Though founded in 1867, Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Co.
moved across the street to occupy the former location
of J. N. Adam & Co. in 1960
Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Co. (A M & A's) (1867)389 Main Street
Buffalo, New York
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY
Basement
A M & A Budget Store
First Floor
Fine Jewelry • Costume Jewelry • Handbags • Gloves • Fashion Accessories • Notions • Cosmetics • Blouses • Sweaters • Stationery • Candy Bakery • Men's Accessories • Men's Furnishings • Men's Sportswear
Second Floor
Thrift Sportswear • Thrift Dresses • Thrift Coats • Thrift Shoes • Beauty Salon • Fabrics • Art Needlework • Sewing Machines • Books • Records • Men's Clothing • Young Executive • Red Carpet Shop • Men's Shoes • Men's Hats • Scoreboard
Third Floor
Infants' Shop • Toddler's Shop • Girls' Wear • Girls' Lingerie • Boys' Wear • Children's Accessories • Children's Shoes • Young Juniors • Junior Sportswear • Junior Dresses • Junior Coats • Junior Shoes • Functional Juniors • Junior Lingerie
Fourth Floor
Moderate Sportswear • Misses' Dresses • Misses' Coats • Misses' Suits • Women's World • Trendsetter SportswearvTrendsetter Dresses • Miss Adam Sportswear • Miss Adam Dresses • Better Coats • The Crystal Room • Millinery • Fur Salon • Bridal Salon • Shoe Salon • Lingerie • Loungewear • Robes • Foundations • Better Lingerie
Fifth Floor
Floor Coverings • Rugs • Oriental Rugs • Draperies • Curtains • Linens • Bath Shop • Pictures • Lamps • Televisions • Radios • Stereos
Sixth Floor
China • Glassware • Silver • Gifts • Table Linens • Housewares • Small Appliances • The Kitchen • Major Appliances • Toys • Sporting Goods
Seventh Floor
Furniture • Sleep Shop
Eighth Floor
Yankee Room • Grill Room • Customer Service
BRANCH STORES
Main St. at Kenmore Ave.
Sheridan Plaza (1949)
Sheridan Dr. at Delaware Rd.
Amherst
Airport Plaza (1949)Cheektowaga
Southgate Plaza (1961)Seneca St. at Union Rd.
West Seneca
100,000 sq. ft.
Cheektowaga
Eastern Hills (1972)
Clarence
Lockport Mall (1974)
Lockport
Olean Center Mall (1976)
Olean
There was a branch in L.B. Smith Plaza (later Abbott Road Plaza) in Lackawanna. Anyone have a photo of this strore or of the original L.B. Smith Plaza?
ReplyDeleteThe University Plaza location closed and relocated to the Northtown Plaza in the early 1980's (taking a former Hens & Kelly store). This is the location shown labeled as the Sheridan store (there is no photo shown of Sheridan). Also had locations at Summit Park Mall, McKinley and Walden Galleria in the Buffalo region. AM&A's was sold to Bon-Ton in the early 1990's and many are still open (Sheridan, Southgate, Eastern Hills, Lockport, Olean, McKinley) as Bon-Ton. I think Summit closed very recently. Not the same as the old AM&A's though. Bon-Ton has invested nothing in their stores and have let some of their best locations close. There are no locations in towns of Amherst or Cheektowaga where the most successful malls (Boulevard & Galleria) are located.
ReplyDeleteDear Frank:
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping me clear up a confusion. I have posted a different image of the Sheridan store. I polan to cover Hens & Kelly separately.
Bruce
There were ten locations of AM&A's when The Bon Ton purchased the company in 1994:
ReplyDeleteDowntown - closed 1995
Sheridan Plaza**
Southgate Plaza**
Eastern Hills Mall**
Lockport Mall**
Summit Park Mall**
Olean Mall**
Northtown Plaza - closed 2007
McKinley Mall**
Walden Galleria - closed 2006
** - locations still operating
Bon Ton has also opened a location at the Chautauqua Mall in Jamestown, but that was long after AM&A's was gone.
