Browns
Browns of Chester was established in the late 18th century by Susannah Brown, as a small millinery and haberdashery shop in Eastgate Street. In 1828, the firm opened a fashionable department store just to the west of the original shop, on the site of the medieval Honey Steps. 
The severe Greek Revival building was much admired at a time when classical styles were the predominant fashion, and Thomas Harrison's great neo-classical buildings at Chester Castle were only just finished. Eastgate Street was already being compared to London's Regent Street for the quality of its shopping, and Browns became known as the 'Harrod's of the North'.
In 1858 Browns caused another sensation, when the architect T M Pension expanded the store. Pension was the pioneer of Chester's Victorian timber framed revival, but here he chose sandstone and an imposing Early English Gothic style to harmonise with the medieval undercroft, over which it was built.
The contrast in styles between the early 19th century building and Penson's Crypt Building is remarkable, and shows just how architecural taste had swung from the classical to the revival in just 30 years.
Rebuilding on the south side of Easgate Street transformed the character of the Row, which became a broad promenade with raised ceiling to give a lighter and more salubrious air. Permanent display cases were erected in the wide Row stalls.