Lit Brothers
Encyclopedia
Lit Brothers was a moderate priced department store based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Samuel and Jacob Lit opened the first store at Eight and Market Streets in 1893.
Lit's positioned itself well as a more affordable alternate to competitors, Strawbridge and Clothier, Wanamaker's
, and Gimbels. The store's tag line was "A Great Store in A Great City", and it was noted for its millinery
department. It was purchased in 1928 by Albert M. Greenfield
's Bankers Securities Corporation
and was eventually merged into its City Stores Company (now CSS Industries, Inc.
), a retail holding company consisting of stores located in urban centers throughout the south and east such as the W & J Sloane furniture store, and the Washington, D.C.–based department store chain Lansburgh's
. In 1962, they purchased the suburban locations of Snellenburg's, another Philadelphia department store chain owned by Bankers Securities Corporation
, which was closed in 1963. The Lit Brothers chain subsequently closed in 1977.
and his partner Edward Collins.
After the chain closed in 1977, the store was vacant until redeveloped as office and commercial space in the late 1980s. The building reopened as Mellon Independence Center, after its principal occupant Mellon Bank. The sign reading "Hats Trimmed Free of Charge" can still be seen today on the façade of the redeveloped flagship building. The historic 720000 square feet (66,890.2 m²) building was recently on the market for $70 million.
, West Germany. This room-by-room display of a colonial-era Christmas ran each year from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, and remained until the final Christmas season in 1976. The exhibit itself was bought from liquidators for $35,000 by the Sun Oil Company, who later donated it to the Atwater Kent Museum. It has since been restored, and (since 2001) sections are displayed around the holiday season at the Please Touch Museum
.
, and re-branded this location as Lit's. Additional suburban locations were added with the acquisition of Snellenburg's
in 1962.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Samuel and Jacob Lit opened the first store at Eight and Market Streets in 1893.
Lit's positioned itself well as a more affordable alternate to competitors, Strawbridge and Clothier, Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
, and Gimbels. The store's tag line was "A Great Store in A Great City", and it was noted for its millinery
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
department. It was purchased in 1928 by Albert M. Greenfield
Albert M. Greenfield
Albert M. Greenfield was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based real estate, banking, retailing, hotel, and transportation industry leader. Over time, he became increasingly influential in the civic and philanthropic arenas, and in local and national politics.-Business Activities:The Albert M....
's Bankers Securities Corporation
Bankers Securities Corporation
Bankers Securities Corporation was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based investment company formed in 1927, by Albert M. Greenfield for general investment banking and trading in securities. It eventually became the parent company for virtually all of Greenfield's financial interests. B.S.C...
and was eventually merged into its City Stores Company (now CSS Industries, Inc.
CSS Industries, Inc.
CSS Industries, Inc. was founded in 1923, as City Stores Company. Its headquarters is at 1845 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with showrooms in New York City, Memphis, Tennessee, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Hong Kong...
), a retail holding company consisting of stores located in urban centers throughout the south and east such as the W & J Sloane furniture store, and the Washington, D.C.–based department store chain Lansburgh's
Lansburgh's
Lansburgh's was a chain of department stores located in the Washington, D.C. area. The clientele were lower- to middle-income consumers.-History:...
. In 1962, they purchased the suburban locations of Snellenburg's, another Philadelphia department store chain owned by Bankers Securities Corporation
Bankers Securities Corporation
Bankers Securities Corporation was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based investment company formed in 1927, by Albert M. Greenfield for general investment banking and trading in securities. It eventually became the parent company for virtually all of Greenfield's financial interests. B.S.C...
, which was closed in 1963. The Lit Brothers chain subsequently closed in 1977.
Flagship store
The flagship store opened in 1907, and occupied a full city block bounded by Market, 7th, Filbert, and 8th Streets. The store was an assemblage of 33 buildings built between 1859 and 1918, which were joined so the interior appeared as one building. The unique façade of this building's front on Market Street caused it to become known as the "cast iron" building. The architects were Charles M. AutenriethCharles M. Autenrieth
Charles M. Autenrieth was a successful American architect whose practice was centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From 1852 to 1902, he was in partnership with Edward Collins, and thereafter with his son, Charles M. Autenrieth, Jr....
and his partner Edward Collins.
After the chain closed in 1977, the store was vacant until redeveloped as office and commercial space in the late 1980s. The building reopened as Mellon Independence Center, after its principal occupant Mellon Bank. The sign reading "Hats Trimmed Free of Charge" can still be seen today on the façade of the redeveloped flagship building. The historic 720000 square feet (66,890.2 m²) building was recently on the market for $70 million.
The Enchanted Colonial Village
Lit's also joined its fellow Center City department stores in presenting a Christmas Season exhibit when, in 1961, it opened the Enchanted Colonial Village. The Village, designed by Philadelphia display designer Thomas Comerford, cost approximately $1 million. It was built by German toy manufacturer Christian Hofmann of Bad RodachBad Rodach
Bad Rodach is a town in the district of Coburg, in Upper Franconia, a north Bavarian Regierungsbezirk, Germany. It is situated 10 km southeast of Hildburghausen, and 17 km northwest of Coburg...
, West Germany. This room-by-room display of a colonial-era Christmas ran each year from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, and remained until the final Christmas season in 1976. The exhibit itself was bought from liquidators for $35,000 by the Sun Oil Company, who later donated it to the Atwater Kent Museum. It has since been restored, and (since 2001) sections are displayed around the holiday season at the Please Touch Museum
Please Touch Museum
The Please Touch Museum is a children's museum located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The museum focuses on teaching children through interactive exhibits and special events, mostly aimed at children seven years old and younger.-History:...
.
Suburban growth
Lit's saw the growing demand for suburban locations, and started building stores in mall locations around the greater Philadelphia market, including southern New Jersey. Lit's also operated a store in nearby downtown Camden, and Lit's was the only one of Philadelphia's department stores to maintain a branch along the New Jersey Shore, when it acquired the Blatt Department Store in downtown Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, and re-branded this location as Lit's. Additional suburban locations were added with the acquisition of Snellenburg's
N. Snellenburg & Company
N. Snellenburg & Company, commonly known as Snellenburg's, was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based middle class department store and wholesale clothing manufacturer, established in 1869. The company became the largest clothing manufacturer in the world and at one time employed 3,000...
in 1962.
Changing marketplace
Faced with growing competition in a changing retail landscape, Lit Brothers closed its doors in 1977. One of Lit's larger competitors, Gimbels, built a new store in Center City as part of The Gallery Mall in 1977, and while Lit's was only one block away from The Gallery, not being a direct part of the popular new complex hurt sales at its important flagship location. The famous flagship location sat vacant for a number of years, and was rescued and redeveloped as a regional headquarters for Mellon Bank, with retail stores on the street floor, and a food court on the lower level. For a few years after the building reopened in the mid-1980s, sections of the Enchanted Colonial Village were displayed in the retail section during the holiday shopping season.External links
- Listing and photographs of the original store at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Listing and photographs of the original store at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings