allaire expanded the howell works company store in 1835 by constructing a new four-story brick building at a cost of $7,000 to house the steadily expanding range of goods for sale. the store's goods included meat, fish and dairy products stored in the basement; hardware, flour, coffee, wine, liquor, groceries, ironware and other goods on the ground floor; and a wide range of furniture to suit buyers of different means on the second floor. the top floor held bulk items and was also used a storage area. the store also contained the howell works post office, an apothecary, and an early example of a soda fountain. customers came from miles around to shop there. at this time, the store may have been the largest in the entire state of new jersey.