The six-story tall, buff brick building is predominantly cubical with a frontage of 145 feet (44 m) along State Street.

The bay containing the main entrance is off-centered and wider than the others; instead of a parapet, it is capped with a balcony-like structure inlaid with terracotta.

[3] The "signature exterior feature of the Boston Store" is the four sided, 40-foot (10 m) bell and clock tower situated over the main entrance.

[4] The design of the clock tower "recalls religious, civic, and collegiate themes, and became an instant landmark on the Erie skyline.

"[4] Each of the four clock faces are 12 feet (4 m) in diameter and have "black metal Roman numerals [on] a background of white translucent glass panels".

[6] Lettering on the marquees denote the building as the BOSTON STORE and ERIE DRY GOODS CO. For a short time in early 2011, the signs were replaced with ones for University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, before public sentiment forced the switch back.

[11] From 1949 to 1953, renovations and expansion of the Boston Store were carried out by the local architectural firm Myers & Krider.

[13] The iHeartMedia radio stations 1330 WFNN, 1400 WJET, 104.9 WRKT, 94.7 WXBB, 93.9 WTWF, and 103.7 WRTS broadcast from the building, and the minimal local operations of 95.9 WEBG, based across the border in Mina, New York, are also housed there.