Marston's (department store)

The Golden Era magazine carried an ad that proclaimed Marston's as the "leading dry goods house of San Diego.

"[1] Marston started his merchandising career in 1870 at age 20 as an assistant bookkeeper in Aaron Pauly's store and wharf office.

He then clerked for one year for Mr. Joseph Nash, who advertised his grocery, dry goods and clothing storestore as "the cheapest ... in the city".

In 1873, Marston and his best friend and fellow clerk at Pauly's, Charles Hamilton, bought Nash's business and operated it together.

This four-story building featured wide aisles, an open court from the ground floor to the roof, and a novelty–an elevator.

[3] In 1907, Marston's made $15,000 (~$358,213 in 2023) in improvements to its store, turning the third floor stockroom into 5,000 square feet (460 m2) of additional selling space, which was used for ladies' underwear and hosiery, and for dressing rooms.