Harzfeld's

Harzfeld's was a department-store brand based in Kansas City, Missouri, with a retail identity centered on higher-end women's and children's clothing. The business began in 1891 as the Parisian Cloak Company, founded by Siegmund Harzfeld and Ferdinand Siegel. Its original premises were at 1108 and 1110 Main Street in Kansas City. In 1913, the store moved to the intersection of Main Street and Petticoat Lane and adopted the Harzfeld's name, establishing the identity under which it became regionally known. The flagship developed into a significant downtown Kansas City retail property. Designed by architect John McKecknie as an office building, it was expanded into an adjoining structure and ultimately extended from Main Street toward Walnut Street. Harzfeld's cultivated a more specialized and upscale positioning than a general mass-market department store, with particular emphasis on women's and children's apparel. Its downtown location also became associated with the arts through a 1947 mural commissioned from Thomas Hart Benton. The mural, Achelous and Hercules, remained an important part of the store's legacy after the retail business disappeared and was later acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Harzfeld's expanded beyond its original downtown location during the twentieth century. Its first branch opened in Columbia, Missouri, in 1929, serving students and families connected with the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College. The chain entered suburban Kansas City in 1954 with a store at Country Club Plaza, followed by a Blue Ridge Mall location in 1958 and a Corinth Square store in 1963. A fifth Kansas City-area branch opened at Metcalf South Shopping Center in 1967. These locations reflected the broader movement of American department-store retail from traditional downtown districts toward shopping centers and suburban commercial areas. The company became publicly traded in 1959, when its common shares were placed on the local over-the-counter market. In 1972, Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. acquired Harzfeld's for $3 million. The chain subsequently became part of Allied Stores after Allied acquired its parent conglomerate in 1981. Under this ownership structure, Harzfeld's remained a regional retail name rather than developing into a national chain. The parent group also expanded the brand's presence beyond Missouri when two Gus Meyer stores in Oklahoma were converted to the Harzfeld's name in 1974. The chain ceased operations in 1984. Several locations were closed or repurposed: the Corinth Square and Metcalf South stores closed on August 8, 1984; the Tulsa location was converted to Brooks Brothers; the Country Club Plaza store became a Bonwit Teller; and the downtown Kansas City flagship was absorbed into a redevelopment project that became part of the Town Pavilion complex. Harzfeld's therefore survives primarily as a historical Kansas City retail brand, remembered for its long local presence, its regional branch network, its apparel specialization, and its association with Benton's monumental mural.

Harzfeld's originated in Kansas City in 1891 as the Parisian Cloak Company, established by Siegmund Harzfeld and Ferdinand Siegel. The business initially operated from 1108 and 1110 Main Street. In 1913, it moved to Main Street and Petticoat Lane and took the Harzfeld's name. The relocated downtown store became the company's central institution and was later expanded into an adjoining building, extending its footprint between Main and Walnut Streets. The chain's retail specialization was upscale women's and children's apparel. Its downtown presence gave it a prominent position in Kansas City's traditional shopping district, while its later branches allowed it to reach suburban and collegiate markets. In 1929, Harzfeld's opened its first branch in Columbia, Missouri. The location served students and other customers associated with the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College. The company entered Kansas City's suburban retail system in 1954 with a Country Club Plaza store, followed by a Blue Ridge Mall branch in 1958. It added a Corinth Square location in 1963 and a Metcalf South Shopping Center store in 1967. Harzfeld's also developed a notable connection with American art. In 1947, it commissioned Thomas Hart Benton to paint Achelous and Hercules. The mural became associated with the flagship and outlived the retail operation; after the store closed, it was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum. The company changed ownership and financial form as the American department-store sector consolidated. Harzfeld's became publicly traded in 1959, with its common stock quoted on the local over-the-counter market. In 1972, Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. purchased the chain for $3 million. The parent company's later acquisition by Allied Stores in 1981 placed Harzfeld's within one of the country's larger retail organizations. In 1974, two Gus Meyer stores in Oklahoma were converted to the Harzfeld's name, extending the brand outside its Missouri base. The chain ended operations in 1984. The Corinth Square store, a 10,000-square-foot branch, and the Metcalf South store closed on August 8. The Tulsa location was converted to Brooks Brothers, while the Country Club Plaza store became a Bonwit Teller. The downtown Kansas City store was closed as part of redevelopment and was ultimately incorporated into the Town Pavilion complex. Harzfeld's is therefore a defunct regional department-store brand whose historical importance rests on its long Kansas City presence, its apparel-focused retail model, its branch expansion, its participation in department-store consolidation, and its association with Benton's mural.

