McHugh Furnishings History

McHugh Furnishings takes pride in its history of delivering high-quality furnishings over the years throughout the New York Metropolitan area.

The Popular Shop

In 1878, Joseph P. McHugh (1854-1916) established his business, The Popular Shop, in a small space within his father’s 8th Avenue store.

Two years later, he opened his own shop at 912 5th Avenue near 52nd Street. By 1884, he had established an even larger store at the corner of 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. At this point, McHugh began offering a complete range of interior design products.

Mr. McHugh was also the self-proclaimed originator of Mission-style furniture in America. His keen sense of popular taste brought him to the forefront of the American Arts & Crafts movement in the early 20th century.

The Arts and Crafts Movement

Mr. McHugh was a “highly motivated and prolific manufacturer whose success helped popularize the Arts and Crafts movement in America.”

Joseph P. McHugh & Co. was the first American firm to mass-produce Mission-style furnishings. His production and marketing skills allowed McHugh to set the standard for American Arts & Crafts taste. As the preference for Mission-style furnishings eventually waned, McHugh quickly transitioned to other furnishing styles.

In a 1915 article on McHugh and the history of The Popular Shop, Decorative Furniture described the manufacturer and his ambitions:

“He is literally a human dynamo; work is his food, and he thrives on it. He can think quickly and he can act quickly. He gets an idea—never mind the source, for he takes his ideas from his daily life, from his business, from his reading, from the people he meets, from what is going on around him, from everywhere, for all is grist that comes to the mill—and it is put into operation at once. Sketches are made, plans are made, models are made, and one morning the decorative world awakes to a new kind of wall hanging…a new piece of furniture, a new color combination, or what not…That is the tally of The Popular Shop.”

Mr. McHugh advertised The Popular Shop as “an oasis of good taste” and often emphasized “The Distinction of Being Different” As its name implied, The Popular Shop focused on keeping up with the latest fashions, offering Mission-style, Colonial Revival, and willow (wicker) furniture.

In 1926, Joseph P. McHugh was succeeded by his son, James S. McHugh, who expanded the business into more extensive commercial markets.

William Francis Mulhall

It was not until 1943 that a young salesman for J.S. McHugh was offered the opportunity by the McHugh family to purchase the business. James Slattery McHugh, who had renamed the company J.S. McHugh, had just passed away, and his survivors determined that their energetic young salesman had what it took to carry on the tradition of their family business. As a result, William (Bill) Francis Mulhall became the third owner in the company’s 65-year history.

For the next 50 years, Bill honored the McHugh family tradition by leading the business with energy, integrity, and diligence.

At that time, McHugh was headquartered at 515 Madison Avenue in New York City and specialized in residential and commercial furnishings. Shortly after purchasing the company, Mr. Mulhall entered the U.S. Air Force as a navigator in the European Theater. During his service, his wife, Elise Davis Mulhall, cared for their two young children while simultaneously and effectively managing the business.

Origins in Educational Furnishings

After the war, Bill returned to Long Island and recognized the growing opportunities in educational furnishings that emerged from the post-war housing boom. Not surprisingly, one of his first sales was a projector and screen to the Levittown Union Free School District. By the 1950s, McHugh had established itself as the preeminent educational furniture contractor in Metropolitan New York by partnering with respected manufacturers such as Sheldon Laboratory Systems (now known as Diversified Casework), and Irwin Seating Company.

At that time, McHugh was headquartered at 515 Madison Avenue in New York City and focused on residential and commercial furnishings. Earlier, during Mr. Mulhall’s service in the U.S. Air Force as a navigator in the European Theater, his wife, Elise Davis Mulhall, cared for their two young children while effectively managing the business.


An Industry Legend

William (Bill) Mulhall was known throughout the industry for his hard work, humility, honesty, and determination. His impact on the educational distribution market extended far beyond New York. To this day, when the McHugh team attends national conventions, we often meet individuals who recall Bill Mulhall with warmth and graciousness.

A history of Bill would be incomplete without acknowledging his incredible sense of humor and wonderfully dry delivery. We were fortunate to be led by him, and even today, we continue to laugh as we recall— with great pride—his exceptional timing, originality, and distinctive delivery.

William Mulhall passed away in 1998, survived by his wife, Elise, his three children, and ten grandchildren. His spirit lives on at McHugh Furnishings as we strive to follow his example of hard work, humility, and honesty.

As seen in the 1938 Wiedersum Architectural Journal

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