John Shillito Company
Encyclopedia
John Shillito & Co. was Cincinnati's first department store. It was founded by John Shillito and William McLaughlin
in 1832 as "McLaughlin & Shillito", but their partnership soon broke up. In 1857, Shillito, now operating on his own, built a store on Fourth Street, designed by James W. McLaughlin
. In 1878, Shillito's moved to a new landmark building on Seventh and Race, also designed by James McLaughlin. But business was not as good as had been hoped, and in 1930 Shillito's was bought by the F&R Lazarus Co.
, which became a founding partner in Federated Department Stores
a year later. The Shillito name was merged with corporate sibling Rike's
to form Shillito Rike's in 1982; the name was dropped altogether in 1986 in favor of Lazarus. On March 6, 2005, the Lazarus name was dropped and the former Shillito's stores now operate under the Macy's brand name.
William McLaughlin
William McLaughlin , was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played in ten games for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association in 1884. He was a graduate of Sacramento High School.-External links:...
in 1832 as "McLaughlin & Shillito", but their partnership soon broke up. In 1857, Shillito, now operating on his own, built a store on Fourth Street, designed by James W. McLaughlin
James W. McLaughlin
James W. McLaughlin was a Cincinnati, Ohio architect. He studied to be an architect working under famed James Keys Wilson. He fought in the American Civil War serving in the Union Army. He become a popular builder in Cincinnati during the late 19th century...
. In 1878, Shillito's moved to a new landmark building on Seventh and Race, also designed by James McLaughlin. But business was not as good as had been hoped, and in 1930 Shillito's was bought by the F&R Lazarus Co.
Lazarus (department store)
F&R Lazarus & Company — commonly known as Lazarus — was a regional department store retail chain operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest, and based in Columbus, Ohio...
, which became a founding partner in Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
a year later. The Shillito name was merged with corporate sibling Rike's
Rike Kumler Co.
The Rike Kumler Co. was an American department store in Dayton, Ohio. In 1959, Rike's became part of the Federated Department Stores conglomerate. In 1982, Federated merged Rike's with its Cincinnati unit, Shillito's, in order to form Shillito Rike's...
to form Shillito Rike's in 1982; the name was dropped altogether in 1986 in favor of Lazarus. On March 6, 2005, the Lazarus name was dropped and the former Shillito's stores now operate under the Macy's brand name.