The Big Store

In June 2012 Leavenworth will be 157 years old. One of the oldest and more historic buildings is located at the northwest corner of Fifth and Cherokee. The now vacant building was opened and described as “the most princely stock of all varieties of goods ever shown under one roof in the state of Kansas.”
Ettenson’s gigantic retail store opened to the public in April 1893, a year after the former store on that site was destroyed by fire, on April 12, 1892.
Henry Ettenson came to Leavenworth in 1868. In a classic “rags to riches” scenario he worked two years as a notions peddler. “He prospered to such an extent that he purchased a wagon and for two years more dispensed goods through Leavenworth and the adjoining country.”
Early in 1872 he opened a small store in Leavenworth and the following year moved to Fifth and Cherokee streets, making improvements and additions to the business including a $20,000 expansion. In 1888 Etttenson and B.B. Woolfe became partners.
Ettenson’s sons, Charles, Moe and Benjamin, followed their father as owner-operators of the company. The store was five floors, 100 by 150 feet
Items offered for sale included men’s and children’s ready-made clothing, hosiery and gloves; ladies’, gents’ and children’s underwear; corsets, ribbons and fancy goods; laces, embroideries and handkerchiefs; prints ginghams, lawns and children’s ready-made suits; muslin underwear, caps, wrappers, dress making, furniture and carpets, crockery and home furnishing goods.” In an advertisement it was called: “The cheapest store in Kansas.”
Tragedy struck the building a second time in 1938 when a cyclone toppled a portion of the uppermost floor into the street, claiming the life of a man seated in an automobile parked at the curb on Fifth Street.
In the late 1940s the business was sold to B. R. Phillips and operated as the B.R. Phillips Furniture Company for more than 10 years.
In 1953 Leavenworth native Leland S. “Lee” Winetroub and his wife Leona, opened Lee’s Furniture Store at the south west corner of Fifth and Cherokee. Winetroub, a World War II Army veteran and recipient of the Silver Star for valor, continued at that location until March of 1961 when the Winetroubs expanded Lee’s Furniture across Cherokee to the former Phillips Furniture Co. location. Lee died in March 1988 and his son Dale assumed management of Lee’s Furniture. Dale said the store played a special role in America’s war effort during the 1940s when parachutes were assembled on one of the upper floors. The name “The Big Store” was painted on the west wall of the building where it is still visible today.
Tragedy struck again when a water sprinkler system broke and flooded the lower level. The business failed and the building is unused today. It is hoped that somehow, someone will come along and revive the proud tradition and give new life to this historic building.
 
The author, Annie Walker Johnston (LHS Class of 1954), is a Leavenworth resident and wife of the late J.H. Johnston III, former Leavenworth Times publisher.
Copyright 2012 Leavenworth Times. Some rights reserved.

Update July 1, 2013 
Mike Lansing with Young Sign Co. removes siding Monday from the former Lee's Furniture building at Fifth and Cherokee Streets. The siding is being removed following the building's purchase by local businessman John Peterson. Peterson said the siding covered up mostly glass windows. The brick building dates back to 1892.
The building, which at one time housed Ettenson's Dry Goods store, originally stood four stories in height. The fourth story was removed after a storm damaged the top of the building in 1938, according to information provided by Peterson. 
Peterson has not yet announced his plans for the three-story building. The possibility of a boutique hotel was explored, but this is no longer being pursued.

Update September, 2016
Work continues...

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