Romeiser Building

Romeiser Building. . Peter M. Romeiser, a German immigrant and Civil War veteran, opened a small clothing store for men in 1878 that grew into a mercantile empire extending from this building to South Jackson Street in 1906. His innovative pricing policy in the retail clothing industry to sell garments at the marked price rather than to haggle proved successful. Almost immediately he twice had to expand his shop, located at what is now the western portion of this building, and then construct a larger store in 1883 that is now incorporated into this building. When the new store opened, it was one of the first businesses in Belleville to be illuminated by electric lights. A further expansion, first by lease in 1898 and then by purchase in 1904, gave Romeiser possession of the eastern part of this building, which Bernhard Martin had constructed in 1877 as a saloon, boarding house, and grocery. Romeiser added onto this building and installed a self-service elevator in 1905 that remains in the building. In this new space he introduced the sale of women's clothing. During the Depression the company sold all the property west of this building for new construction, modified the front of this building, and again became strictly a men's clothing store. Romeiser's closed in 1943. Several businesses followed into this space. The most enduring was Fredman Brothers Furniture Company, which moved into the building in 1944 and remained in business there for nearly 50 years. Schlueter Shoe Store, Belleville Antique Mall, and the Elysium banquet hall were succeeded by the Writers' Lofts and Kaskaskia Engineering Group.