Jabłkowski Brothers

Jabłkowski Brothers ( _pl. Bracia Jabłkowscy) is a famous Polish trading company, celebrated for its group of luxurious department stores in some of the most prestigious places of pre-war Poland.

Founded in 1884 in Warsaw by Aniela Jabłkowska, from 1892 it was a Jabłkowski family business. Initially run by Aniela, the company specialized in the trade of various goods, mostly luxurious clothes. In 1897 it was taken over by Aniela's brother Józef Jabłkowski. It was Józef who expanded the business significantly, moving it to a larger building in 1900 and in 1913 the "Towarzystwo Akcyjne Bracia Jabłkowscy" company entered the stock exchange. Initially owning a group of smaller shops all around Russian-held Poland, in 1914 the company built the first of its large department stores in downtown Warsaw, at Bracka Street. In 1919, after World War I, the company opened another store in Mickiewicz Street, the main avenue of Wilno.

The Warsaw-based store was the largest shop in Poland and both stores were considered to be among the most luxurious and reputable in Poland, much like their foreign counterparts, Galeries Lafayette, Harrods or Selfridges. Their departments became famous for the abundance and quality of goods on offer, and were considered to be among the most notable tourist attractions of both cities. The company dealt with garments, underwear, textiles, silk, bedding, china, perfumes, as well as shoes, furs and articles for daily use. In addition, both stores housed art galleries and small cinemas.

After the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War of 1939 Wilno was seized by the Soviets, who confiscated the shop and transported most of its goods to Soviet Union. The store in Warsaw was initially closed by the new German administration. It was reopened in February 1940, but its turnover was seriously restricted by the limits on the textile trade. After the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the store at Bracka street became one of the arsenals for the Armia Krajowa. Damaged and burnt, the building survived World War II and in May 1945 the business was reopened. Despite severe shortages of practically everything, the staff gradually rose to 220 and the turnover reached half of the pre-war level. It also served as an UNRRA aid distribution point. However, during the so-called 'battle for trade', on May 151950, the communist authorities confiscated the shop and closed it down the following year.

Since then the building has housed a variety of state-owned shops, including the "Central House of a Child" dealing with toys and children's wear (1951-1970) and then, since 1992, the "Arka" store. Despite being non-existent, the brand remained well-known in post-war Poland and was a symbol of pre-war luxury and quality. After Poland regained her independence from the Soviet bloc in 1989, the heirs of the Jabłkowski family started their efforts to regain the building and reopen the store. In 1996 a court verdict declared the decisions of the communist tribunals null and void, and the future of the building is currently being discussed.

External links

* [http://www.braciajablkowscy.pl/ Dom Towarowy Bracia Jabłkowscy]
* [http://www.polityka.pl/polityka/index.jsp?place=Lead07&news_cat_id=&news_id=166295&layout=2&page=text Naprzód, przodkowie] , Polityka, 29 May 2007

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