Ohrbach's
Encyclopedia
Ohrbach's was a moderate-priced department store with a merchandising focus primarily on apparel and accessories. From its modest start in 1923 until the chain's demise in 1987, Ohrbach's expanded dramatically after World War II
, and opened numerous branch locations in the metro areas of New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Its original flagship store was located on Union Square
in New York City
, and they maintained home and administrative offices in Newark
as well as in Los Angeles
. The retailer would eventually close the Newark offices in the 1970s. Paul László
designed the Union Square store as well as many of their other stores.
operated the world’s first nickelodeon
. Founder Nathan M. Ohrbach launched his store with partner Max Wiesen, a dress manufacturer. After a time there was a falling-out between the partners. Weisen refused to sell out so Ohrbach leased quarters nearby to open a second store. This move forced Wiesen to sell out.
–William Wurdeman designed Prudential Insurance Company
building on Wilshire Boulevard
’s Miracle Mile
. The success of the Miracle Mile store led the firm in 1953 to open another branch in Downtown Los Angeles
when it acquired the twelve-story Milliron's building at 5th and Broadway
. The success at this branch was short lived, however; it first closed five floors as an economic move, but finally in 1959 closed the branch because of poor results. In the 1960s, additional branches were opened in La Mirada and Panorama City
. Ohrbach's was a major anchor for the Los Cerritos Center
in Cerritos, California
in the 1970s. In the mid 70's they opened another store in the new Glendale Mall in Glendale California. The architecture of the Cerritos and Glendale store had an unusual Tile front which helped Customers know which store was Orbach's in these new large malls with several major department stores. In 1965, the Miracle Mile store was relocated in the former Seibu Department Store
at Wilshire and Fairfax Avenue
. This is the current location of the Petersen Automotive Museum
.
Orhbach's supplied clothing for the television soap operas: [(All My Children)], Dark Shadows
, The Doctors, and others, and the comedy Mister Ed
.
(now Avenue of the Americas) Avenues across from the Empire State Building
. The eleven-story building was formerly occupied by McCreery's Department Stores. In 1962, the Netherlands
based Brenninkmeyer Company started buying into the firm until by Nathan Ohrbach's retirement in 1965 it had complete control. In 1967 they opened their first suburban New Jersey
store at The Bergen Mall.
Ohrbach's was one of (5) anchor stores located in downtown Newark, N.J. during the last half of the 20th century. Following race rioting in July of 1967, business started to fall off at downtown stores, and conditions continued to worsen during the early 1970's. In 1973 Ohrbachs announced that it would close it's store in Newark following the Christmas shopping season of that year. The store closed in January of 1974 following a liquidation sale, and the remaining corporate offices located on the 5th and 6th floors of the Newark building relocated to space at the 34th street store. The companies credit operations, also headquartered in the Newark building were moved to space in the firms Bergen Mall location. At the time of Ohrbach's departure the other department stores operating in Newark stated they were still committed to downtown, but they would start to close in 1976, and by 1992 the last remaining hold out, Macy's
, shuttered its downtown location.
In June 1986 Amcena (renamed American Retail Group in 1994) acquired Howland-Steinbach
from Supermarkets General Corp
and announced the shuttering of all six California locations as well as Ohrbach's flagship store on 34th Street. The remaining five stores, plus one unit under construction reopened under the Steinbach
banner on February 1, 1987.
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...
, and opened numerous branch locations in the metro areas of New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Its original flagship store was located on Union Square
Union Square (New York City)
Union Square is a public square in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York.It is an important and historic intersection, located where Broadway and the former Bowery Road – now Fourth Avenue – came together in the early 19th century; its name celebrates neither the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and they maintained home and administrative offices in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
as well as in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The retailer would eventually close the Newark offices in the 1970s. Paul László
Paul László
Paul László or Paul Laszlo was a Hungarian-born modern architect and interior designer whose work spanned eight decades and many countries...
designed the Union Square store as well as many of their other stores.
History
Ohrbach’s first store opened on October 4, 1923 in the fire-damaged building where Adolph ZukorAdolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor , born Adolph Cukor, was a film mogul and founder of Paramount Pictures.-Early life:...
operated the world’s first nickelodeon
Nickelodeon movie theater
The Nickelodeon was a multi-purpose theater that was popular from about 1900 to 1914. Usually situated in converted storefronts, the Nickelodeon featured motion pictures, illustrated songs, slide shows and lectures...
. Founder Nathan M. Ohrbach launched his store with partner Max Wiesen, a dress manufacturer. After a time there was a falling-out between the partners. Weisen refused to sell out so Ohrbach leased quarters nearby to open a second store. This move forced Wiesen to sell out.
Sale policies
When Ohrbach opened his store, he believed in cutting service to the bare essentials and sharing the savings with his customers. He also priced his goods in even numbers, while most of his competitors priced their goods in odd prices. Wiesen brought women’s ready-to-wear in the form of job lots, seconds, manufacturer’s overstocks, and irregulars. Ohrbach sold these in large volume and at low prices. After buying out Weisen in 1928, he added men’s and children’s furnishings and accessories. He started to “trade up” his women’s wear and offer higher style garments. Other policies formalized at this time were no price advertising, minimum sales force, no alterations, no deliveries, cash and carry, and no special sales periods.Expansion to California
The growth of the fashion industry in California encouraged the company’s expansion to California. The firm employed the services of a buying office in Los Angeles as early as 1939 and by 1945 opened its own. In 1948, it leased three floors and the mezzanine in a wing of the Welton BecketWelton Becket
Welton Becket was an architect who designed many buildings in Los Angeles, California.Becket was born in Seattle, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington program in Architecture in 1927 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree .He settled in Los Angeles in 1933 and formed a...
