The famous Saks Fifth Avenue sits just south of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. It is one of the few remaining grand New York City department stores. Its Christmas windows are an enduring and entertaining tradition for children of all ages. Saks Fifth Avenue was created by Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel, who operated independent retail stores in Herald Square. Their combined wealth enabled them to purchase a site between 49th and 50th streets on upper Fifth Avenue, then owned by the Democratic Club and the Buckingham Hotel. In 1924 when it opened, it was one of the first department stores to open in a residential district. Saks became known for it quality men's and women's fashions and its customer services. Street windows displayed luxury items including raccoon coats and foot muffs for automobile travel. An electric-lighting system signaled chauffeurs when to pick up patrons. Adam Gimbel (Bernard's cousin) became Horace Saks' assistant. When Horace Saks died in 1926, Adam Gimbel became President of Saks Fifth Avenue. He redecorated the entire flagship store in the Art Moderne style from the 1925 Paris Exposition. A series of specialty shops was opened within the store. In 1926, it opened its first branch in Palm Beach, Florida. Saks became — and still is — one of the world's best department stores.
St. Patrick (b. England 390 – d. Ireland 461) was a bishop, and is the patron saint of Ireland. As a youth, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates. It is not known where he studied for the priesthood, although he knew and wrote Latin. He organized the Irish Church in Armagh and encouraged the Irish to become nuns and monks. He expelled the snakes from Ireland (there are no Irish snakes). Patrick explained the Trinity (God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost) by using the Irish shamrock. His feast day is March 17th.
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