Garfinckel's
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| Garfinckel's | |
|---|---|
| Type | Department store |
| Founded | ca. 1900 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Key people | Julius Garfinckel, founder |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, housewares |
| Website | Garfinckels.com |
Garfinckel's was a prominent department store chain based in Washington, D.C., that catered to a clientele of wealthy consumers.
This retail mercantile business was founded as Julius Garfinckel & Co. at the turn of the 20th century by Julius Garfinckel (1872-1936), originally employing 10 clerks. In 1918, the store was located at 13th and F Streets. An eight-story department store building was erected at the northwest corner of 14th and F Streets, across from the Willard Hotel, and opened in 1929. The $2,000,000 structure was designed by architects Starrett & Van Vleck of New York.[1] By 1936, there were more than 500 employees.[2]
Garfinckel's grew and expanded into a chain of stores, but was eventually pushed into financial collapse due to a series of mergers and acquisitions. In 1990, the company was placed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy by chairman and CEO George P. Kelly and went out of business.[3]
In 1995, the historic Garfinckel's flagship store located at 1401 F Street, NW, Washington, which is one block from the Treasury Department and less than two blocks from the White House, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From 1997 to 1999, the property was redeveloped into a modern office building and shopping center that is referred to as Hamilton Square.
Contents |
[edit] Former Locations
(This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.)
[edit] Maryland
- Annapolis - Annapolis Mall (Closed 1990, remodeled as Borders Books 1998)
- Bethesda - Montgomery Mall (Closed/demolished 1989, rebuilt/reopened as Nordstrom 1991)
- Landover - Landover Mall (closed 1990, mall torn down 2006)
[edit] Virginia
- Fairfax - Fair Oaks Mall (now smaller shops)
- Falls Church - Seven Corners Mall (now Seven Corners Center) (mall renovated and remodeled in late 1990s)
- McLean - Tysons Corner Center
- Springfield - Springfield Mall (now partially The Sports Authority)
[edit] Washington, D.C
- 14th & F Streets, (flagship store; now on National Register of Historic Places)
- The Shops at Georgetown Park (now smaller shops)
- Spring Valley (4820 Massachusetts Avenue, now Crate and Barrel)
[edit] National Register listing
- Garfinckel's Department Store ** (added 1995 - Building - #95000353)
- Also known as Hamilton Square
- District of Columbia County - 1401 F St., NW, Washington (less than 1 acres, 1 building)
- Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
- Architect, builder, or engineer: Porter and Lockie, Starrett and Van Vleck
- Architectural Style: Other, Moderne
- Area of Significance: Commerce, Architecture
- Period of Significance: 1925-1949
- Owner: Private
- Historic Function: Commerce/Trade
- Historic Sub-function: Department Store
- Current Function: Borders Books & Music
[edit] References
- ^ New York Times, June 23, 1929, special from Richmond, June 21, "Virginia Exports Increased. North Carolina Also Shows Gain Over Last Year," p. N12
- ^ New York Times, Nov. 7, 1936, special from Washington, Nov. 6, "Julius Garfinckel Dies In Washington - Merchant and Philanthropist Succumbs to Pneumonia in the Capital at 62," p. 17
- ^ Company News; Garfinckel's In Chapter 11. NYTimes.com (1990-06-22). Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
