The Boston Store building in the 700 block of State Street did not always look the way it does now.

In this image from around 1900, it appears as though it might be a holiday, with flags in the 2nd story windows and everyone all lined up outside. Might there have been a parade passing by? We can only imagine. This photo has been restored and colorized.

The business started out as Erie Dry Goods and Millinery on Peach Street, and moved to a spacious three-story structure in the 700 block of State Street in 1886 after the store went bankrupt and was purchased by local businessman Elisha H. Mack.

He renamed it the Boston Store, because he thought of Boston as a cultured city and fashion center and wanted his store in Erie to convey that sort of image.

The Boston Store operated successfully on State Street and continued to grow and acquire more land on the 700 block. In 1931 a brand new modern six-story department store opened. This vibrant, popular multi-dimensional business owned a hefty share downtown shopping until it closed permanently in July 1979.

This photo postcard shows two of the three streets where the Boston Store had frontage, State Street and West 8th Street. The Peach Street entrance is not visible.

The massive building sat vacant from its closing for years until it was turned into an apartment building. There was a point when locals worried that their beloved Boston Store might meet its demise with the wrecking ball, but fortunately that did not happen.

Here is what the Boston Store looks like now.

This view was taken from inside of the Voodoo Lounge, one of the businesses located inside of this mighty structure. The marble pillars are all still place, but their decorative wrappings have been removed. These pillars are apparent in the photo below showing the first floor of the Boston Store, image credit to the Hagen History Center.