–William Wurdeman designed Prudential Insurance Company
Prudential Financial
The Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
building on Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire , an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. Henry Wilshire initiated what was to become Wilshire...
’s Miracle Mile
Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California
The Miracle Mile in Los Angeles, California, is an area in the Mid-Wilshire region consisting of an almost two-mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax and Western Avenues...
. The success of the Miracle Mile store led the firm in 1953 to open another branch in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
when it acquired the twelve-story Milliron's building at 5th and Broadway
Broadway (Los Angeles)
Broadway is a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, California, that runs from Lincoln Heights on the Eastside, through Chinatown, passing through Central Plaza and the Dragon Gate, the Los Angeles Civic Center, passing the Los Angeles Times building at First Street, and Broadway's historic commercial...
. The success at this branch was short lived, however; it first closed five floors as an economic move, but finally in 1959 closed the branch because of poor results. In the 1960s, additional branches were opened in La Mirada and Panorama City
Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
Panorama City is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. It is known as the San Fernando Valley's first planned community.-Description:...
. Ohrbach's was a major anchor for the Los Cerritos Center
Los Cerritos Center
The Los Cerritos Center is a super regional shopping mall located in Cerritos, California. Since September 1971, the Los Cerritos Center has been an integral part of the city of Cerritos' tax revenue. The mall is the city's largest revenue source, producing $581 per square foot in sales in 2010...
in Cerritos, California
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
in the 1970s. In the mid 70's they opened another store in the new Glendale Mall in Glendale California. The architecture of the Cerritos and Glendale store had an unusual Tile front which helped Customers know which store was Orbach's in these new large malls with several major department stores. In 1965, the Miracle Mile store was relocated in the former Seibu Department Store
Seibu Department Stores
is a Japanese department store. The first store to trade under the name opened its doors in 1949. Seibu is typical of Japanese department stores with a wide variety of stores doing business on several floors. The company is now a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd..-Japan:The Seibu...
at Wilshire and Fairfax Avenue
Fairfax Avenue
Fairfax Avenue is a street on north central Los Angeles, California. It runs from La Cienega Boulevard with Culver City at its southern end to Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood on its northern end.Fairfax Avenue forms the western boundary of Hancock Park as well as Park La Brea, an 160 acre ,...
. This is the current location of the Petersen Automotive Museum
Petersen Automotive Museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a non profit organization specializing in the education and history of the...
.
Orhbach's supplied clothing for the television soap operas: [(All My Children)], Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
, The Doctors, and others, and the comedy Mister Ed
Mister Ed
Originally produced in late 1960, Mister Ed is an American television situation comedy produced by Filmways that first aired in syndication from January 5 to July 2, 1961, and then on CBS from October 1, 1961, to February 6, 1966....
.
Later history
In 1954, Ohrbach's moved from its Union Square location to West 34th Street between Fifth and SixthSixth Avenue (Manhattan)
Sixth Avenue – officially Avenue of the Americas, although this name is seldom used by New Yorkers – is a major thoroughfare in New York City's borough of Manhattan, on which traffic runs northbound, or "uptown"...
(now Avenue of the Americas) Avenues across from the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
. The eleven-story building was formerly occupied by McCreery's Department Stores. In 1962, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
based Brenninkmeyer Company started buying into the firm until by Nathan Ohrbach's retirement in 1965 it had complete control. In 1967 they opened their first suburban New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
store at The Bergen Mall.
Ohrbach's was one of (5) anchor stores located in downtown Newark, N.J. during the last half of the 20th century. Following race rioting in July of 1967, business started to fall off at downtown stores, and conditions continued to worsen during the early 1970's. In 1973 Ohrbachs announced that it would close it's store in Newark following the Christmas shopping season of that year. The store closed in January of 1974 following a liquidation sale, and the remaining corporate offices located on the 5th and 6th floors of the Newark building relocated to space at the 34th street store. The companies credit operations, also headquartered in the Newark building were moved to space in the firms Bergen Mall location. At the time of Ohrbach's departure the other department stores operating in Newark stated they were still committed to downtown, but they would start to close in 1976, and by 1992 the last remaining hold out, 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...
, shuttered its downtown location.
In June 1986 Amcena (renamed American Retail Group in 1994) acquired Howland-Steinbach
Steinbach (store)
Steinbach was a department store chain based in Asbury Park, New Jersey.- History :Steinbach was founded in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and maintained branch stores along the New Jersey shore, and in the central part of New Jersey. The company was at one time affiliated with the Kresge-Newark...
from Supermarkets General Corp
Pathmark
Pathmark is a supermarket chain headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. It was founded in 1968 when its then parent, Supermarkets General Corporation, pulled out of the ShopRite retailers' cooperative...
and announced the shuttering of all six California locations as well as Ohrbach's flagship store on 34th Street. The remaining five stores, plus one unit under construction reopened under the Steinbach
Steinbach (store)
Steinbach was a department store chain based in Asbury Park, New Jersey.- History :Steinbach was founded in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and maintained branch stores along the New Jersey shore, and in the central part of New Jersey. The company was at one time affiliated with the Kresge-Newark...
banner on February 1, 1987.