Harzfeld's

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Harzfeld's
company_
fate = Liquidation
foundation = 1891
defunct = 1984
location = Kansas City, Missouri
industry = Retail
key_people =
products = Fashion apparel, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.
num_employees =
parent = Allied Stores
subsid =

Harzfeld's was a Kansas City, Missouri-based department store chain specializing in women's and children's high-end apparel.

History

The company was founded in 1891, as "Parisian Cloak Company" by Siegmund Harzfeld and partner Ferdinand Siegel. Harzfeld served as president until succeeded by Ferdinand Siegel's son, Lester Siegel, Sr. In February 1966, Lester Siegel, Jr. began serving as the company's third president

In 1959, Harzfeld's went public, with its common shares traded on the local over-the-counter stock exchange. In 1972, the chain was acquired for $3 million by the retail conglomerate Garfinckel, Brooks Brothers, Miller & Rhoads, Inc. ["Garfinckel to Buy Six Harzfeld's in Kansas City, Mo.," "The Washington Post, Times Herald", Feb 6, 1972, p. E1.] With the 1981, acquisition of its parent conglomerate, it became a part of Allied Stores. ["Garfinckel Sale To N.Y. Firm Set At $228 Million," by Jerry Knight, "The Washington Post", Sep 2, 1981, p. A1.] In 1984, the chain was closed.

Flagship Store

The original location of the Parisian Cloak Company was at 1108 and 1110 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri. In 1913, the store moved to Main Street and Petticoat Lane and its name was changed to Harzfeld's. The new flagship was designed by noted architect John McKecknie as an office building. The store eventually expanded into an adjoining building, thereby extending its reach from Main to Walnut Streets. After closing in 1984, the flagship became part of the AT&T Town Pavilion office complex.

The store was reknown for a 1947 mural commissioned by the store and painted by Thomas Hart Benton. After the store closure, the mural, known as "Achelous & Hercules", was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum. [ [http://americanart.si.edu/collections/tours/benton/index.html Thomas Hart Benton entry, Smithsonian Institution catalog (retrieved Sep 13, 2008)] .]

Branch Stores

In 1929, Harzfeld's opened its first branch location in Columbia, Missouri. The store catered to the local college student population of the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College. On April 10, 1954, Harzfeld's opened its first branch in Kansas City at Country Club Plaza. In 1958, a second branch was opened in the Blue Ridge Mall shopping center. Further expansion occurred in 1963 with the opening of the Corinth Square store. A fifth store in greater Kansas City was opened in the Metcalf South shopping center in 1967. Shortly after its parent conglomerate acquired two Gus Meyer locations in Oklahoma in 1974, it converted them to Harzfeld's. ["Garfinckel to Buy Two Stores," "The Washington Post", Oct 31, 1974, p. D11.]

Former locations

Kansas

*Lawrence
*Overland Park: Metcalf South Shopping Center "(opened 1967, closed 1984)"

Missouri

*Columbia: "(opened 1929)"
*Kansas City: 1108-1110 Main Street "(original location, opened 1891, closed 1913)"
*Kansas City: Main Street and Petticoat Lane "(flagship, opened 1913, closed 1984)"
*Kansas City: Blue Ridge Mall "(opened 1958, closed 1984)"
*Kansas City: Corinth Square "(opened 1963, closed 1984)"
*Kansas City: Country Club Plaza "(opened 1954, closed 1984)"

Oklahoma

*Oklahoma City: "(former Gus Meyer store; converted to Harzfeld's ca. 1974)"
*Tulsa: "(former Gus Meyer store; converted to Harzfeld's ca. 1974)"

References

* [http://digdesign.com/harzfelds/index.html Harzfeld's website, by Joe & Michele Boeckholt (retrieved Sep 13, 2008).]