Kansas City's Jesse Clyde ("J.C.") Nichols (1880-1950). A major real estate developer of the early 20th century, he started work on his Country Club District in 1906. It would become the nation's largest planned community built by a single developer. 
Photo from Wikipedia / Julian Felsenburgh

Nichols envisaged a suburban commercial center for his affluent Country Club development and began buying land for the same in 1907. The first structure built for COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA, the Suydam ["Soo-dam"] Building, was completed in March 1923. 
Photo from State Historical Society of Missouri / J.C. Nichols Company Scrapbook

The building's major tenant, and its namesake, the opulent Suydam Decorating Company furniture store.
Photo from State Historical Society of Missouri / J.C. Nichols Company Scrapbook

Among ten tenants leasing space in the Suydam Building was Mrs. Chisholm's Millinery & Sport Togs. 
Photo from State Historical Society of Missouri / J.C. Nichols Company Scrapbook