Harzfeld's
IndustryRetail
Founded1891
Defunct1984
FateLiquidation
HeadquartersKansas City, Missouri
ProductsFashion apparel, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.
ParentAllied Stores

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.[1] With the 1981, acquisition of its parent conglomerate, it became a part of Allied Stores.[2] 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 was integrated into the Town Pavilion complex.

The store was renowned for a 1947 mural commissioned by the store and painted by Thomas Hart Benton. After the store closure, the mural, known as "Achelous and Hercules", was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.[3]

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.[4]

The 10,000 sq ft (929 m2) Corinth Square store closed August 8, 1984 and became a Wooten Drugs; Metcalf South also closed the same day. The Tulsa store was converted to a Brooks Brothers. The Downtown Kansas City store was closed and became part of a redevelopment projects. The Country Club Plaza location was converted to a Bonwit Teller later that year.[5]

Timeline of Harzfeld's Stores
Store City Address or mall Opened Closed Notes
Downtown
Kansas City
Flagship		 Downtown Kansas City 1111 Main St. 1913 1984 Integrated into Town Pavilion
Lawrence KS Lawrence KS 1923[6]
Columbia MO Columbia MO 1929 / 1949[6]
Country Club Plaza Kansas City Country Club Plaza Apr 10, 1954 Jan 1984[5] 87,000 sq ft (8,083 m2), 65 employees at closing. Became a Bonwit Teller employing 100.[5]
Blue Ridge Kansas City MO Blue Ridge Mall 1958 Jan 1984[5] 41,000 sq ft (3,809 m2).[6] Taken over by Jones Store Co.[5]
Corinth Square Prairie Village KS Corinth Square 1963[6] Aug 8, 1984[5] became a Wooten Drugs[6]
Metcalf South Overland Park KS Metcalf South Shopping Center 1967[6] Aug 8, 1984[5] Taken over by Jones Store Co. upon closing.[5]
Tulsa Tulsa OK Utica Square Nov 11, 1974[7] Previously a Gus Mayer. Became a Brooks Brothers.[5]
Oklahoma City Oklahoma City[5] Penn Square Mall[8] Nov 10, 1974[7] 12,096 sq ft (1,124 m2).[8] Previously a Gus Mayer[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Garfinckel to Buy Six Harzfeld's in Kansas City, Mo.," The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Feb 6, 1972, p. E1.
  2. ↑ "Garfinckel Sale To N.Y. Firm Set At $228 Million," by Jerry Knight, The Washington Post, Sep 2, 1981, p. A1.
  3. ↑ Thomas Hart Benton entry, Smithsonian Institution catalog (retrieved Sep 13, 2008) Archived September 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Garfinckel to Buy Two Stores," The Washington Post, Oct 31, 1974, p. D11.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Harzfelds puts wraps on 93 years as Bonwit remodeling proceeds". The Kansas City Star. 14 August 1984. p. 21. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Harzfeld's, Kansas City, Missouri". Department Store Museum. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Tomorrow in Tulsa Harzfeld's opens in Utica Square (ad)". Tulsa World. 10 November 1974. p. 69. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 Laval, Kevin (10 July 1984). "Harzfelds Women's Stores Closing". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
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