E. T. Slattery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Founder | Ellen T. Slattery |
| Defunct | 1957 |
| Fate | Closed |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Key people | P. A. O'Connell (president) |
| Products | Upscale apparel and accessories for women, children, and men |
E. T. Slattery was a distinguished clothing retailer based in downtown Boston during the 19th and 20th centuries. The establishment specialized in upscale apparel and accessories for women, children, and men.
The business was initiated by Ellen T. Slattery in 1867, notable for being a female founder at a time when this was uncommon. Initially situated on Hayward Place near Washington Street, the store later relocated several times: first to 631 Tremont Street, then to Boylston Street, followed by 84 Beacon Street, and ultimately settling at 156 Tremont Street across from Boston Common in 1901, where it operated until its closure in 1957.
In 1908, P. A. O'Connell, a seasoned Boston retail professional and former co-owner of the Magrane Houston department store, assumed the role of the company's long-serving president.
By 1913, the store expanded its footprint to occupy all five floors of 158 Tremont Street. During the 1930s, Slattery's had grown to encompass three contiguous buildings.
The summer of 1916 saw the opening of a branch in Magnolia, Massachusetts on Cape Ann, housed in a custom-designed building at the corner of Lexington and Hesperus Avenues to serve seasonal resort visitors. Embracing a strategy of expansion through branches, P. A. O'Connell oversaw additional locations opening in affluent suburbs: one in Wellesley during the early 1920s, and another in Coolidge Corner within Brookline in April 1927. The Wellesley store relocated to a larger premises in November 1940, while the company maintained strong performance throughout the 1940s.
Nevertheless, the 1950s brought challenges common to many urban retailers as customer traffic shifted toward suburban shopping centers. The Brookline branch closed in January 1957 due to high rental costs and inadequate parking facilities. The entire company ceased operations by June of that year. Subsequently, the original buildings were demolished, and in 1968, the Tremont on the Common high-rise apartment complex was constructed on their former site.
External links
- Clifford, W. G. (February 1910). "Applying Psychology to Retail: The Practical and Profitable Methods of Slattery's in Boston". Sheldon's Business Philosopher: The Magazine of Practical Business Building. 6. Libertyville, Illinois: Sheldon University Press: 99–101. Retrieved December 31, 2016.