<P> Arnold Constable was the first American department store . It was founded in 1825 by Aaron Arnold ( 1794 ? -- 1876 ) , an emigrant from Great Britain , as a small dry goods store on Pine Street in New York City . In 1857 the store moved into a five - story white marble dry goods palace known as the Marble House . During the Civil War , Arnold Constable was one of the first stores to issue charge bills of credit to its customers each month instead of on a bi-annual basis . Recognized as an emporium for high - quality fashions , the store soon outgrew the Marble House and erected a cast - iron building on Broadway and Nineteenth Street in 1869 ; this `` Palace of Trade '' expanded over the years until it was necessary to move into a larger space in 1914 . In 1925 , Arnold , Constable merged with Stewart & Company and expanded into the suburbs , first with a 1937 store in New Rochelle , New York and later in Hempstead and Manhasset on Long Island , and in New Jersey . Financial problems led to bankruptcy in 1975 . </P>
<P> Arnold Constable was the first American department store . It was founded in 1825 by Aaron Arnold ( 1794 ? -- 1876 ) , an emigrant from Great Britain , as a small dry goods store on Pine Street in New York City . In 1857 the store moved into a five - story white marble dry goods palace known as the Marble House . During the Civil War , Arnold Constable was one of the first stores to issue charge bills of credit to its customers each month instead of on a bi-annual basis . Recognized as an emporium for high - quality fashions , the store soon outgrew the Marble House and erected a cast - iron building on Broadway and Nineteenth Street in 1869 ; this `` Palace of Trade '' expanded over the years until it was necessary to move into a larger space in 1914 . In 1925 , Arnold , Constable merged with Stewart & Company and expanded into the suburbs , first with a 1937 store in New Rochelle , New York and later in Hempstead and Manhasset on Long Island , and in New Jersey . Financial problems led to bankruptcy in 1975 . </P>
what was the first department store to open in the united states
what was the first department store to open in the united states
Arnold Constable
Arnold Constable