N. Snellenburg & Company
Encyclopedia
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. The company sold directly from the workroom to the wearer, allowing clothing to be sold for lower prices. Its slogan was "The Thrifty Store for Thrifty People." In about 1952, the company was acquired by Bankers Securities Corporation
, owned by Albert M. Greenfield
, but remained family run until its closure in 1962. Suburban locations were then acquired by Lit Brothers
.
in 1986. The N. Snellenburg Company Department Store Warehouse, 1825-1851 N. 10th St., in Philadelphia, was built in 1914, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. In 1965, the mens store annex at 34 South 11th Street, became the first location of Community College of Philadelphia
. It still stands and is used by the Family Court of Philadelphia. The six story flagship store at 12th and Market was subsequently cut down to the present two story building and redeveloped as part of the Reading Terminal
project.
. The store manager was David Snellenburg.
. Another store operated at 24th and Oregon Ave., Philadelphia, and one at Broomall, Pennsylvania
at Lawrence Park & Sproul. On October 29, 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy
gave remarks from both these locations. A store also operated in downtown Atlantic City, New Jersey
at Atlantic & Carolina. When Snellenburg's closed its downtown Philadelphia store in 1962, the suburban locations were sold to Lit Brothers
.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
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. The company sold directly from the workroom to the wearer, allowing clothing to be sold for lower prices. Its slogan was "The Thrifty Store for Thrifty People." In about 1952, the company was acquired 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...
, owned 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....
, but remained family run until its closure in 1962. Suburban locations were then acquired by Lit Brothers
Lit Brothers
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....
.
Flagship Store and Factory
The company moved from its South Street location, where it was founded in 1869 by Joseph Snellenburg, to fashionable 12th and Market Streets in 1889. The store was at a location known as the "Girard Estate." At that time, the company directors were Nathan Snellenburg, Samuel Snellenburg, Simon L. Bloch, and Joseph J. Snellenburg. The Snellenburg's Clothing Factory, 642 N. Broad St., in Philadelphia, built in 1905, was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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 1986. The N. Snellenburg Company Department Store Warehouse, 1825-1851 N. 10th St., in Philadelphia, was built in 1914, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. In 1965, the mens store annex at 34 South 11th Street, became the first location of Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia
The Community College of Philadelphia is a community college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The main campus is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street in a building that was the former Philadelphia Mint...
. It still stands and is used by the Family Court of Philadelphia. The six story flagship store at 12th and Market was subsequently cut down to the present two story building and redeveloped as part of the Reading Terminal
Reading Terminal
The Reading Terminal is a complex of buildings located in the Market East section of Center City in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
project.
Wilmington Store
In 1895, the company opened a branch location at the corner of Seventh and Market Streets in Wilmington, DelawareWilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. The store manager was David Snellenburg.
Into the Suburbs
In October 1953, Snellenburg's opened a suburban store in the Snellenburg Shopping Center, in Willow Grove, PennsylvaniaWillow Grove, Pennsylvania
Willow Grove is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A community in Philadelphia's northern suburbs, the population was 15,726 at the 2010 census. It is located in Abington Township and Upper Moreland Township...
. Another store operated at 24th and Oregon Ave., Philadelphia, and one at Broomall, Pennsylvania
Broomall, Pennsylvania
Broomall is a census-designated place in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,046 at the 2000 census. The community was named after John Martin Broomall, a 19th century U.S...
at Lawrence Park & Sproul. On October 29, 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
gave remarks from both these locations. A store also operated in downtown Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic 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...
at Atlantic & Carolina. When Snellenburg's closed its downtown Philadelphia store in 1962, the suburban locations were sold to Lit Brothers
Lit Brothers
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....
.
External links
- Free Library of Philadelphia, photograph of flagship store (accessed Sep 1, 2008).
- Hagley Digital Archives Collection, photograph of Wilmington store, ca. 1900 (accessed Sep 1, 2008).
- Archiplanet.com Snellenburg's Clothing Factory, 642 N. Broad St., Philadelphia (accessed Sep 1, 2008).
- Archiplanet.com N. Snellenburg Company Department Store Warehouse, 1825-1851 N. 10th St., Philadelphia (accessed Sep 1, 2008).