Barasch Brothers' Department Store
Encyclopedia
The Barasch Brothers' Department Store is the original name of a department store in Wrocław, Poland
(then Breslau, Germany
), located between the eastern side of the market square and the Ulica Szewska . Today, the building accommodates the Phoenix Department Store .
Built from 1902 to 1904 for the German Jewish merchant family Barasch by architect Georg Schneider, the store was opened on 4 October 1904. In 1929, the original art nouveau
facade facing the market square was given a simpler, modernist look; the huge glazing above the main entrance was replaced with more conventional window rows. The large glass globe on the main tower at the corner of Ulica Szewska and Kurzy Targ , which had been damaged by lightning, was also removed.
After the Nazi party came into power, the Jewish Barasch family came under pressure, and at the turn of 1934 and 1935 decided to sell its chain of departments stores and leave the country, even before the official Aryanization
of Jewish businesses began.
Like all of the historical center of Breslau, the building was heavily damaged in the final phase of World War II
. However, immediately after the Polish administration was set up in 1945, reconstruction began and the building was reassigned to its original purpose on 7 August 1946. Initially, only the ground floor was restored and used for business. From 1961, the building was completely renovated and modernized; the second and third floor were added to the retail space. In 1965, the business reopened under the name Spółdzielczy Dom Handlowy "Feniks" ("Co-operative Department Store 'Phoenix'), which is still used today. The building itself remained municipal property until 1995, when the company finally purchased it from the local administration. Currently, the building is undergoing another renovation.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(then Breslau, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), located between the eastern side of the market square and the Ulica Szewska . Today, the building accommodates the Phoenix Department Store .
Built from 1902 to 1904 for the German Jewish merchant family Barasch by architect Georg Schneider, the store was opened on 4 October 1904. In 1929, the original art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
facade facing the market square was given a simpler, modernist look; the huge glazing above the main entrance was replaced with more conventional window rows. The large glass globe on the main tower at the corner of Ulica Szewska and Kurzy Targ , which had been damaged by lightning, was also removed.
After the Nazi party came into power, the Jewish Barasch family came under pressure, and at the turn of 1934 and 1935 decided to sell its chain of departments stores and leave the country, even before the official Aryanization
Aryanization
Aryanization is a term coined during Nazism referring to the forced expulsion of so-called "non-Aryans", mainly Jews, from business life in Nazi Germany and the territories it controlled....
of Jewish businesses began.
Like all of the historical center of Breslau, the building was heavily damaged in the final phase of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. However, immediately after the Polish administration was set up in 1945, reconstruction began and the building was reassigned to its original purpose on 7 August 1946. Initially, only the ground floor was restored and used for business. From 1961, the building was completely renovated and modernized; the second and third floor were added to the retail space. In 1965, the business reopened under the name Spółdzielczy Dom Handlowy "Feniks" ("Co-operative Department Store 'Phoenix'), which is still used today. The building itself remained municipal property until 1995, when the company finally purchased it from the local administration. Currently, the building is undergoing another renovation.
Literature
- Krystyna Kirschke/Paweł Kirschke: Sto lat domu handlowego "Feniks". (Warenhaus Gebrüder Barasch), Wrocław : "Społem" Powszechna Spółdzielnia Spożywców Feniks 2004
External links
- A brief history on the official website of the Feniks Department Store (Polish)
- Jak Feniks z popiołów - słów kilka o dawnym domu handlowym braci Barasch ("Like Phoenix from the ashes") (Polish)