• 1984

  Retail operations end

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  The Harzfeld's chain closes, with individual properties sold, converted, or absorbed into redevelopment.

• 1981

  Integration into Allied Stores

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  Harzfeld's enters Allied Stores after Allied acquires its parent conglomerate.

• 1972

  Acquisition by Garfinckel retail group

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. acquires Harzfeld's for $3 million.

• 1959

  Public trading begins

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  Harzfeld's common shares begin trading on the local over-the-counter market.

• 1954

  Country Club Plaza expansion

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  The chain opens its first Kansas City branch at Country Club Plaza.

• 1947

  Thomas Hart Benton mural commissioned

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  Harzfeld's commissions Achelous and Hercules, a mural that later becomes part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection.

• 1929

  First branch opens in Columbia

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  Harzfeld's opens a Columbia, Missouri, branch oriented partly toward the local college population.

• 1913

  Adoption of the Harzfeld's name

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  The company moves to Main Street and Petticoat Lane and changes its name from Parisian Cloak Company to Harzfeld's.

• 1891

  Founding as Parisian Cloak Company

  [1]Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org

  Siegmund Harzfeld and Ferdinand Siegel establish the Kansas City business that later becomes Harzfeld's.

A regional, upscale department-store chain specializing in women's and children's apparel, combining a prominent downtown flagship with suburban and college-oriented branches.

• Apparel · 1891

  Women's apparel

  Women's high-end clothing was the central merchandise category associated with Harzfeld's. The chain's identity was built around fashion-oriented department-store retail rather than broad mass-market general merchandise.

• Apparel · 1891

  Children's apparel

  Children's clothing formed the other specifically identified apparel specialization of Harzfeld's. It complemented the women's fashion business and helped the chain serve family-oriented department-store customers.

• Department-store retail · 1913

  Harzfeld's department stores

  The Harzfeld's store format combined a major downtown flagship with branches in college, suburban, mall, and shopping-center settings. Locations included Kansas City, Columbia, Missouri, and converted Oklahoma stores.

• 1947Achelous and Hercules mural commission

  Kansas City, Missouri

  Harzfeld's commissioned artist Thomas Hart Benton to create a large mural for its store, linking the retailer's public identity with a significant work of American art.

  Outcome. After Harzfeld's closed, the mural was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum.

  Source

• 1984

  Close the Harzfeld's chainOther

  Background

  The regional chain was discontinued under its Allied Stores ownership structure.

  Action taken

  Harzfeld's stores were closed or converted to other retail uses and brands.

  Aftermath

  The Country Club Plaza location became a Bonwit Teller, the Tulsa store became Brooks Brothers, and the downtown flagship was incorporated into the Town Pavilion redevelopment.

  Source

• 1974

  Convert Gus Meyer stores to Harzfeld'sStrategy

  Background

  The parent group acquired two Gus Meyer locations in Oklahoma.

  Action taken

  The acquired Oklahoma stores were converted to the Harzfeld's name.

  Aftermath

  The Tulsa location was eventually converted to Brooks Brothers after Harzfeld's operations ended.

  Source

• 1972

  Sale to Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & RhoadsM&A

  Background

  Department-store consolidation created opportunities for larger retail groups to acquire established regional chains.

  Action taken

  Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. acquired Harzfeld's for $3 million.

  Aftermath

  Harzfeld's became part of a larger conglomerate and later entered Allied Stores after the 1981 parent-company acquisition.

  Acquisition price. $3 million (1972)

  Source

• 1959

  Enter public tradingStrategy

  Background

  Harzfeld's pursued growth as a regional department-store operator.

  Action taken

  The company made its common shares available on the local over-the-counter market.

  Aftermath

  Harzfeld's remained independent until its acquisition by Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. in 1972.

  Source

• 1913

  Rebrand and move the flagshipStrategy

  Background

  The original Parisian Cloak Company location was replaced by a larger downtown position at Main Street and Petticoat Lane.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to Harzfeld's and established the downtown flagship that became central to its identity.

  Aftermath

  The flagship expanded into an adjoining building and remained the chain's principal Kansas City store until closure and redevelopment.

  Source

1. 1Harzfeld'sen.wikipedia.org