1950s Urban Mexico Department Store Photo Album

[Mexico Photography] A vintage 1950s photo album showcasing the urbanization of Mexico through the development of Sanborns Department store. Mexico City, 1953. Included are 35 large black and white silver gelatin photographs. Each photograph measures 10" x 8". Spiral-bound on the broad white border margin, hardcover black leather boards measure 12" x 9.5". Sanborns is a chain of stores established in Mexico in 1903. Sanborns opened a four-story, $5 million store in 1953 on Mexico City's posh Paseo de la Reforma, next to the U.S. embassy. This vast store included, besides their standard restaurant and soda fountain, "a large drug department, cosmetics, (truncated) clothing and accessories, household goods, arts and crafts, photographic equipment and supplies, and a bakery". Additionally, it included a plush cocktail lounge. This photo album captures what appears to be the grand opening of the store. Two photographs display the exterior of the building, revealing it's large-scale and modern architecture. Several photographs capture an blend of modernity and elegance, as a plush cocktail lounge decorated in leather seats. In one photograph, waitresses dressed in matching white dresses and hats observe two men as they prepare cocktails for patrons. Several photographs also capture various departments, including the dolls, vases, beauty, magazines, and more. Each room is meticulously stocked with merchandise, most items housed behind glass cases. In one photograph, nine women pose in traditional Mexican dresses in the cocktail lounge. Several photos capture a lively gathering in the cocktail lounge, with both White and Mexican patrons filling the room. They are seen in elegant dresses, posh suits, and bold accessories. The guests pose for photos, drink, and converse around the packed room. Sanborns remains a lead department store in Mexico, showcasing the impactful nature of this conceptual development. Front cover is separated from the rest of the album. This photo album is expressive and in very good condition, overall. (Inventory #: 19931)