 29 May 1937. THE NEW EMPORIUM AND RESTAURANT
To be officially opened at 2-30 p.m. TODAY by SIR WILLIAM B (President Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd.) Chairman ALDERMAN A. S. MOULTON, J.P. (President, Huddersfield Industrial Society Ltd.) THE Huddersfield Industrial Society's new premises are a notable addition to the town's main street. But not only does the new building lend distinction to Buxton Road and the top of East Parade, it gives the town of Huddersfield a store that is entirely modern in design and equipped on the most up-to-date lines-a store of which the townspeople generally, and co-operators in particular, can be proud. Modern Trend of Architecture The extensions follow the modern trend in architecture, simple yet effective in design, with the maximum use made of horizontal lines. The most striking feature of the building is undoubtedly the window space. The large show windows on the street level make an. impressive sight, and so, too, do the horizontal strips along the front of the building and the three long "columns" of glass at the East Parade corner. The same horizontal "lines" of windows are also to be found at the rear of the premises, so that the whole store is exceptionally well lighted. The new emporium covers an area of approximately 7,000 square feet, and is a four-story building, with a large basement. There is an entrance in Buxton Road next to the adjoining building, and another at the East Parade corner, covered with a large cantilevered canopy. There is a neon sign over each of these entrances. To come to the general lay-out of the store, the first feature that calls for special mention is a 90ft. long arcade on the ground floor, extending from East Parade to the Buxton Road entrance. Flanked by attractive window displays, this arcade which is 7ft. wide, strikes a modern note, and is one of the things that help to make the store the "show place" that it is. It will eventually be continued through the old premises to Princess Street. Near the Buxton Road entrance, just inside the old building, there is a passenger lift which goes to all floors, including the basement, and on the other side there is a goods hoist which also serves all floors, and is connected with a loading dock which Is being erected at the East Parade end. In addition to the passenger lift, a wide, well-lighted staircase leads from the entrance hall in Buxton Road to the third floor. The staircase, which, like the arcade, is a noteworthy feature of the has building, is finished in polished Krema marble, and at the first turn there is an attractive looking showcase There is also a staircase leading from the Buxton Road entrance hall to the basement, and there is an emergency staircase on the East Parade side which is lighted by one long window, 37ft. high by l2ft. wide. The Departments Visited Now for a look round the new store, To begin with there is the basement, where the heavy draperies are to be found. This is the largest department in the store and it has been entirely fitted out by the Huddersfield Industrial Society Works Department. The ground floor, which has entrances from Buxton Road, and the East Parade corner (where there is a revolving door), contains the ladies' outfitting and haberdashery department, and the first floor is occupied by the Hall of Fashion and the ladies' hairdressing salon. The Hall of Fashion Is a veritable feminine paradise, with its handsome show cases finished in natural oak, which contrasts effectively with the deep cream walls, and with its revolving model on a circular base in which lights are concealed. The large show cases are of special design, with doors that slide back to provide full accessibility, and with movable racks which will hold as many as 200 gowns. In the hair dressing department, which is conveniently situated on the first floor, there are eight cubicles and a small but comfortable and well-appointed lounge. In passing it may be noted that from the first floor landing, access is provided to the furnishing department in the old premises. Restaurant and Concert Hall Going forward to the second floor, we come to the new restaurant, a large, well-lighted, rectangular room, In which the oak panelling around the walls, and a colour scheme of cream relieved with orange and pale green strike a pleasing note. Five massive columns encased in walnut, and with fibrous plaster cups containing concealed lighting, are a distinctive feature of the restaurant, the main part of which occupies an area of 3,700 square feet There are also two small rooms - a ladies' room and a private dining room-and one portion of the main restaurant, which has a seating capacity of 292, can be divided into two further rooms-one 1,200 ft. in area and the other 600ft.-by means of an ingeniously contrived sliding and folding screen of Australian walnut, beautifully figured. Provision has also been made in the cafe for an ice cream and milk bar. The smoke room has been held over pending the pulling down of the old kitchen. On the third floor are the new kitchens, splendidly equipped, well ventilated, well lighted and what is what is likely to be in great demand, a medium-sized hall suitable for concerts, dances, meetings, parties, and similar gatherings. The hall has a seating capacity of 350 and is fitted with a platform which has concealed lighting, and adjoining which is a small ante-room. As in the restaurant, the main colour scheme is cream, with natural oak panelling round the walls: the ceiling has a large lay light, glazed with Georgian wired glass, and there is a wood mosaic floor which is excellent, for dancing. On this floor there is also a kitchen staff dining room, and above the kitchen there is a vegetable store which is served by the goods hoist. It might be mentioned here that roller shutters completely shut off the ground door after business hours, leaving the stair case open to the restaurant and hall. The Clerk of Works for the extension is Mr. F. Tattersall, of Huddersfield, and the general contractors and architects are the Co-operative Wholesale Society. The building is warmed by electric panel heating, which has been supplied and fixed by Richard Crittall, Ltd., of Liverpool, and the whole of the cooking equipment for the restaurant has been supplied by the Huddersfield Gas Department. Empire Stone jambs and mullions to windows have been supplied by the Empire Stone Company, and other stonework by Joe Shaw and Sons, Ltd., Old Park Quarries, Crosland Hill. The tiling is by W. Fisher and Sons. (Tilers), Ltd., Lord Street; the concreting and asphalting by John Cooke and Son (Huddersfield), Ltd.; the patent roof glazing by W. H. Heywood, Ltd., Bay Hall, and the Rolador shutters have been, installed by Haskin's, of London. |
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