WHITCOMBE & TOMBS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1714, 3 April 1913, Page 3

WHITCOMBE & TOMBS.

♦ BUSINESS PREMISES RESTORED. > Although it is only a little over seven months since Aiessrs. Whitcombo and Tombs's premises, 011 Lauibton Quay, were the sceno of a disastrous fire, 11*10 building lias already been fully restored, and the work of re-establishing tho big bookshop and tile other departments of the business upon a-moro elaborate scalo than ever is well 011 towards completion. The shop, indeed,- lias already been thrown open to the public, but tho work of arranging show-cases and other ir.ternal iittmgs, is still in progress. Tho lire of August last spared little more than tho four outer walls, and the whole internal structure of the building lias been renewed. No expense has been spared in effecting a complete renovation and restoration as regards both the building itself and its elaborate internal fittings. Tho verandah and the front windows have been restored pretty much as they existed formerly! The big dis--1 play winitows, which have always been a notable feature of Whitcombe and Tombs's, have been again equipped with a great array of plate-glass shelves and handsome metal fittings. Advantage has been taken of tho rebuilding to remodel the internal arrangements of tho establishment. The offices have' been removed from the ground floor to the lloor above, thus making the shop 011 tile ground lloor much more commodious than formerly. A great part' of tho lirst tloor is also to bo utilised tiencelovth as part of the retail shop, ra that Messrs. W'hitcombe and Tombs should bo easily able, in their restored premises, to eelips-J all their' previous displays of books, • leather, and fancy goods, and tho other articles in which they conduct a retail trade. : Another' improvement which should commend itself to patrons is the provision of a public, writing-room, which is now being erected on tho first floor. When it is completed it will be available for the use of customers who havo letters to write. Tho wholesale departments will henceforth bo restricted to the two upper floors of tho building; The demolition of tho house in Boulcott Terrace, formerly occupied by Sir John Fiudlay, is now in progress. Upon this site Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs aro'to ercct a factory which will bo connected with the back of their main building by a concrete bridge. Tho ground-floor, shop with its handsomely ornamented plaster ceiling and. long rows of wall-cases and shov,--eases, presents a very attractive appcarance. It is light and airy, and tho show-cases and counters are alt of them bcautiiully designed and;iihished. The removal of the offices mokes a great deal of extra ileor space available, and this> has made it possible to abolish the narrow and tortuous alley-ways between tho cases I through which book-lovers were wont to pick a devious way when tho shop was last open to tho public. By many peoplo intent 011 book-hunting, tho nooks and comers which existed in the old shop wero regarded as favoured retreats, but probably most customers will prefer the new arrangement of broad aisles and' commodious passage-ways, which will make it possible to' view any part of the stock in comfort and case. In preparation for the re-openihg of thein establishment, Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs havo procured a brand-new stock in all departments of their business. A splendid array of books already occupies the shelves and eases, and leather ami l'ancy goods, stationery, and tho various other articles in which the firm conduels a retail trade have also been provided 111 rich array. Tho big shop 011 the Quay has always been «, placo of manifold attractions, and .of as numerous temptations to the purchaser, and now tho wholo of its former features hove been not merely duplicated, but much improved. Tho Tetoil section is bigger, more handsomely fitted, moro convenient, and belter stocked than it lias ovor beon before. So much has been accomplished, indeed, that it is difficult to beliovo that seven months ago the wholo placo was a blackened ruin. The first flopr, to which henceforth tho public in uearcli of books and other goods will havo access, is not yet so far advanced towards completion as tho main shop, but enough has been douo to showthat here, as on the floor below, ample facilities will be supplied for tho display of goods and for tho convenience of customers. I The restoration of tho building was carried out by Messrs. Campbell and Burlce, and the architoot employed to superintend the work was Mr. W. Turnbull,