That picture is correctly the Sheridan & Delaware store. The Northtown Plaza store was a perfect square with an entrance on each side in the middle. I have the original company watercolor of the store and can scan it for you.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankee Room on the eighth floor was originally the Yankee Doodle Room. WBEN radio used to broadcast their lunch hour show from there. I remember going to see the animated windows around Christmas and they changed every year. That was the anticipation as the windows before Thanksgiving were covered with brown paper. You could also have your purchases from there (or many of the other stores) sent home by Downtown Merchants Delivery.
ReplyDeleteI lived on Union Road near the Airport Plaza from 1946 to 1957. I remember shopping at their store & the Christmas decorations in the windows. That was the 1st place I remember sitting on Santa's lap & telling him my Christmas list. In my memory keepsake box is my Father's metal charge card from there. It is about the size of a military dog tag. They were the original charge cards of today.
ReplyDeleteMy father Leo McClanahan was the Shoe Buyer for all shoe departments of AM&A's. Every year we had a picnic in our back yard in Kenmore for all the shoe employees (130-150 people). We had a professional Bingo caller, tons of gifts, plenty of good food and drinks and lots of fun for all! Great memories of getting all dressed up to ride the bus downtown to visit my father at work.
ReplyDeletethe yankee doodle room does any one remember the dish pattern they used , it was a restaurant quality dish but did it have dogwood flowers or green ivy on them, i worked downtown in 70-75 i miss it so much or maybe i miss being single and carefree.
ReplyDeleteDo you know anything about the Parkside Candy Shop in Buffalo? My dad worked there as a teenager making fountain drinks in the early 40's. I visited it in the 70's and was impressed by how beautiful it was, art deco! I wonder if it still exists.
ReplyDelete'used to go to AM&A's in Buffalo with my parents when I was a kid about 6-7 years old in Northtown Plaza around 1963.
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking AM&A's was fancy but Sattlers was more fun. I thought Park Edge was like the Jetsons city with its curved roof.
I still love the music from back then and listen to it all the time.
remember the xmas window displays downtown
ReplyDeleteTHE BEAUTY SHOP WAS ON THE THIRD FLOOR...AND GIFT WRAP ACROSS FROM IT. YOU COULD FIND GIRL SCOUT UNIFORMS AND HANDBOOKS ON THIS FLOOR AS WELL.
ReplyDeleteLOVED THIS STORE....THE OWNERS WERE GENTLEMEN AND TREATED THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL.
No one seems to remember or believe that the Dealware Sheridan location was originally a single floor. Later the second floor was added. Until the outside was painted an observer could discern a slight difference in the brick.
ReplyDeletei have recently come across an AM&M Buffalo Ramlin Fur coat, thought to be from the 30's, don't know the fur (guessed buffalo but now that i know it's from buffalo i'm second thinking!), and a GREAT cut! big bell sleeves and big shoulders and down to the knees. i haven't found any information on the recent value of this vintage item. can anyone shine a light?
ReplyDeleteMy mother and stepfather were managers and buyers for Consolidated Millinery, which operated the hat and wig department of the downtown store until the closing in 1994. Their office was across the street in a small, old, kinda creepy office. There was a SUPER creepy tunnel that went under the street to the building and an old freight elevator. It was so cool. I was in my early twenties and worked for the fine jewelry office, which was also incredibly small, but loved the job. I will always remember AM&As and still have them on my resume to this day! (and still working in merchandising in dept stores!)
ReplyDeleteMy son recently broke one of my AM&A's commemorative Buffalo glasses (tumbler). Anyone know where I might find one? I have tried googling...nothing. I am very sad at it's loss. It was very sad also to loose such a wonderful institution as AM&As. They cared for the workers and the customers...not like today. joyous1952...Buffalo born.
ReplyDeleteI remember getting Beatle 45s and Boy Scout merchandise at the AM&A's in the L.B. Smith Plaza(later, Abbott Road Plaza). Was a lovely plaza at the time.
ReplyDeleteMy first job was at AM&A's Sheridan Plaza as a "checker" making sure people trying on things went into the dressing rooms with three items and came out with the same number. Also worked in the Budget Dept in the basement and the Girl Scout Dept. I worked in the Advertising Dept in the downtown store as a copywriter for the ads, earning a whopping $2.00 an hour. Yankee Doodle Room for lunch. Good memories of their generous, delicious Julienne Salad. Best memory was the Christmas windows each year! A fine place to work.
ReplyDelete