{"product_id":"john-wanamaker-philadelphia-merchant-9781580970044","title":"John Wanamaker: Philadelphia Merchant","description":"\u003cp\u003eJohn Wanamaker played a major role in the development of American retailing and consumerism. Opening a small mens store in Philadelphia in 1861  by the turn of the century he had major department stores in his home town as well as New York  and was one of the countrys largest merchants.Wanamakers world-view had as much of an impact on American culture as his business enterprises. In the early twentieth century the downtown department store was an important attraction for a city  similar in function to a symphony orchestra or major league sports team of today. Wanamakers department store in Philadelphia acted as an anchor for the city center. Like a magnet  the store held the urban population together by providing entertainment and a setting for civic ceremonies and pageants.Wanamakers influence extended beyond the stores themselves. He provided employment for 8 000 people in Philadelphia and 7 000 in New York  offering jobs to blacks and women when they were still excluded from many businesses. He supported a 3 000 member church which ran a school  savings bank  library and employment service.John Wanamaker was a sharp businessman  and some of his methods have been criticized  but the state of Americas inner cities of his era compared to today speaks for itself. Professor Herbert Ershkowitz of Temple University has drawn upon local archives to chronicle a unique chapter in the history of American culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44891291156533,"sku":"ByrdShop_1580970044","price":241.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781580970044.jpg?v=1784745883","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/john-wanamaker-philadelphia-merchant-9781580970044","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}