Loveman's (Chattanooga)

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Loveman's
company_
fate = Acquisition by Proffitt's
foundation = 1875
defunct = 1986
location = Chattanooga, Tennessee
industry = Retail
key_people = David Bernard Loveman, founder
products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, housewares
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =

Loveman's was a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based chain of department stores with locations in eastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. Relatives of the founder of this chain founded Loveman's of Alabama and Loveman's located in Nashville, Tennessee.

History

In 1875, David Bernard Loveman and his brother Herman Herschel Loveman arrived in Chattanooga from Atlanta, Georgia and formed D. B. Loveman and Bro., a dry goods concern. In 1877, Ismar Noa joined the company and it became D. B. Loveman & Company. In 1884 they purchased property at the southeast corner of Eighth and Market Streets, in what was described as “the most important single real estate transaction that had taken place” in Chattanooga up until that time. Building commenced in 1885, and the city's first department store was constructed. It would become Chattanooga's largest department store, and remain so for just over a hundred years.

In December, 1890 the building was destroyed by fire, and the business suffered accordingly. David even declared bankruptcy, but business did not cease. Eventually the company regained its footing and prospered, and by 1917, it employed 300 people. It expanded and eventually became a five-store chain, including Loveman's at the Eastgate Mall, which was established in 1965.

In 1986, however, the chain, which had acquired considerable debt, was bought by Proffitt's, which in turn was acquired in 1995, by Belk. Starting in 2001, the flagship downtown building has been converted to mixed use, with luxury condominiums on the upper floors developed by RiverCity Company. [ [http://www.rivercitycompany.com/pdfs/media/lovemans.pdf] "Revival for Lovemans, at last," "Chattanooga Times Free Press", Jun 21, 2001.] [ [http://www.rivercitycompany.com/ddvelop/loveman.asp River City Company website, Loveman's on Market development (retrieved Aug 30, 2008)] . ] In August 2008, the 31,000 square foot second floor was purchased at auction by the Maclellan Foundation for $1.4 million. [ [http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/aug/15/chattanooga-maclellan-acquires-lovemans-2nd-floor/ "Chattanooga: Maclellan acquires Loveman’s 2nd floor," The Chattanooga Times Free Press, Aug 15, 2008 (retrieved Aug 30, 2008)] .] Cohutta Banking Co. of Tennessee plans to move during the fall of 2008, into 15,000 square feet on the building’s ground floor. [ [http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/jul/31/chattanooga-lovemans-2nd-floor-auction/ "Chattanooga: Lovemans 2nd floor in auction," by: Jason Reynolds, The Chattanooga Times Free Press, Jul 31, 2008 (retrieved Aug 30, 2008)] . ]

Former Locations

Georgia

*Dalton

Tennessee

*Chattanooga - 800 Market Street (downtown) "(opened 1892, converted to mixed use and operated by "The Lovemans on Market, LLC")"
*Chattanooga - Eastgate Mall (opened 1965)

References

* [http://www.liebman-loveman.com/Loveman%20Merchants2.htm The Liebman-Loveman Family, Loveman Merchants Page 2 (retrieved Aug 30, 2008)] .
* [http://www.envirolinkhandbook.com/www/docs/193/ "New Vitality for the Lovemans on Market," Envirolink Handbook Southeast website, undated (retrieved Aug 30, 2008)] .