Kaufmann's

Kaufmann's was a department store that originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The store was owned in the early 20th century by Edgar J. Kaufmann, patron of the famous Fallingwater house. In the post-war years, the store became a regional chain in the eastern United States, and was last owned by Federated Department Stores. At the height of its existence, it had some 59 stores in 5 states. Formerly part of May Department Stores prior to that company's acquisition by Federated on August 30, 2005, Kaufmann's operated as part of the Filene's organization in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] On February 1, 2006, the Filene's/Kaufmann's organization was dissolved and the management of its stores was assumed by Macy's East and the new Macy's Midwest. On September 9, 2006, Macy's retired the Kaufmann's name as Federated Department Stores converted the former May Company brands to its masthead.[2] In 2015, Macy's closed and sold the iconic Pittsburgh store for redevelopment as part of the company's ongoing reorganization of its owned properties.

History

Kaufmann's was founded in Pittsburgh in 1871 by brothers Morris, Jacob, and Isaac Kaufmann as a small South Side men's store.[4] In 1877, the brothers moved downtown to a location that became known as The Big Store.[5] In the first half of the 20th century, the store was owned by Edgar J. Kaufmann.[6]

For a time Kaufmann's was the most prominent of seven department stores in downtown Pittsburgh which included: Kaufmann & Baer, founded by cousins of the original 'Kaufmann's' founders (became Gimbel Brothers in 1925); Horne's; Boggs & Buhl; Frank & Seder's, Rosenbaum's, and Boggs & Buhl of Allegheny Center.[7]

Gimbels

In 1913, Morris Kaufmann and his son Edgar bought out the other family members and incorporated Kaufmanns. Isaac, Ludwig and Nathan Kaufmann partnered with Morris and Julius Baer to start a new department store, Kaufmann & Baer Co..[8] They built the 13 story, 700,000 square foot building at the corner of Sixth and Smithfield in downtown Pittsburgh. The store opened on March 18, 1914, advertising that there was "no connection with any other store".[9] On December 2, 1925, Gimbel Brothers purchased Kaufmann & Baer Co., with the store name updated to Gimbels on January 3, 1928.[9][10] Batus Inc., a tobacco conglomerate, purchased the entire Gimbels chain in 1974. In 1986, after years of declining sales, BATUS announced that Gimbels was for sale.[11][12]

May Company

With Edgar J. Kaufmann remaining as president, the Kaufmann's chain was acquired by the St. Louis Missouri based May Company Department Stores in 1946. The Kaufmann's division operated stores in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.[13]

The Kaufmann's chain dominated its local region, absorbing several other department stores including Strouss (1986) based in Youngstown, Ohio; Sibley's (1990) based in Rochester, New York; May Company Ohio (1992) based in Cleveland, Ohio (which had merged with O'Neil's (1989) in Akron, Ohio); and in 1994 the remnants of McCurdy's stores of Rochester and Hess's of Allentown, Pennsylvania.[14][15]

Into the 21st century

In 2002, the Kaufmann's stores' Pittsburgh business headquarters closed, and its back-office operations were consolidated into those of Filene's Department Stores in Boston.[16] In 2005, Federated Department Stores Inc., agreed to buy May Department Stores Co. for $11 billion (equivalent to $ in ).[17]

fate	Acquired by Macy's
successor	Macy's
foundation	1871
location	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
industry	Retail
key people	Jacob Kaufmann, Isaac Kaufmann, and Edgar J. Kaufmann
products	Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, housewares, and auto centers
parent	Federated Department Stores (2005–2006) The May Department Stores Company (1946–2005)

History

Gimbels

May Company

Into the 21st century

Kaufmann's Flagship Store

"Meet me under Kaufmann's clock"

See also

External links

References

Rebrand to Macy's

Rebrand to Macy's

Kaufmann's Parade

Acquisitions and closure