Photos by Keith Brinker
thirty different departments and employed more than 200 people – including one full-time artist whose sole job was to design and create beauti- ful window displays. The building had grown to an immense 115,380 square feet and had been updated with the newest and most modern equip- ment, such as four electric elevators (two for pas- sengers and two for freight), a complex system of aluminum tubes that conveyed the money from purchases in every department down to the ca- shier’s desk for rapid, convenient service, and an overhead sprinkler system that was touted as “the most powerful fi re extinguishing device modern engineering has produced.”
In 1947, at the height of its retail success, Lau- bach’s was sold to the Allied Stores Corporation,
because you live here®
which eventually changed it into Pomeroy’s De- partment Store. A well-established Pennsylvania chain, Pomeroy’s continued to expand the build- ing throughout the 1950s and 60s by adding an additional 10,000 square feet to create its fi nal footprint. By the 1970s, however, a stagnating national economy had started to take a toll, and Pomeroy’s fell into a steady decline. Finally, in late 1976, the store closed its doors for good – ending more than 100 years of continuous retail business in the Northampton Street building.
Today, the portion of the building that once housed Laubach’s men’s department has been converted into Maxim’s 22, a classic French bistro and bras- serie operated by the owners of Easton’s Sette Luna. The old storefront display windows have
been replaced with beautiful frosted glass, while the interior has been transformed into the relaxed atmosphere of a French pub. “I’ve always been a fan of this building,” said Josh Palmer, owner of Maxim’s 22. “It has a great history and we’re thrilled to be a part of its future.”
Maxim 22’s menu features an assortment of classic French dishes as well as a raw bar, burgers, steaks, pates and quiche, while the full-service bar offers twenty-two beers on tap, an extensive list of imported and do- mestic wines and authentic French cocktails and spirits.
Continued on Pg 12 May 2013 11
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