In June 1795 Henry Piercy joined in partnership with a Mr. Graham in a retail venture at 406 King Street.

Piercy had come to Alexandria from Philadelphia in 1792, and operated an earthenware manufactory at 222 South Washington Street. His redware pottery "equal to any work in Philadelphia or elsewhere" was sold directly from the manufactory. Along with imported "China, Queen's Ware and Glass" his pottery was also sold from his Prince Street house prior to the opening of Piercy and Graham's shop.

The Alexandria Gazette for July 4, 1795 advertised dry goods, china and glass as being stocked by Piercy and Graham. At that time, more than twenty Alexandria merchants sold similar wares to country merchants as well as to Alexandria's rapidly expanding population of nearly 5,000 people. Piercy and Graham probably closed their shop by April 1. 1796 when "the house on King Street occupied by Captain Piercy" was offered for rent. Another retail outlet at 127 South Fairfax Street was advertised for rent later that year. Although Piercy gave up the retail business, he continued the manufacture of pottery until sometime between 1805 and his death in 1809.

A five-foot deep privy behind the King Street shop was excavated in 1974. It contained over 80 pieces of pottery of Piercy's manufacture, along with a large assortment of English creamware, pearlware and glass. Among this merchandise were found artifacts from the shop including lead merchant seals used to fasten bales of cloth and part of a folding rule.

Creamware, or "Queen’s Ware" found in the privy behind Piercy’s shop.

A bale seal found at Piercy and Graham’s shop, stamped R I Wakefield.
Impressions of coarse-woven cloth can be seen in the soft lead.