G. Fox & Company, the legendary Hartford department store, was founded as a fancy goods store in 1847 by Gerson Fox. It was later expanded into a department store under the leadership of his son, Moses Fox, and then his granddaughter, Beatrice Fox Auerbach (1887–1968). After renting space during its early years, G. Fox built the first building of its own on Main Street in Hartford in 1880-1881. Damaged during a fire in the Averill building next door in 1887, four years later Moses Fox purchased the building that had replaced the Averill for his expanding store. A devastating fire destroyed the G. Fox properties along Main Street on January 29, 1917. The store soon rebuilt, constructing a grand eleven-story building, designed by Cass Gilbert, the leading master of the Neoclassical Revival style. In the 1930s, Beatrice Fox Auerbach updated the store’s interiors in the Art Deco style and added the prominent Art Deco marquee to the front of the building. G. Fox closed its doors in 1993 but, a decade later, the building found new use as the home of Capitol Community College.
This building brings back many memories of taking classes at G.Fox, attending Fashion shows, meeting many of the top models of the day when they taught classes on beauty and make-up in the auditorium on the 11th floor. Then I remember visiting Santa in that same room when I was much younger.
Truly an iconic building in the City’s history and a good memory to every person who lived in the Hartford area.
would love to see the menus from the lunch counter and the connecticut room. my father was an executive there and knew Mrs. Auerbach personally. Thanks.