Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution
Encyclopedia
Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution (often referred to as ZCMI) was founded in 1868 by Brigham Young
and was one of the earliest department store
s in the United States
. For many years it used the slogan, "America's First Department Store".
Even though the Latter-day Saints had lived in the Salt Lake area for some 20 years by that time, they were despised by the surrounding community, as Young had disparaged non-Mormon merchants and encouraged these businesses to be boycotted in 1866. Price gouging
was commonplace as non-Mormons raised prices on necessary goods for Mormon patrons. Even Mormon business owners found themselves being charged higher prices by wholesalers who discovered they were dealing with Mormons. Partly because of the impending completion of the railroad, and partly to create a fairer business atmosphere, it was Brigham Young's idea to encourage Mormon businesses to band together under one roof. By pooling their resources, they were able to make larger orders to sell materials and goods exclusively (at the time) to fellow LDS members. Even wholesalers who disliked the idea of doing business with Mormons could see a good thing; larger orders meant bigger profits and making their prices competitive allowed the Mormon businessmen to increase the size and frequency of their orders. Although it was always called Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution, it was the passing of time that finally caused all those independent businesses to meld into what truly became "America's First Department Store".
ZCMI became a formidable business force, eventually manufacturing its own line of boots and shoes, and a line of work clothes. It also sold everything from housing needs, lumber, nails, and the like, to household needs such as fabric, needles, thread, food preservation products, furniture, and draperies, even some beauty products; nearly everything the pioneers needed to survive and thrive.
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah
, it quickly became a household name in the community. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a significant influence in the company, retaining a majority interest in ZCMI until its eventual sale. The store was established by a vote from the Council of Fifty
, an early organization in the LDS church.
In December 1999 as a result of negative profit results for two consecutive years along with mounting economic and social pressures, ZCMI was sold to the May Department Stores Company (now Macy's, Inc.). ZCMI operated under its original name as a part of May's Portland, Oregon-based Meier & Frank
division until April 2002, when the stores adopted the Meier & Frank name. In addition to the name change the stores in Logan, St. George, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello were sold to Dillard's
. By August 2002 the stores were further consolidated within May into the company's Los Angeles, California
division, Robinsons-May
, though retaining the Meier & Frank nameplate.
The front facade of the ZCMI is being prepared to be reincorporated into the new City Creek Center
as of May 2010, retaining the original ZCMI nameplate as a front for Macy's.
, a souvenir store, snack bar and general store was opened in 2006 under the name "Zions Mercantile".
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
and was one of the earliest department store
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 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. For many years it used the slogan, "America's First Department Store".
Even though the Latter-day Saints had lived in the Salt Lake area for some 20 years by that time, they were despised by the surrounding community, as Young had disparaged non-Mormon merchants and encouraged these businesses to be boycotted in 1866. Price gouging
Price gouging
Price gouging is a pejorative term referring to a situation in which a seller prices goods or commodities much higher than is considered reasonable or fair. In precise, legal usage, it is the name of a crime that applies in some of the United States during civil emergencies...
was commonplace as non-Mormons raised prices on necessary goods for Mormon patrons. Even Mormon business owners found themselves being charged higher prices by wholesalers who discovered they were dealing with Mormons. Partly because of the impending completion of the railroad, and partly to create a fairer business atmosphere, it was Brigham Young's idea to encourage Mormon businesses to band together under one roof. By pooling their resources, they were able to make larger orders to sell materials and goods exclusively (at the time) to fellow LDS members. Even wholesalers who disliked the idea of doing business with Mormons could see a good thing; larger orders meant bigger profits and making their prices competitive allowed the Mormon businessmen to increase the size and frequency of their orders. Although it was always called Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution, it was the passing of time that finally caused all those independent businesses to meld into what truly became "America's First Department Store".
ZCMI became a formidable business force, eventually manufacturing its own line of boots and shoes, and a line of work clothes. It also sold everything from housing needs, lumber, nails, and the like, to household needs such as fabric, needles, thread, food preservation products, furniture, and draperies, even some beauty products; nearly everything the pioneers needed to survive and thrive.
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, it quickly became a household name in the community. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a significant influence in the company, retaining a majority interest in ZCMI until its eventual sale. The store was established by a vote from the Council of Fifty
Council of Fifty
The Council of Fifty was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, an early organization in the LDS church.
In December 1999 as a result of negative profit results for two consecutive years along with mounting economic and social pressures, ZCMI was sold to the May Department Stores Company (now Macy's, Inc.). ZCMI operated under its original name as a part of May's Portland, Oregon-based Meier & Frank
Meier & Frank
Meier & Frank was a chain of department stores founded in Portland, Oregon, and later bought out by the May Department Stores Company. Meier & Frank operated in the Pacific Northwest from 1857 to 2006.-History:Summary...
division until April 2002, when the stores adopted the Meier & Frank name. In addition to the name change the stores in Logan, St. George, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello were sold to Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
. By August 2002 the stores were further consolidated within May into the company's Los Angeles, California
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...
division, Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, previously with headquarters in North Hollywood, California...
, though retaining the Meier & Frank nameplate.
The front facade of the ZCMI is being prepared to be reincorporated into the new City Creek Center
City Creek Center
The City Creek Center is a development with a shopping center, office and residential buildings, and fountain and stream under construction near Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It is an undertaking by Property Reserve, Inc. and Taubman Centers, Inc...
as of May 2010, retaining the original ZCMI nameplate as a front for Macy's.
By the same name
Across the street from the Nauvoo Illinois TempleNauvoo Illinois Temple
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is the 113th dedicated temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the third such temple that has been built in Illinois ....
, a souvenir store, snack bar and general store was opened in 2006 under the name "Zions Mercantile".
External links
- Utah state history: ZCMI
- Utah Heritage Foundation details on the ZCMI building façade in downtown Salt Lake City