Wanamaker’s: Meet Me at the Eagle

Philadelphia was once the proud home of Wanamaker’s, a department store of many firsts founded by the retail giant John Wanamaker in 1861. Its name was synonymous with service, and Philadelphians still fondly remember the massive bronze eagle in the Grand Court, concerts from the world’s largest pipe organ and the spectacular Christmas festivities. Author Michael J. Lisicky takes a nostalgic journey through the history of the store from its beginnings as a haberdashery to its growth into New York and Delaware and the final poignant closing of its doors. Lisicky brilliantly combines interviews with store insiders, forgotten recipes and memories from local celebrities such as Trudy Haynes and Sally Starr to bring readers back to the soft glow of the marble atrium and the quiet elegance of the Crystal Tea Room that was Wanamaker’s.