The Surrey
1953 - 1981
BiographySurrey was a women’s clothing store at 519 Grant Street in the Union Trust building. Surrey was started by Walter Blattner, a German immigrant who came to the States when he was 15. After opening the downtown location in 1953, he opened a second location on Walnut Street in Shadyside in 1955. In 1964, he moved the downtown location to Oliver Avenue and Liberty Avenue in the former Jonasson’s Building, but still kept a small store on Grant Street. The downtown location was more upscale than the Shadyside one. When he opened the Shadyside location in the mid-1950s the neighborhood was known more for art boutiques and college bars, but not chic clothing so the store was more of a gamble. He then bought or built many buildings and complexes on Walnut Street. The downtown store closed in 1981. Blattner passed away in 1989.
