May Company Ohio
Encyclopedia
The May Company Ohio is a defunct chain of department store
s that was based in Cleveland, Ohio
, United States
.
, acquired E. R. Hull & Dutton Co. of Cleveland on Ontario Street, renaming it May Company, Cleveland. In 1914 May added an additional landmark building on Euclid Avenue, fronting on the southeast corner of Public Square
.
In 1939 May Co. acquired majority control of another Cleveland store, William Taylor Son & Co., which maintained a separate identity until 1961. Expansion to the suburbs began in the 1950s, with Sheffield Shopping Center, Lorain
in 1953 (originally opened as an O'Neil's store which was a May Company subsidiary and then changed over to a May Company location in 1967) and Cedar-Center Plaza at Cedar and Warrensville Roads in University Heights
in late 1956 (known locally as "May's on the Heights"). In 1960 a branch was opened at Parmatown Mall
in Parma
, and another in 1961 at Southgate Shopping Center in Maple Heights
(the Southgate store having been originally opened in 1958 by William Taylor Son & Co.). Several mall stores followed in the 1960s and 1970s, including Great Lakes Mall (1964) Westfield Great Northern
in North Olmsted
(1965) , Randall Park Mall
in North Randall
(1976) ,Euclid Square Mall in Euclid
(1977) and Sandusky Mall
in Sandusky
(1979).
The company also constructed a nine-story warehouse (six stories tall, with three sub basements) attached to the south side of the Cedar Center Store, designed to handle furniture distribution for Cleveland's eastside. The red brick facility, designed to look like an integrated part of the colossal four story store was used for a short time, but remained empty from 1960 until the University Heights store was demolished and re-built in 2002 by this time it was re-branded as Kaufmann's.
The May Company specialized in mid to higher end fashion merchandise and home furnishings, however target price points placed May Company merchandise at, or below its two major competitors in the Cleveland market Higbee's
and Halle's. May Company was the first local department store to issue its own personal charge card in 1965 and break away from being part of the Department Stores Charge Plate (a metal card that was notched for each store and used at all participating members which included William Taylor Son & Co., Bailey's, Sterling, Lindner Davis, The Higbee Company and The Halle Bros. Co.) Higbee's and Halle's continued to remain part of this system until they each issued their own individual plastic charge cards respectively in 1969.
In addition to its merchandise, the company participated in a premium driven green-stamp program (Eagle Stamps) operated by the Cook United Companyhttp://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/chrono.html?company=cook_united_inc of Maple Heights, Ohio
in conjunction with local Cleveland area groceries. Consumers would earn Eagle Stamps on grocery purchases, or through purchases at The May Company. Completed stamp booklets could be redeemed at May Company for $3 credits toward merchandise purchases at May Company stores.
May's Cleveland headquarters building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.
In 1989 May Company, Cleveland and O'Neil's, based in Akron
were merged to form May Company Ohio, as the May Department Stores
began consolidating its regional department store divisions. On January 31, 1993 May Company, Ohio was merged into Kaufmann's
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, and its Downtown Cleveland
store was closed. Many of its former locations became Macy's
in 2006.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s that was based in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
In 1899, David May, the founder of May Department StoresMay Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
, acquired E. R. Hull & Dutton Co. of Cleveland on Ontario Street, renaming it May Company, Cleveland. In 1914 May added an additional landmark building on Euclid Avenue, fronting on the southeast corner of Public Square
Public Square
Public Square is the central plaza in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It takes up four city blocks; Superior Avenue and Ontario Street cross through it. Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, 200 Public Square and the Terminal Tower, face the square...
.
In 1939 May Co. acquired majority control of another Cleveland store, William Taylor Son & Co., which maintained a separate identity until 1961. Expansion to the suburbs began in the 1950s, with Sheffield Shopping Center, Lorain
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
in 1953 (originally opened as an O'Neil's store which was a May Company subsidiary and then changed over to a May Company location in 1967) and Cedar-Center Plaza at Cedar and Warrensville Roads in University Heights
University Heights, Ohio
University Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It borders Beachwood to the east, Cleveland Heights to the west, South Euclid to the north and Shaker Heights to the south. The population was 13,539 as of the 2010 Census...
in late 1956 (known locally as "May's on the Heights"). In 1960 a branch was opened at Parmatown Mall
Parmatown Mall
Parmatown Mall is a shopping mall located in Parma, Ohio, approximately south of Cleveland. It is located at the southwest corner of State Route 3 and Ridgewood Drive in southern Cuyahoga County. It is anchored by J.C. Penney, Macy's, and Wal-Mart. The mall opened as a shopping plaza in 1956 and...
in Parma
Parma, Ohio
Parma is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is the largest suburb of Cleveland and the seventh largest city in the state of Ohio...
, and another in 1961 at Southgate Shopping Center in Maple Heights
Maple Heights, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,156 people, 10,489 households, and 6,964 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,039.1 people per square mile . There were 10,935 housing units at an average density of 2,106.7 per square mile...
(the Southgate store having been originally opened in 1958 by William Taylor Son & Co.). Several mall stores followed in the 1960s and 1970s, including Great Lakes Mall (1964) Westfield Great Northern
Westfield Great Northern
Westfield Great Northern, formerly Great Northern Mall, is a single-level enclosed shopping mall in North Olmsted, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Its anchor stores are Macy's, Dillard's, Sears, J. C. Penney and Dick's Sporting Goods.-History:...
in North Olmsted
North Olmsted, Ohio
-Business:Moen Incorporated, a fixture and faucet company, is headquartered in North Olmsted. CommutAir, a regional airline, has its operations center in North Olmsted....
(1965) , Randall Park Mall
Randall Park Mall
Randall Park Mall is an enclosed shopping mall, located in the small village of North Randall, Ohio at 20801 Miles Road. The mall's importance to the town is reflected in the two shopping bags appearing in the municipal seal. The mall was scheduled to close its doors on June 12, 2008, prompting...
in North Randall
North Randall, Ohio
North Randall is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1027 at the 2010 census.-Geography:North Randall is located at ....
(1976) ,Euclid Square Mall in Euclid
Euclid, Ohio
Euclid is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 48,920...
(1977) and Sandusky Mall
Sandusky Mall
Sandusky Mall is an indoor shopping center located in Perkins Township, south of Sandusky, Ohio. It is located on the east side of Milan Road/US 250, north of the Ohio Turnpike/I-80/I-90 and Route 2. The mall comprises more than seventy stores, including four anchor stores: Elder-Beerman, JC...
in Sandusky
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
(1979).
The company also constructed a nine-story warehouse (six stories tall, with three sub basements) attached to the south side of the Cedar Center Store, designed to handle furniture distribution for Cleveland's eastside. The red brick facility, designed to look like an integrated part of the colossal four story store was used for a short time, but remained empty from 1960 until the University Heights store was demolished and re-built in 2002 by this time it was re-branded as Kaufmann's.
The May Company specialized in mid to higher end fashion merchandise and home furnishings, however target price points placed May Company merchandise at, or below its two major competitors in the Cleveland market Higbee's
Higbee's
Higbee's was a department store founded 1860 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1992, Higbee's stores were re-branded as part of Dillard's.-History:Higbee's was founded by Edwin Converse Higbee and John G. Hower on September 10, 1860 as Higbee & Hower Dry Goods. The first day of business saw $100 in sales. ...
and Halle's. May Company was the first local department store to issue its own personal charge card in 1965 and break away from being part of the Department Stores Charge Plate (a metal card that was notched for each store and used at all participating members which included William Taylor Son & Co., Bailey's, Sterling, Lindner Davis, The Higbee Company and The Halle Bros. Co.) Higbee's and Halle's continued to remain part of this system until they each issued their own individual plastic charge cards respectively in 1969.
In addition to its merchandise, the company participated in a premium driven green-stamp program (Eagle Stamps) operated by the Cook United Companyhttp://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/chrono.html?company=cook_united_inc of Maple Heights, Ohio
Maple Heights, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,156 people, 10,489 households, and 6,964 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,039.1 people per square mile . There were 10,935 housing units at an average density of 2,106.7 per square mile...
in conjunction with local Cleveland area groceries. Consumers would earn Eagle Stamps on grocery purchases, or through purchases at The May Company. Completed stamp booklets could be redeemed at May Company for $3 credits toward merchandise purchases at May Company stores.
May's Cleveland headquarters building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974.
In 1989 May Company, Cleveland and O'Neil's, based in Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
were merged to form May Company Ohio, as the May Department Stores
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
began consolidating its regional department store divisions. On January 31, 1993 May Company, Ohio was merged into Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's was a department store that originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was owned in the early 20th century by Edgar J. Kaufmann, patron of 'Fallingwater' and the Kaufmann's Desert House. In the post-war years the store became a regional chain in the eastern United States, and was last...
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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...
, and its Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Reinvestment in the area in the mid-1990s spurred a rebirth that continues to this day, with over $2 billion in residential and commercial developments slated for the area over the next few years...
store was closed. Many of its former locations became Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 2006.